a process for undertaking a common assessment, to help practitioners 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 and action plan to help practitioners 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.

The CAF provides an easy to use assessment that is common across agencies. It will help embed a shared language; support better understanding and communications amongst practitioners; facilitate early intervention; speed up service delivery and reduce the number and duration of different assessments that historically some children and young people have undergone.

Once a CAF Assessment is completed, it is presented and subsequently reviewed at a CAF Allocation meeting, Team Around the Family (TAF) meeting or one of the area specific forums that comprise of key agencies for the area who can offer support.

Leicestershire has five Multi-Agency Forums, North West Leicestershire, Hinckley and Bosworth, Charnwood, Melton and South Leicestershire. All have their own dedicated coordinator working within the CAF Team at County Hall.

Please note that children with a Statement of Special Educational Need and/or CAMHS involvement can be the subject of CAF. Please call the CAF team on 0116 3058727 if you wish to start a CAF on a young person.

The CAF team can find out who else is involved, review the young person at multi-agency forums, source new services based on need, obtain referral forms or assessment information, support Lead Professional to progress action and ask for informal advice from specialists.

More information about CAF is available from the links below: