What is the CAF?
The Common Assessment Framework is a process now being used in
schools, by health workers and in youth centres etc which involves
listening to you to find out what help you need and what is working
well in your life. It will help you make sure you get the right
sort of help when you need it. The CAF is there to help you, but if
you don’t want to take part you don’t have too…it really is up to
you!
How will the CAF help you?
The CAF will work out what sort of help you need and what is
best for you and your family. This could be a learning mentor for
help with school work, or it may just be that your mum, dad or
carer needs a little bit of help to support you.
Is the CAF just for young people?
No, a CAF can help all children, young people and their
families.
How does it work?
If you agree, a worker who knows you will arrange a time to talk
with you and listen to what you have to say. This may be someone
from school or college, a support worker, Connexions PA or your
youth worker. You can help decide who this is. They will write down
what is discussed on a form and give you a copy of it. This may
mean talking to people who know you like teachers and nurses. If
they can talk together, they can find the best support for you
early on before any problems become bigger. Also, you will only
need to tell your story once, rather than to lots of people!
If you agree, all the people who can help you will work together
to give you the help you need. Only workers who need to know about
you will see the information on your form. Sometimes you might not
want your mum, dad or carer to be at the meeting. This is fine.
Just let the worker know.
How will you know who is doing what and when?
It can sometimes get very confusing if people who work with you
all try to help you at the same time. So, to make it easier for you
if there are lots of workers helping you one of these workers may
be chosen as your Lead Professional. This person will tell you what
is happening, listen to your worries and support you. This person
will also make sure that all the people who are helping you work
together. You will have a say in who should be the Lead
Professional.
Who will have information about you?
Generally only workers who need to know about you will have
information shared about them. However there may be time when the
people working with you may need to share the information:
- When they need to find out urgently if a young person is at
risk of serious harm
- To help a young person who is at risk of harm
- When an adult is at risk of harm
- To help prevent or detect a serious crime
Your chance to feedback
If you have taken part in a CAF you will be asked for feedback
about the CAF process and the services you received as a result of
taking part. Your parents (if they were involved) will also be
asked to complete a questionnaire. You can see these questionnaires
below and support us by completing and sending back in the
envelopes provided. You won’t have to do anything apart from fill
in as a questionnaire will automatically be sent out in the post to
you.
How can you find out more?
Talk to someone that is working with you or find someone in
school that you trust to talk about the CAF.
Find out more information about help and support for Young
People go to www.peteyouth.com.
The documents below appear in Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. In order to view it you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed. (Those with visual impairments may wish to investigate Access Adobe, which provides tools and information to help make PDF files more accessible). |  |
CAF form
(161KB, 11 pages)