CAF Assessor Workshop Aim

1
CAF Assessor Workshop - Aim

• To update Pas on the Common Assessment Framework
  (CAF) in Surrey and explain how this relates to
  practice
• To enable Pas to move from using APIR to CAF

2
Outcomes

• Explain why Connexions is into the Common
  Assessment Framework (CAF) into APIR
• State the importance to both practitioners and
  young person of integrating all assessment
  information
• Use the emerging profile as a basis for an action
  plan and ADAPT record
• Identify additional knowledge/support that may be
  needed to ensure effective use of holistic
  assessment

3
Programme

• 9.00 Arrival and coffee
• 9.30 Welcome, Introductions, Aims and Outcomes
• 9.45 Background to CAF
• 10.15 Case Study and profiling
• 11.00 Coffee
• 11.15 Recording and action planning
• 11.45 ADAPT
• 12.00 Resources
• 12.15 Next steps and evaluation
• 12.30 Close

4
Programme

• 1.00 Arrival and coffee
• 1.30 Welcome, Introductions, Aims and Outcomes
• 1.45 Background to CAF
• 2.15 Case Study and profiling
• 3.00 Coffee
• 3.15 Recording and action planning
• 3.45 ADAPT
• 4.00 Resources
• 4.15 Next steps and evaluation
• 4.30 Close

5
Background

• When the Connexions Strategy came about in 2000
  there was concern that young people with multiple
  needs were subjected to multiple assessments
• This led to the development of a Connexions
  assessment framework known as APIR (Assessment,
  Planning, Implementation and Review)

6
Current situation

• It has been decided nationally that all
  Connexions Personal Advisers will continue to
  assess holistically and will move from using the
  Connexions APIR framework to the Common
  Assessment Framework
• Recommendations from a focus group of Surrey PAs
  has informed the way in which we can integrate
  APIR into CAF

7
CAF

• National drivers are Every Child Matters, 2004
  Children Act (sections 10,11 and 12) and the
  creation of Childrens Trusts
• Local Authorities and partners must ensure that
• Information sharing is properly addressed
• Change strategies and service delivery plans
  incorporate mechanisms for sharing information
  within and across service and professional
  boundaries
• Relevant managers and practitioners are trained
  and understand the legal basis for sharing
  information
• Sharing information becomes an integral part of
  the way in which practitioners fulfil their
  duties.

8
Key aims and principles of the CAF (SourceDfES)

• Aims
• A standard national approach
• Assessment to support earlier intervention
• Improve joint working and communication
• Support the sharing of information
• Rationalise assessments
• Better referrals

• Principles
• A process supported by a standard form
• Holistic
• Focuses on needs and strengths
• Simple and practical
• Empowering and a joint process
• CAF cannot guarantee service provision

9
Content of the CAF (Source DfES)

• Parents and carers
• Basic care, ensuring safety protection
• Emotional warmth stability
• Guidance, boundaries stimulation
• Development of child
• Health
• Emotional social development
• Behavioural development
• Identity, including self-esteem, self-image
  social presentation

10
CAF Content (cont)

• Family social relationships
• Self-care skills independence
• Learning
• Family and Environmental
• Family history, functioning well being
• Wider family
• Housing, financial employment considerations
• Social community elements resources,
  including education

11
When to undertake a Common Assessment? (Source
DfES)

• You should undertake a common assessment when by
  doing so it will help a child or young person
  achieve one or more of the five ECM outcomes
  which are
• Be healthy, Stay safe, Enjoy and achieve, Make
• a positive contribution, Economic well-being
• Children who are at risk of poor outcomes are
  considered to be children with additional needs.

12
When to undertake a common assessment (Adapted
from DfES)

• Likely to be of help when
• Age appropriate progress is not being made and
  causes are unclear
• The support of more than one agency is needed
• Need not be done when
• Progress is satisfactory
• Needs are already identified and are being met
• Needs are clear and can be met by
  family/assessing agency
• It is a child protection situation

13
When to undertake a common assessment

• Common assessment can be used with any unborn
  baby, new baby, child or young person who has
  additional, unmet needs

14
Definition of child in need (Sourcewww.direct.g
ov.uk)

• The Children Act 1989 is designed to help keep
  children safe and well and, if necessary, help a
  child to live with their family by providing
  services appropriate to the child's needs.
• Local authorities' responsibilities under the Act
• The Act imposes a general duty on local councils
  to provide a range of services to 'children in
  need' in their area if those services will help
  keep a child safe and well. Some services are
  provided by the council free of charge, although
  councils can also decide which services you will
  need to pay for, or contribute to.

15
Definition of Child in Need cont

• A 'child in need' may be
• disabled (for a definition of disability see the
  Children Act 1989 link)
• unlikely to have, or to have the opportunity to
  have, a reasonable standard of health or
  development without services from a local
  authority or
• unlikely to progress in terms of health or
  development or
• unlikely to progress in terms of health or
  development, without services from a local
  authority
• Local councils must identify the extent of need
  in their area and make decisions about levels of
  service they provide.

16
Who will use the CAF? Source DfES

• Every practitioner should
• Be able to recognise and respond to key signs of
  need
• Know the CAF basics
• Know how to have a common assessment completed or
  how to complete one
• Every agency will train some staff to complete
  common assessments
• Where more than one practitioner is involved, one
  will take the lead

17
Who will use the CAF?

• Statutory, community and voluntary sector
  including
• Health
• Education
• Connexions
• Childcare
• Early years
• Social care
• Police and youth justice

18
Suggested triggers

• Sudden changes in behaviour or evidence of
• Misusing substances
• Becoming a young offender
• Presenting challenging or aggressive behaviour
• Experiencing physical or mental ill health
• Undertaking caring responsibilities
• Experiencing difficulties in school or making
  slower progress than expected
• Bereaved or whose families have separated

19
Suggested triggers

• Bullied or are bullies
• Disadvantaged for reasons of race, gender,
  disability
• Homeless
• Suffering family breakdown
• Unaccompanied and seeking asylum
• Teenage parents or child of teenage parents
• Experiencing difficulty accessing services

20
Information sharing key principles (adapted
from DfES)

• Practitioners must
• Openly and honestly explain what, how and why
  information will be shared
• Always consider a childs safety and welfare when
  making decisions about sharing
• Seek consent if not secured, this should be
  respected where possible (unless there is
  sufficient need to over-ride the lack of consent)
• Seek advice where in doubt
• Ensure information is accurate, up to date,
  necessary, shared with the appropriate people and
  stored safety
• Record the reasons for the decision whether it
  is to share it or not

21
CAF Process (adapted from DfES)

• 1. Preparation
• Do I need to carry out an holistic assessment?
• Who else has already been involved?
• Have I agreement of the child/young person and or
  their parent/carer?

22
CAF Process (adapted from DfES)

• 2. Discussion
• Gather information
• Focus on areas of strength as well as need
• Record agreed conclusions on CAF wheel with the
  client

23
CAF Process

• 3. Inform
• Inform Surrey County Council that a CAF has been
  completed
• Record agreed conclusions and action using CAF
  standardised form and action plan either in paper
  form or on ADAPT

24
CAF Process (adapted from DfES)

• 4. Delivery
• Deliver agreed actions in a co-ordinated way
• Monitor and review progress
• CAF cannot guarantee access to services

25
Next Steps ..

• Useful websites - http//www.everychildmatters.gov
  .uk/deliveringservices/caf/
• www.surreycc.gov.uk - search for Common
  Assessment where you will find information about
  how to complete the CAF Service Return Form, an
  Integrated Multi Agency Policy and Procedure
  Manual, details about CAF training for other
  colleagues, and CAFIS (Children and Families in
  Surrey) Directory
• Talk to your line manager about CAF training and
  find out what your own organisation is planning
  to do