CAF
The CAF is a standardised approach to conducting assessments of children's additional needs and deciding how these should be met. Southend have used the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) to support the delivery of frontline services for some time. Such is our success that we, in Southend, have a well deserved reputation for excellence.
CAF in Southend has promoted earlier identification of a child's or young person's additional needs, particularly for universal services. Our process for the assessment of children and young people's strengths and needs takes into account the roles of parents, carers and environmental factors. Our practitioners who are 'locality based' are well placed to form a partnership with children and young people's families and together agree a pathway to access appropriate support. The CAF also aims to improve integrated working by promoting coordinated service provisions and is currently supported by an IT system that has been developed and supported by the Children & Learning Systems Team.
The Government is committed to the CAF as it believes it brings many benefits to Children, Young People and Families, it also believes that more benefits will accrue if there is a common approach throughout England. This common approach delivered by a secure IT system is called the National electronic, enhanced Common Assessment Framework (NeCAF). It is delivered "free" to the "desktop computer" of qualified and accredited users. Being a national system it will operate across local authority borders and organisations, enabling practitioners to work together more effectively in providing an improved service to families who move locations or use multiple services in different areas.