The Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The CAF is a standard national approach to assessment to be used by all services working with children and young people. It is intended to focus on what the child or young person needs, rather than on what the service can offer.

Not all children and young people will need to have an assessment, but those who have additional needs can be identified at an earlier stage, i.e. before they or their families reach crisis point. If help is offered when difficulties first arise it can prevent the need for more intensive action at a later stage.

As everyone in Children and Young People Services will be using the same forms, it will be easier to share information and co-ordinate services provided. This will help avoid the need for children, young people and their families to keep repeating the same information and be assessed over and over again.

For the New practitioners guide on the CAF please visit our guidances page.

Information Sharing

Information Sharing can, at times, be tricky. How do professionals balance someone's right to confidentality against their additional needs? How can professionals ensure that the right information is shared the right way?

For the new Information Sharing Guide please visit our guidances page.

The Lead Professional Role

Some children and young people will need help from more than one agency. Where this is the case, a lead professional will be appointed and will work with others to co-ordinate the services provided.

The role of the lead professional is to be:

  • A first point of contact for the child, family and other professionals
  • Co-ordinate the delivery of services provided, for example, by combining different appointments where possible to minimise disruption to families’ lives
  • Reduce any inconsistency and / or overlap between services

For the new lead professional and team around the child guidance please visit our guidances page

Contact us

CAF Team
Children and Young People Services
Silver Birch House
Uplands Business Park
Blackhorse Lane E17 5SD

Tel 020 8496 3000 and ask for the CAF Team
Fax 020 8496 3599

Email
annabelle.stanford@walthamforest.gov.uk
janice.bryden@walthamforest.gov.uk