Transcript Main heading - Home - Change for Children

Integrated Working: The Common
Assessment Framework
Stephanie Morgan
Information Sharing &
Assessment
Department for
Education and Skills
Outline

Integrated working: the CAF in context

CAF/lead professional trialling & implementation

Challenges for local development and implementation
History: agency responsible practitioners,
multiple assessments, one child
Social
Services
YOT
PCT
CAMHS
Social
Worker
Youth
offending
team
Health
visitor
Child
psychologist
At risk
ASSET
register
Risks to
parents
Conduct
disorder
Children
in need
Youth
Service
Connex
-ions
LEA special
educational
needs
Ed
Youth
welfare
workers
officer
Connex
-ions
PA
SENCO &
Ed Psychologist
APIR
Statement
of SEN
EWS
Universal
Education
Children’s
Fund
Universal
Healthcare
= agency
= worker
= assessment
Solution: Children’s Trust in Action
Outcomes
for children & young
people
Outcomes:
•Be healthy
•Stay safe
•Enjoy and
achieve
•Make a positive
contribution
•Economic
well-being
Integrated
Working
Integrated Working
Mission
To improve
outcomes for
children and
young people
through
services
working
together more
effectively on
the front line
Strategy
Improving
information
sharing among
practitioners
Developing and
embedding a
common
approach to
assessment
Supporting
multi-agency
working
Key Processes &
Tools
Information Sharing Practice &
Cross Government Guidance
Common Assessment
Framework
Lead Professional
Multi-Agency toolkit
Service Directory
Information Sharing Index
Children Missing Education
Integrated Working - Benefits



Earlier, holistic identification of needs
Earlier, more coordinated and effective intervention

Lead Professional – co-ordinating, communicating, a single point of
contact - children, young people and families can trust

Improved information sharing across agencies

less duplication of effort

improved understanding of service delivery options

better quality and more appropriate referrals
Better service experience for children and families

family-centred approach

fewer assessments and less repetition

easier, less bureaucratic access to a range of services
CAF Progress

CAF materials (guidance, forms, training materials) were issued in
April 2005, with LP good practice guidance shortly after

Over 90 local authority areas are using the CAF during 2005/06

Undertaking detailed evaluation with trials in 12 local authority areas
in 2005/06. The 12 areas are:

Barnsley

Bolton

Coventry

Cumbria

Gateshead

Knowsley

Nottinghamshire

Dorset with Bournemouth and Poole

Sheffield

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Wandsworth

Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire
CAF Progress

The CAF/LP trials include a good coverage of sectors. For
example:

10 of the 12 evaluated areas have an involvement in
schools, including some extended schools, primary,
middle and secondary schools, and in some cases infant
feeder schools, and nursery and pre-school workers.

7 of these areas include a health setting, including
health visitors, school nurses, midwives, CAMHS and
hospitals.
Next steps

The University of East Anglia is contracted to evaluate trials during
autumn/winter 2005, with results due early in 2006

We will use these results and comments from elsewhere including
stakeholders and other government departments to revise the CAF
materials and training materials for national implementation from
April 2006

CapGemini is contracted to develop a strategy for CAF e-enablement
to support implementation from April 2006

By March 2006 we aim to have issued revised CAF, LP guidance,
information-sharing guidance and implementation guidance

We expect that CAF will be implemented in every local area by
March 2008
Challenges

Agreeing approaches to integrated working across agencies and
gaining support at all levels

Engaging key partners

Equipping staff with the right training and skills

Putting multi-agency working into practice: e.g. overcoming the
challenges of language, trust, culture, approaches to confidentiality
and information sharing

Dealing with cross-border issues
Integrated Working: Common Assessment
Framework
Stephanie Morgan
www.dfes.gov.uk/ISA
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
[email protected]