Common assessment framework
 The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of delivering frontline services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people. The CAF is a standardised approach to conducting an assessment of a child's additional needs and deciding how those needs should be met. It can be used and completed by practitioners from any agency who come in contact with children and young people.
About the Common Assessment Framework
The CAF will promote more effective, earlier identification of additional needs, particularly in universal services. It is intended to provide a simple process for a holistic assessment of a child's needs and strengths, taking account of the role of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development. The CAF will also help to improve integrated working by promoting co-ordinated service provision.
Completing the Common Assessment Framework
A standard CAF form is now available to help practitioners record, and, where appropriate, share with others the findings from the assessment. The Common Assessment must be completed with the parent/carer and consent to share the information must be obtained. It has also recently been agreed within Rochdale that a CAF can be used as a referral to Rochdale Council’s Children's Social Care Service. Contact the Integrated Services Team for further information.
Rochdale Borough Children’s Trust is currently piloting the use of an electronic tool to help support practitioners when undertaking a common assessment framework on a child or young person (known as eCAF). A series of multi-agency training sessions are being held to show practitioners how to use the eCAF system and the dates and times are available via the REAL Trust website or by contacting the Integrated Services Team. All attendees on this training course must have an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check (CRB) and should have attended the Common Assessment training course.
Useful resources
Further information on the Common Assessment Framework is available on the Every Child Matters website including fact sheets, supporting tools and manager and practitioner guides. Local training courses are run by the REAL Trust. For support and guidance in completing a CAF (paper version or e-CAF) please contact the Integrated Services Team.
CAF Pre-assessment Checklist (92kb word file);
CAF Form (293kb word file);
CAF leaflet for parents and carers (675kb pdf file);
CAF Handbook for practitioneras (674kb pdf file);
CAF bookmark (388kb pdf file).
Information for practitioners on all aspects of the Change for Children agenda within the borough is also available in the Change for Children Newsletter.
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