Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
The CAF will be utilised in a wide range of settings and circumstances. It will replace the numerous basic assessments which currently exist in and between services. It provides agencies with the same standard baseline assessment from which more specialist assessments can be developed.
It is assumed that effective use of the CAF will promote early identification of additional need and reduce the number of children and young people being referred for specialist assessment. Where such assessments are required, however, the availability of the CAF will support this work by providing good quality background information.
Principles of the CAF
- Involving children, young people and their families at all stages of assessment planning and review.
- Consent from parents and young people to share information about them with other agencies.
- Focusing on the needs of the child/young person
- Viewing the child in a holistic way
- In use within a wide range of agencies and organisations to create a common language of need or vulnerability
- A co-ordinated response to prevent the duplication of assessments and to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Essentially a Common Assessment is a simple format which allows practitioners and families to develop an understanding where a child/young person appears to have additional needs. By looking at the child/young person holistically, interventions can be targeted in the most effective way.
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