Children's Trust Arrangements (CTA)

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of delivering 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's additional needs and deciding how those needs should be met. It can be used by practitioners across children's services in England.

The CAF promotes more effective, earlier identification of additional needs, and provides a simple process for an holistic assessment of a child's needs and strengths, taking account of the role of parents, careers and environmental factors on their development.

The CAF implementation team within CTA was a temporary arrangement to support implementation of the framework.  The project successfully concluded in March 2010 and CAF now forms part of mainstream (or business as usual) services in Manchester.  The CAF project briefing note outlines what closure of the project means for practitioners and provides details of new support arrangements.  We would like to stress that the CAF process is continuing in Manchester and we need to build upon the good work to date to ensure children, young people and families continue to benefit from the CAF process.

Practitioners are encouraged to access the CAF Supporting Tools and the downloads section.