Common Assessment Framework (CAF) practitioner information
This page provides practitioners with all of the materials and information they need when using the CAF process. If you have any questions about the documents described below, please contact the CAF Coordinator, Micheala Carlowe, by calling 07932 076081 or using the details opposite.
CAF forms
The standardised CAF Form 
(word document
on an external site: 520KB) is a key part of the CAF process. It is used to gather information about
who else is involved in a child's life and to assessthe child's needs and strengths. It also contains
a built in action plan and review process. An optional CAF pre-assessment checklist
(word document on an external site 90KB) can also be used by practitioners to help
them consider whether a CAF should be undertaken. These forms are for use by practitioners across the
children’s workforce throughout England.
Practitioners can use the CAF
pre-assessment checklist alongside Barnet's Children's Service CAF and Social Care Thresholds
document, as both of these documents will assist a practitioner to be clear about when to begin
a CAF.
Before starting a CAF, a practitioner should first check with the CAF Team to find out whether a CAF already exists, or whether a CAF is not required because the child is already receiving a more specialist assessment and support from a social worker. See contact details on the left.
Once the CAF Form has been signed and agreed by the child/family and shared with the other practitioners as agreed by the family, a copy should be sent to us by secure means using the email address shown on the left.
Practice guidance
The CAF practice guidance 
(PDF
892KB) guides practitioners through the entire CAF process.
The document sets out details about:
- the benefits of CAF and when it should be undertaken
- how the CAF relates to other assessment processes and how it supports referrals to other agencies
- how to complete a CAF and store CAF records
- the lead professional role
- multi-agency planning meetings
- review and closure
- locally available support.
In addition to Barnet's CAF practice guidance, national guidance around theCAF and Lead Practitioner role is available to practititoners and managers on the Every Child Matters website.
For information about cross-boundary working between London Boroughs in relation to the CAF process, please refer to the Integrated Working Without Boundaries-The London Common Assessment Framework Protocol (April 2009) (external site) developed by the Government Office for London.
Assessment tools
Barnet Council and it’s partners have developed a number of screening and assessment tools to assist practitioners undertaking a CAF involving particular specialist areas. Tools are available for:
- domestic violence (PDF 147KB)
- substance
misuse (PDF 70KB) and,
- working with young
people with a high risk of offending.
(PDF 78KB)
In addition, the Pan London CAF Protocol referred to above, contains a section called London Continuum Descriptors (external website) which sets out information on assessing teenage parents, those affected by substance misuse and those involved in youth offending. The section also sets out risk and protective factors as well as suggested interventions for these particular groups of vulnerable children and young people and are designed to be used with the CAF.
Further information can also be found on Barnet Online about domestic violence , drugs and alcohol abuse along with information about the Youth Offending Service.
Frequently asked questions
The frequently asked questions (PDF 104KB)
document contains answers to questions which have been raised by practitioners working within
Barnet about the CAF process.
CAF practitioners group
The CAF Practitioners group aims to offer practitioners the opportunity to share
best practice, raise any issues and gain cross-sector peer supporting relation to the CAF. More information
about the group is contained in the terms of reference document
(PDF 83KB) which also contains future meeting dates.
Training
All practitioners working with children need to have completed Barnet Council’s
one day multi-agency CAF training before initiating a CAFor acting as a Lead Professional. The current
CAF training flyer (PDF 84KB) contains further
information about the training syllabus along with upcoming dates.
In addition to the above, details about the further training, along with future dates, are shown in the course flyers below:
Lead Professional Training
Two
Lead Professional Awareness Training courses are available. One course is aimed at managers and the
other is aimed at practitioners who have undertaken the CAF training and who are likely to take on the
Lead Professional role.
- Awareness training for managers(PDF
81KB)
- Awareness training for practitioners (PDF
81KB)'
Integrated working with children and families awareness workshop
This course is aimed at practitioners who require an overview of the children's agenda including the CAF so they can signpost appropriately, but do not require in-depth training.
- Integrated working with families- school support staff
(PDF 82KB)
- Integrated working with families- practitioner
general overview
(PDF 82KB)'
Leaflets
A two part information leaflet (PDF 674KB)
about CAF is available which is aimed at both parents and carers and children and young people.
Please note that this leaflet is shown online for sample purposes only.
If you would like to request a number of printed leaflets, please contact the CAF Coordinator.
In addition to the local materials on this page, practitioners can also access all of the national CAF guidance, frequently asked questions, supporting tools document and brief fact sheets from the government’s Every Child Matters website. See ‘useful links’ on the left hand side of this page.
Email this pageLast modified by: Steve Lawlor on 26/01/2010