Thurrock Assessment and Responses to Children System (ARCS)
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
- Introduction
- Children with Additional Needs
- Who will undertake the CAF?
- When is a CAF not appropriate?
- Contacts for more information
Introduction
The Every Child Matters Change for Children Programme aims to integrate process and services for children and young people from birth to 19 years.
Within Thurrock the Multi Agency Assessment and Responses to Children's System (ARCS), Common Assessment Framework and cluster based Multi Agency Panels are designed to support integration focusing on early intervention and prevention to children, young people and their families through the delivery of services and support to meet identified needs. Further information on integrated services is available.
In the majority of cases children and young people make satisfactory progress with the support of universal services. From time to time they may require help from a single agency for a specific issue. Referral to a single agency does not require a CAF to be completed.
If at any stage, you are worried that a child or young person is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm then you should follow the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Safeguarding Procedures (SET).
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a method of assessment used across all children's services/agencies both locally and nationally. A CAF is used to assess what help and support a child or young person may need to help them achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes:
- Stay Safe
- Be Healthy
- Enjoy and Achieve
- Participate and Engage
- Economic well being
The CAF will help to ensure early identification of needs, reduce the need for multiple assessments and children and families repeatedly "telling their stories" and coordinate the delivery of services.
Children with Additional Needs
The CAF is a tool to help identify those children with additional needs before these escalate into more serious concerns. This might include situations where there are issues with:
- Disruptive or anti-social behaviour
- Involvement in, or risk from offending
- Overt parental conflict or a lack of parental support/boundaries
- Disengagement from education or training
- Poor school attendance
- Repeated fixed term or permanent exclusion from school
- Special educational needs
- Disability
- Poor nutrition or ill health
- Substance misuse
- Poor emotional or mental health
- Housing
- Pregnancy and parenthood
- Domestic violence
Who will undertake the CAF?
The CAF will be used by a range or staff working in children's services. It is anticipated that most will be undertaken by those working in universal services; schools, nurseries, various health settings, community and voluntary agencies.
When is a CAF not appropriate?
In the majority of cases children and young people make satisfactory progress with the support of universal services. From time to time they may require help from a single agency for a specific issue. Referral to a single agency does not require a CAF to be completed.
If at any stage, you are worried that a child or young person is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm then you should follow the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Safeguarding Procedures (SET).
- Information for parents, carers, children and young people - This section of Thurrock Council's web site includes information about the CAF process including leaflets, fact sheets and other useful publications.
- The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) process - This section details Thurrock's Assessment and Responses to Children (ARCs) and the CAF model and process. It includes useful documents, such as the CAF process flowchart, determining levels of need and intervention and practitioners and managers guides. There is guidance on information highlighting how and when you start a CAF, what you need to consider before completing the assessment, how you gain informed consent and what forms you should use to record this. It includes details of how to complete the CAF form, tips on conducting the assessment and useful downloads such as Thurrock's CAF form and practitioner guides to assessment.
- Multi Agency Groups - Here you can find details of the cluster based multi agency group panels, creating a team around the child and electing a lead professional. Recording the outcomes of the panel meeting, Service Delivery (action plan) and review.
- Lead Professional - This section gives details on the role and responsibilities of the lead professional
- Service Provision - This section contains details and a link to the directory of family services within the borough, contact names, access to services and service provision; details of the Family Information Service and Thinking Families providers.
- Consent and Information Sharing - This section gives the broad principles and for information sharing along with some answers to frequently asked questions. There are also links to Information Sharing guidance and responsibilities.
Contacts for more information
For more information please contact:
- Chrissa Claydon - CAF Coordinator
- Jo Henderson - Multi Agency Group Service Manager East Locality
- Tracy Smith - Multi Agency Group Service Manager West Locality
- Email: caf@thurrock.gov.uk
- Phone: 01375 652730
Commissioning Team
C01-2
Civic Offices
New Road
Grays
Essex
RM17 6SL