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Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of delivering integrated frontline services for children and young people and their families.

It identifies a child's needs from an early stage and helps provide them with additional support specifically taking into account the role of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development .

They are completed with the consent and involvement of those they concern and aim to provide a simple overall assessment process of a child's needs and strengths.

They are designed to reduce the number of different assessments and should reduce the chances of children falling through the net.

In effect they should trigger guidance from specialist services and prompt early intervention before further problems arise.

They are currently in place as part of a pilot scheme in the south of Weston-super-Mare with plans to roll CAF out across North Somerset by April 2008.

It is envisaged that the locality teams will play a key part in their delivery.

For further information on CAF please visit the Every Child Matters (ECM) website or download its Common Assessment Framework (CAF) FAQs

The North Somerset Common Assessment Framework Practitioners guidance is available.