5. Common Assessment Framework

The Common Assessment Framework - better known as CAF, is a new standard format for carrying out an assessment of a child or young person’s additional needs and deciding how those needs should be met. It can be used by anyone providing services to children in in England.

The CAF has been developed as part of the Every Child Matters programme: it is seen as "a key part of delivering front-line services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people".

The CAF will promote more effective, earlier identification of additional needs, particularly in "universal services" (e.g. things which are available to everyone: schools, health services). It is intended to provide a simple way for anyone who is involved in supporting a child to raise issues and communicate with other workers and agencies who are also involved. Practitioners will then be better placed to agree, with the child and family, about what support is appropriate.

For voluntary and community sector organisations it’s a means of flagging up a wider view of the needs of the child or young person taking account of the role of parents, carers, housing, neighbourhood and other factors which have an impact. By having a common form across all agencies, there is a way for information to be shared between those providing support and so help them to work together.

For the CAF Toolkit document CAF Toolkit



Toolkit Index

1.    Introduction
2.    Developing your Organisation
       a.    Organisation 
       b.    Employees  
       c.    Moving Forward
3.    How to? Guides
4.    Safeguarding
5.    Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
6.    Personal and Professional Development
       a.    Training within the Voluntary Sector
       b.    Training within the Local Authority
       c.    Links to Local Education Establishments
7.    Job Profiles
8.    Glossary