Common Assessment Framework
Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key element of Every Child Matters providing a common method of assessment across all children's services and will:
- help in the early identification of needs;
- lead to co-ordinated provision of services;
- promote information sharing to avoid the duplication of assessments;
- reduce the need for children and their families to re-tell their story to different practitioners.
The five outcomes of Every Child Matters gives all agencies a simple and coherent view of what it is they are doing and gives responsibility to everyone for a child's well being.
The outcomes we want to achieve for all children and young people in Kirklees are:
- Be healthy - enjoying good physical health and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle
- Stay safe - being protected from harm and neglect and growing up able to look after themselves
- Enjoy and achieve - getting the most out of life and developing broad skills for adulthood
- Make a positive contribution - to the community, society and not engaging in anti social or offending behaviour
- Economic wellbeing - overcoming social-economic disadvantages, to achieve their full potential in life.
All workers involved with children and their families have a duty to act in the best interest of the child. It is the worker's responsibility to identify and respond to concerns about a child's welfare and to know how to effectively challenge decisions which in their professional opinion do not promote positive outcomes.
To access the CAF handbook please click here
Safeguarding/Common Assessment Framework Interface - Practice guidance
Practice guidance has been developed to explain the relationship between the common assessment, initial assessment and core assessment. The guidance contains processes for the escalation and de-escalation of cases. Click on this link for the CAF interface practice guidance.
The CAF team
The CAF team provide a rolling programme of training and are available to answer any questions.
If you would like to speak to somebody about the Common Assessment Framework please either telephone 01484 456823, or email caf.helpdesk@kirklees.gov.uk
