Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of the Every Child Matters Change for Children Programme. The CAF aims to deliver frontline services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people. The CAF is a standardised approach to conducting an assessment of a child or young person presenting with additional needs and agreeing how those needs should be met.

The CAF will promote more effective, earlier identification of additional needs. It is intended to provide a simple process that can be used by all universal service providers, ensuring a holistic assessment of a child's needs and strengths, taking account of the role of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development.

Practitioners will then be better placed to agree, with the child and family, about what support is appropriate. The CAF will also help to improve integrated working by promoting co-ordinated service provision across all sectors.