Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key component in the Every Child Matters programme which aims to transform children’s services by supporting more effective prevention and early intervention. The aim of the CAF is to provide a standardised approach for practitioners in the holistic assessment of a child’s needs and the design of an integrated service to meet those needs.

CAF has three elements:

• A simple Pre-Assessment Checklist to identify children or young people who would benefit from a common assessment
• A flowchart for undertaking a common assessment, to gather and understand information about the needs and strengths of the child-based on discussions with the child, their family and other practitioners as appropriate
• A standard form to record and, where appropriate share with others, the findings from the assessment in terms that are helpful in working with the family to find a response to unmet needs

Completing the CAF will help to:

• Provide a structure for recording information
• Support referrals to other services to improve the outcomes for the child or young person
• Address concerns about a child or young person’s well-being in more than one area
• Provide a common form of assessment which will be familiar across children and young people’s services
• Reduce duplication for practitioners
• Can be shared with consent

This will result in:

• Earlier and holistic identification of the child or young person’s needs
• Facilitation of better joint working with the parent or carer before the child or young person’s needs escalate
• Reducing multiple assessments for young people and their families

Useful information

• CAF leaflet for young people(pdf, 1076KB) (produced by the DCSF)
• CAF leaflet for parents and carers(pdf, 302KB) (produced by the DCSF)