Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The Common Assessment is an assessment of the child/young person within the context of the family and community. It provides the opportunity for practitioners and the family to gain a better initial understanding of the child/young person’s needs.

The Common Assessment Framework:

• helps identify the child or young person’s needs
• provides structure for recording information
• can support referrals to other services
• provides a common form of assessment which will be familiar across children and young people’s services
• reduces duplication for practitioners
• reduces multiple assessments for young people and their families
• can be shared with consent

Shropshire County Council has issued guidelines to support you in completing the Common Assessment and indicating a level of need. These are guidelines only and do not replace professional judgement. The guidelines have been produced in consultation with a wide variety of agencies within Shropshire.

A child-friendly version of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) has been developed in partnership with Connexions and Shropshire County Council. It’s purpose was to raise awareness among practitioners who are working with children and young people of how important it is to get their views and try to include them in all aspects of decision making.

It has been recognised by the IDeA as an example of good practice, and is being requested nationally by agencies who want to use this in their practice.

This child-friendly CAF supports practitioners in working more closely with the child or young person around issues that are affecting them, in a language they understand. It includes a set of cards the promote discussion about issues that the child wants to talk about.

• Team Around the Child (TAC)