Halton CAF Guidance & Lead Professional Procedureschildren.haltonsafeguarding.co.uk/docs/caf/guidance... · The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a standardised approach to assessing

Halton CAF Guidance & Lead Professional

Procedures

PRESENTED BY: DANIEL SPOONER

HALTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Version 1.0

April 10, 2017

Halton CAF Guidance

21 August 2017 Halton CAF Guidance & Lead Professional Procedures 1

Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Halton’s Level of Need Framework .............................................................................................................. 4

Integrated Contact and Referral Team (iCART) .............................................................................................. 5

Which Children and Families should be Referred to iCART? ................................................................ 5

What is needed from Referrers? ............................................................................................................... 6

What might happen with your Referral? ................................................................................................. 6

Contacting iCART:........................................................................................................................................... 7

Professional/Practitioner Referrals: .............................................................................................................. 8

Halton Early Intervention Model - Locality Teams ......................................................................................... 9

Key Principles of Early Intervention in Halton: ....................................................................................... 9

Context to CAF .................................................................................................................................................. 10

How can a CAF help? ................................................................................................................................... 11

When would you not to do a CAF? ............................................................................................................. 11

When would you do a CAF?........................................................................................................................ 11

Examples of situations where a CAF could help: ........................................................................................ 12

Steps Involved ................................................................................................................................................... 13

Step 1: Notes ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Step 2: Notes ............................................................................................................................................ 14

Step 3: Notes ............................................................................................................................................ 14

CAF Documentation ......................................................................................................................................... 15

Lead Professional Role ..................................................................................................................................... 16

Multi-Agencies Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................................... 17

Agreeing who will be the Lead Professional ............................................................................................. 17

Changing the Lead Professional ................................................................................................................. 18

Procedure for Changing the Lead Professional ........................................................................................ 18

Dealing with Practitioners Reluctant to Engage in an Agreed Plan / Disputes .................................... 19

Support for Parents & Carers as Lead Professional ................................................................................. 19

Multi Agency Meeting Guidance .................................................................................................................... 20

Convening the Initial Multi-Agency Meeting ........................................................................................... 20

Attendance at Multi Agency Meetings ...................................................................................................... 21

Chairing the Meeting ................................................................................................................................... 21

Halton CAF Guidance


Review meetings........................................................................................................................................... 22

Cross Boundary Issues ........................................................................................................................................ 22

Transition into Adult Services ............................................................................................................................. 23

Halton CAF Guidance


Introduction The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a standardised approach to assessing

a family’s unmet needs and ensuring they access appropriate support. The CAF was

introduced in the Children Act and plays a major part in improving services and

outcomes for children, young people and families. It aims to co-ordinate support

around early help in order to prevent needs from escalating and requiring statutory

intervention. No single agency or organisation can ensure that these outcomes are

achieved, it needs all agencies to work together to ensure that children, young

people and their families receive services which are well co-ordinated, integrated,

responsive and timely.

CAF is intended to be simple to use, is geared towards the practical delivery of

support to families and is used by practitioners working in a wide range of agencies

who work with children and families. Professionals may be concerned about

additional work involved in undertaking CAF assessments, however, practitioners will

already be assessing needs, planning and delivering services. The only change here is

that these tasks are co-ordinated via the CAF framework.

In Halton, the locality teams can offer some advice and support with regards to

the CAF process and this can be requested by contacting the relevant team to

where the family resides as follows:

Runcorn - [email protected]

Widnes - [email protected]

The strategic direction and monitoring for CAF in Halton sits with the Early Intervention

Strategic Partnership Board where there is representation from LA, health and voluntary

agencies. There is an Early Intervention Strategy in Halton and all agencies have agreed

to a number of early help principles and practices in order to support families as soon as

additional needs are identified, in order to prevent needs escalating. The CAF is a

crucial tool within Halton’s early help framework and the Lead Professional can fall to

any agency in Halton who works with children and families.

All individuals working with children, young people and their families have a role in

providing support to those undertaking the Lead Professional role i.e. from senior

managers to practitioners. Additionally, there may be occasions when it is appropriate

for a professional from adult services to take the Lead Professional role. Managers have

a responsibility to be aware of the Lead Professional role and to facilitate or provide

necessary support. Agencies own supervision and quality assurance procedures may

need to be reviewed in light of the Lead Professional role

mailto:[email protected]


Halton CAF Guidance


Halton’s Level of Need Framework

1. Universal Services = No additional needs.

2. Universal Plus = Signpost to relevant service, consider pre-CAF.

3. Multi-Agency Planning = Consider a CAF with a co-ordinated package of

support. If multiple / complex, consider getting consent to refer for additional

early intervention support from iCART.

4. Multi-Agency Plan to Protect from Harm = Follow safeguarding processes.

The key principles of the Halton Level of Need Framework include:

Safeguarding runs throughout all levels

Provide early help and support at the first possible stage and meet needs at the

lowest possible level

The focus is on Halton’s more vulnerable groups and directing service responses

at preventing vulnerability

Builds on existing good multi-agency working and formalises shared responsibility

for meeting all needs

Halton CAF Guidance


Supports work of all agencies and is equally applicable to all agencies

Flexible and fluid, allows free movement between levels as additional needs

increase or reduce

Clear and understandable

Focus on the needs of the child and family to ensure the best outcomes for all

In Halton, CAFs should be undertaken when it is agreed that a family’s needs sit at level

2 multi-agency planning. At this level, a professional has decided that the family have a

range of needs whereby a co-ordinated multi-agency package of support would help. If

another holistic multi-agency plan is in place, then a CAF may not need to be done. The

level of need where a family sits is transient, however, if a Lead Professional/CAF group

believe that the level of need has escalated, safeguarding procedures need to be

followed and a referral made to iCART, if required.

Integrated Contact and Referral Team (iCART)

iCART is the integrated front door to children and families’ services. The team is

comprised of multi-agency staff, including social care, locality teams, education, health

and Police, therefore there is access to a wide range of information. The team accept

safeguarding referrals & early intervention requests.

Which Children and Families should be Referred to iCART?

Children and families where there is an immediate risk of harm.

• These referrals should clearly indicate they are for safeguarding and they

will be passed to the children’s social care element of iCART for immediate

attention and further screening

Children and families with a number of vulnerabilities that are

negatively impacting on the whole family and/or community.

• There will be multiple and complex issues across the family such as anti-

social behaviour, attendance & behaviour, possible neglect, worklessness /

financial exclusion, domestic violence and abuse. These referrals should

indicate that they are for early intervention and they will be passed to the

early intervention element of iCART for further screening.

Halton CAF Guidance


What is needed from Referrers?

What might happen with your Referral?

iCART make a decision as to the most appropriate response based on the information

you send and background checks. All referrals have initial oversight by a social work

Manager or practitioner to ensure that they are screened at the appropriate level.

Possible outcomes include:

Discuss referral with Line

Manager / Safeguarding

lead

Unless you have an

immediate safeguarding

concern, an iCART referral

form needs to be

completed

Accurate and up to date family information e.g. full name of family members

including other names, the current nursery/school, up

to date contact info etc

The family need to know

that they are being

referred and that there

will be contact made.

For the referrer to

continue with their

support whilst iCART

undertake their work.

Halton CAF Guidance


Contacting iCART:

Information, Advice and Guidance or signposting to an Early Help service

A recommendation that a CAF is undertaken (if there isn’t an equivalent plan in place already - if needs escalate

during the CAF, another iCART referral can be made).

360 Profile (for cases whereby the whole family have multiple/complex needs sitting

just beneath level 3) – with consent, we will gather information from various data bases including health, police, social care,

housing and education

Social Care Screening / Single Assessment

The team can be contacted during the hours of 9am to 5pm from Monday to

Thursday and 9am to 4.40pm on Friday, call 0151 907 8305.

If you have an urgent (safeguarding) concern outside these hours, please call the

Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 0345 0500148.

Halton CAF Guidance


Professional/Practitioner Referrals:

If you wish to make a referral for safeguarding or to request early intervention, you need

to complete the Multi - Agency Referral Form. You will need to follow your

safeguarding procedures and gain consent, where appropriate and possible. You will

always need to gain consent for early intervention cases.

For safeguarding concerns or immediate safeguarding risks to a Child, information is

recorded and a same working day response provided by a social worker. For other

safeguarding contacts, iCART completes enquiries within 24 hours (1 working day). Each

contact with iCART to ask for support or advice is recorded. Early Intervention contacts

are completed within 3 working days and 360 profiles 10 working days.

All information is considered by iCART alongside the Halton Levels of Need Framework

and guidance is offered in line with the level of the Framework that the case meets.

Level 1 • iCART will signpost to appropriate service(s) to meet the

lower level additional needs

Level 2• iCART may advise a CAF to be undertaken, if there is no

equivalent plan in place. If needs are deemed to be

multiple and complex, a 360 profile may be undertaken

and some cases may benefit from discussion at a

Working Together Meeting to agree appropriate support

and / or CAF Lead Professional

Level 3• For cases found to be open to a named Social Worker or

team, iCART will direct the case appropriately. If the

child/family are not known, or are known but there is no

current involvement, this will be recorded and an

appropriate Social Worker identified to take forward

http://hbc/teams/CART/SharedDocuments/Multi-Agency-Contact-and-Referral-Form.doc

Halton CAF Guidance


Halton Early Intervention Model - Locality Teams

Key Principles of Early Intervention in Halton:

It is underpinned by a robust universal offer, through which all of the Children and

Families’ workforce pro-actively identify those who have additional

needs/vulnerabilities and encourage them to accept help, in order to reduce the

escalation of needs.

It is delivered across the age range of Children aged 0 – 19 and their families, with

a particular focus on 0-5 year olds, as this is a crucial time of development during

which the foundations for later healthy development can be set

For all families with Children of pre-school age, across both universal and early

help services, a focus on enhancing language and communication will have the

best overall effect on their future school readiness and achievement

There is a focus on a strengths’ based model, which enables the development of

strong attachments and healthy family relationships.

One front door for early intervention and safeguarding for Children and families -

multi-agency integrated contact and referral team (iCART) so that all professionals

have a single point of contact

CAF is the key early intervention assessment tool for children and families at level

2 on the level of need framework

Multi-agency working is crucial to achieving outcomes and partners are expected

to actively engage in processes and developments to enable this

There are two Locality teams covering Runcorn and Widnes respectively. They include

Managers and Workers who support families with multiple and complex needs at early

intervention (they usually have a CAF plan). The purpose of the team is to;

Halton CAF Guidance


Context to CAF CAF offers a standardised approach to assessing unborn babies, Children, Young People,

Parents and Carers and deciding how their needs can best be met. It helps practitioners

of all agencies undertake a holistic assessment of need using a common format,

determine the level of need and identify and appropriate response, which can include:

• Single Agency Response

• Request for support from another Agency

• Multi-Agency Response

Provide one-to-one work with children/adults

according to need as defined through a level 2

plan

Deliver targeted group work including structured

parenting programmes

Act as CAF Lead Professional or support CAF

groups

Support the ”step down” process from Children’s

Social Care to early intervention

Facilitate Working Together Meetings - multi-

agency problem-solving forums for complex

cases

Offer support and training for CAF Lead

Professionals with regards to processes and the

role

Halton CAF Guidance


The principles underlying the approach to common assessment are:

How can a CAF help? CAF can help identify what the unmet needs are for a family. It provides a structure for

recording information that you pick up in conversation with them and is a tool to

demonstrate that your concern is based on evidence, not just your assumption. You

don’t have to be an expert to do a CAF. The key thing is to record what information you

do have. Others will be able to add more detail later if a specialist assessment is needed.

When would you not do a CAF?

When children and families are progressing well, or have needs that are being

met

Where you have identified needs and your service can meet them

When there is an alternative early intervention, holistic plan in place

When there are safeguarding concerns or the case is open to social care

When would you do a CAF?

When you are concerned about how well a child (or unborn baby) or young

Think Family Approach

Strenghts and Needs

Understand Role of Parents

/ Carers

Simple to Use

Empowering for Families

Supports Practice

Consent

Halton CAF Guidance


person is progressing. You might be concerned about their health, welfare,

behaviour, progress in learning or any other aspect of their well-being

When the needs are unclear, or broader than your service can address

When it would help identify the needs, and/or get other services to help meet

them

Examples of situations where a CAF could help:

• where a routine post-natal visit causes the practitioner to be concerned about

the living circumstances of a new born baby

• where there are concerns that a baby is significantly behind on developmental

milestones or a child is not progressing in learning as expected

• where a practitioner believes a child may have additional needs and wants to

understand better what they are and what the appropriate response is, for

example, where a school or early years setting perceives a child is being affected

by elements such as domestic situations or health which are not necessarily

related to SEN

• where a practitioner is considering a requesting support from another agency

• where a child is displaying aggressive behaviour, e.g. carrying a knife, or in

relation to bullying, truancy, withdrawal or other behavioural and emotional

issues

• where a child is exhibiting problematic or anti-social behaviour and where the

underlying cause may be hidden (e.g. substance abuse/misuse)

• where a child appears to have additional needs, but is unlikely to be eligible for

support under existing threshold criteria for specialist services e.g. a statement

of SEN

Halton CAF Guidance


Steps Involved

Step 1:

If the child is old enough to understand and competent to make their own decision, they should

be the one to decide whether they would like to be supported via a CAF. Always encourage

them to discuss things with their parents, however, and also ensure that parents and carers’ are

considered. Contact iCART to establish if the family are already being supported via a holistic

plan and request support via the relevant locality team if needed. If you decide a CAF would be

useful, seek agreement from the family and consent to proceed. After you have gained consent,

the CAF should be completed within 4 weeks, in order to prevent drift and further escalation of

needs.

Step 1: Preparation - Discussion with the family around the issues raised so far and what you can do to support. Discuss with others e.g. Line Manager and other Agencies already involved. Whether to do the Assessment is a decision you should make jointly with the family. After you have gained consent, the CAF should be completed within 4 weeks, in order to prevent drift and further escalation of needs.

Step 2: Discussion - talk to and / or observe the Child, Parents/Carers and Siblings. If there has been a previous holistic plan, utilise this information, with the family’s permission. At the end of the discussion you should have a better understanding of the family’s strengths, needs/worries and what can be done to help. You can agree actions that your service and the family can deliver and those which will require support from others.

Step 3: Service Delivery - you deliver on your actions. You request support from other Agencies, using the Common Assessment to demonstrate evidence of need. Progress is monitored using the Delivery Planning and Review Process and Documentation. Where the family require support from more than 2 Agencies, including your own, a Multi-Agency Meeting should be held and a Lead Professional identified. The review cycle should then be implemented up until time of closure

Halton CAF Guidance


Step 2:

The common assessment discussion has six parts:

1. Explain the purpose of the assessment, why you are recording information and what will

happen to it. Ensure the family understand that the CAF is a resource to help them access

services. There is no stigma attached. Check they consent to what is proposed. If the child

is old enough to understand what you are proposing, they should give consent

themselves. Do not assume that children with a disability or learning disabilities are not

capable of understanding. Ensure that you capture the family’s view throughout the

discussion using appropriate techniques.

2. Complete the front page of basic details.

3. Go through the main assessment areas. You should consider each of the three broad

groups separately ie child development, parenting and family/environmental factors (see

further guidance within the appendix).

4. For each assessment domain, you should consider each of the elements in turn, to the

extent they are appropriate in the circumstances. Concentrate on the presenting issues

but you should consider the whole child, not just your own agency focus. You should also

focus on areas of strength in the family, not just needs. The conversations should not be

threatening. You should base your comments on evidence, not opinion, unless you have

evidence to support your opinion. Evidence would be what you have seen, what the

child/young person has said and what the family members have said.

5. Record, with the child or parent, your overall conclusions and the evidence behind them.

Agree what you say with the child or parent and record any major differences of opinion.

Identify solutions and actions. Try to focus on what the child and family can do for

themselves. If they additional support identify where this can be sourced or highlight that

this will be a task as part of the plan.

6. Agree who will do what and when you will review progress. Record the child/young

person’s or parent/carer’s consent to share the assessment information with other

agencies and any limitations on that consent. Give a copy of the assessment to the child

or family and explain that they can show it to other services if they wish to, so they don’t

have to keep repeating their stories from the beginning.

Step 3: A CAF episode is closed due to one of the following reasons:

Needs of child / young person have been met

Child / young person has made the transition into adult services

http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/

http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/

Halton CAF Guidance


Discontinued – child / young person / family – disengaged from services / CAF no longer

required

Episode superseded by alternative holistic assessment process

Moved out of area

Child / young person has died

CAF Documentation In Halton, we use an electronic CAF solution (E-CAF). Practitioners need to access E-CAF

training via contacting Synergy Software Team.

In the Appendix, there is further explanation of what the elements within the CAF mean

and guidance for completion. Halton CAF Documents include:

1. Common Assessment Framework – all sections to be completed, although

some sections will be more detailed according to need. Ensure that the

child(ren)’s view and Parent/Carer’s view is explicit throughout. Needs to be

completed one month after it has been consented to.

2. Delivery Plan – to be completed at the initial Multi-Agency meeting, which

needs to take place 10 days after completion of CAF. Needs to be SMART and

have clear outcomes. Needs to be updated at each subsequent Multi-Agency

CAF meeting i.e. actions closed, updated and new actions added. Ensure the date

is completed and subsequent dates of reviews also added.

3. Review – to be completed at every Review meeting. Needs to detail key

issues/progress since last Review, key actions agreed and the views of the family.

If the Child is not present at the meeting, their view needs to be sought via an

appropriate Professional and added to the Review before submitting. Indicate if

there is a change in Lead Professional and whether or not the CAF is closed at the

meeting NB there needs to be Multi-Agency agreement for the CAF to close.

Additionally, agree the current level of need from the Halton Level of Need

Framework with all attendees and include this within the Review.

4. CAF Closure Form – this needs to be completed when there is Multi-Agency

agreement for the CAF to close. The level of need needs to be stated and views

from key stakeholders regarding the CAF.


Halton CAF Guidance


Lead Professional Role

The Lead Professional is the person responsible for co-ordinating the actions identified

in the assessment process and for being a single point of contact for Children/Families

with identified needs.

The Lead Professional is responsible for ensuring the following tasks are complete

(although they do not to undertake all of the tasks themselves):

The Lead Professional is responsible for delegating these tasks to other Agencies

and share the Responsibility within the CAF meeting.

Halton’s Locality Teams can offer time limited support to the Lead Professional on CAF

processes, which can be varied to suit the knowledge, skills and experience of the Lead

Professional. Examples of support which can be offered includes identifying an

appropriate Lead Professional, guidance with completing paperwork, support with

completing the assessment, guidance on who to invite to Multi-Agency meetings,

support with chairing meetings and exploring options when Lead Professionals feel that

the CAF is not achieving intended outcomes to bring about positive change for a family.

Lead Professional can also attend the weekly Working Together meeting to discuss any

CAF issues:-

Lead Professional -

To Co-ordinate / Delegate

Book Room

Distributing Actions

Taking Minutes

Minute Write Up (on E-CAF)

Sending Out Review (to

those withuth E-CAF access)

Arranging Meeting

Halton CAF Guidance


Runcorn – Every Wednesday 09:30 at Glendale Family Centre

Widnes – Every Friday 09:30 at CGL

If professionals want to discuss a case, a summary of needs should be sent to the

Locality Teams inbox.

Multi-Agencies Roles and Responsibilities

NB when you undertake the Lead Professional role you are NOT responsible or

accountable for the actions of other Practitioners or Services. If a Lead Professional

encounters problems or barriers with other Services, then the HBC Escalation Policy

should be referred to and implemented as appropriate.

Agreeing who will be the Lead Professional

The practitioner who originally identifies the additional needs and completes the CAF

takes on the role of Lead Professional initially. For most families with additional needs

requiring support from a range of services, their Lead Professional will be drawn from

the range of practitioners currently delivering their support. They could be based in the

public, private, voluntary or statutory sector. The wishes and feelings of the family need

to be considered also when agreeing the Lead Professional role.

Trusting Relationship

Single Point of Contact

Effective Service

Co-ordinate Delivery of Actions

Identify Any Additional Services

On-going Support if Specialist Assessment

Required

Support Through Key Transition

Points

Halton CAF Guidance


Changing the Lead Professional Although it is preferable that there is continuity in the person undertaking a Lead

Professional role with a family, there may be occasions whereby a change in Lead

Professional is required such as:

• Where the allocated Lead Professional is changing or leaving employment

• Where the employing agency of the current Lead Professional is ceasing

involvement with the family. This could be because needs have been identified as

complex and a statutory agency has become involved, or because needs have

become less complex and their involvement is no longer necessary. It could also

be because a family disengages from the service currently providing the Lead

Professional role

• Where a parent has taken on the role of Lead Professional, and is unable to

continue in the role

• Where the identified needs change significantly and it would make sense for a

professional from another agency to take on the role (for example, where initial

needs were health related but these are resolved and the major need is then

identified as education)

Procedure for Changing the Lead Professional It is the joint responsibility of the outgoing and incoming Lead Professional to ensure

the family is kept fully informed of the changes, including the reason for the change and

is given written contact details of the new Lead Professional.

Any changes to the allocated CAF Lead Professional should be agreed by the family

and professionals involved with the CAF plan. It is best practice to plan changes in the

Lead Professional as soon as possible, to enable a smooth transition. Ideally, planned

changes should be agreed and implemented at a multi-agency review meeting. This

will give everyone involved with the CAF the opportunity to contribute to the decision

around who is the best person to take on the Lead Professional role.

If there is a disagreement regarding who should take on the role, this should be

resolved through open discussion and consensus, with professionals focussing on the

needs of the child or young person. If no resolution can be found, then the

practitioner should speak with their Line Manager and the relevant Locality Team can

be contacted in order to present the case at a Working Together Meeting. The HBC

Halton CAF Guidance


Escalation Policy should be implemented whenever appropriate including when no

resolution can be found to the identification of a Lead Professional.

Once agreement has been reached about who should take over as Lead Professional,

the following actions should be taken:

• The new Lead Professional should ensure that the child or young person and their

parents and carers have their contact details

• The new Lead Professional should also ensure that all other practitioners involved

in the CAF process are advised of the changes and have their contact details. This

is particularly important regarding those practitioners who were not present when

the new arrangements were discussed

• CAF Administration should be notified of the change by the outgoing Lead

Professional as soon as the new Lead Professional is agreed, to enable the database

to be updated (e-mail [email protected])

• Include the details of this change on the CAF review documentation

Dealing with Practitioners Reluctant to Engage in an Agreed Plan / Disputes In the first instance, it may be possible to resolve any differences by holding a meeting

between all those involved. Additionally the Lead Professional can be contact the

relevant early intervention Locality Team in order to request to present the case at the

Working Together Meeting. At this meeting, multi-agency views are presented in order

to try to resolve barriers to achieving outcomes via the CAF process.

If the above do not enable a solution to be found, the HBC Escalation Policy should be

referred to and implemented appropriately in conjunction with the Lead Professional’s

line manager.

Support for Parents & Carers as Lead Professional

If a Parent/Carer expresses an interest as representing their own family as Lead

Professional, they should be supported in doing so. Support your Agency could offer

include:

• Guidance materials (including web based)

• Mentor or “virtual support” systems

• Appoint co-Lead Professional either initially or at point where it becomes

Halton CAF Guidance


apparent that the parent is struggling

• Contact relevant Locality Team on the parent/carer’s behalf to request support

Multi Agency Meeting Guidance A Multi-Agency meeting should be convened in the following circumstances:

Convening the Initial Multi-Agency Meeting The meeting should be arranged either by the practitioner who undertook the

assessment or the Lead Professional, if one is already working with the family. The

meeting should include the Child or Young Person, their parents/carers, the assessor,

the Lead Professional (if identified) and representatives from all agencies which are

providing services to the family, or which may be able to support the family.

The meeting should be arranged within 10 days of the completion of the CAF

assessment identifying the need for a multi-agency response, or within 10 days of the

practitioner being made aware of the involvement of other professionals.

Consideration should be given to the timing of the meeting to facilitate the attendance

of family members. The venue of the meeting should be familiar to the family, easily

accessible and able to provide comfortable, family friendly surroundings.

Where the practitioner undertaking the assessment identifies that

there is a identified need.

To agree the appropriate provision of services to an unborn, baby,

child or young person and / or their parents/carers

Where the analysis of a CAF indicates that the needs of the

baby, child or young person would benefit from a co-ordinated multi-

agency approach

Halton CAF Guidance


Attendance at Multi Agency Meetings The following people should be invited to attend the meeting:

• All practitioners who have contact with the child or young person. Where the

family request that particular practitioners or agencies are not invited to attend

the meeting this should be respected and there should be liaison undertaken

between the Lead Professional and those agencies to ensure they remain

involved in the CAF process and provision of services.

• Parents, carers & children of a sufficient age should be invited to attend the

meeting. The family should be advised that the meeting will go ahead even if

they do not attend, but they will receive a copy of the support plan from the

meeting. If a child chooses not to attend the meeting, a suitable professional

should be appointed to gather their view.

Chairing the Meeting Either the Lead Professional can chair themselves or they may request that another

professional at the meeting chair it. There is a standard Agenda, which will assist in

the chairing of the meeting. The role of the chair is to:

NB Taking notes and updating documentation can be undertaken by another member of the CAF group. Roles should be agreed prior to the meeting.

Facilitate the Exchange of Information

Facilitate Participation

Follow the Agenda

Help Members to Interpret Information

Manage Conflict

Encourage Communication

Summarise Regulary

Halton CAF Guidance


Review meetings The purpose of review meetings is to review the CAF delivery plan to ensure that

support services have been arranged and are meeting the needs of the baby, child or

young person. The first review meeting should be held within three months of the initial

multi-agency meeting, and future review meetings agreed at intervals as appropriate

(usually 8 -12 weeks however this can be varied according to need and the rationale for

timescales can be evidenced within the review documentation). The following issues

should be discussed at review meetings:

• Progress against actions agreed on the CAF action plan

• Resolution of any issues delaying progress against action plan

• Whether services are meeting the needs of the baby/ child/ young person

• Whether services need to continue

• Whether additional needs have been identified

• Whether additional or alternative services need to be provided

• Whether there are any unmet needs – all gaps in provision should be logged on

the review form.

• The wishes and feelings of the child and parents/carers NB if the child chooses

not to attend the meeting their ‘voice’ must be gathered out of the meeting and

recorded within the review

• Progress and additional SMART actions should be recorded on the delivery plan

and a review document should also be completed at each meeting

Cross Boundary Issues

Cross boundary issues may relate to the boundaries between services within Halton

or geographical boundaries between Local Authorities. In some circumstances

children and young people may move between Boroughs during periods when a

CAF is active, or be resident in one area whilst accessing services in another.

Issues that arise between services within Halton should be minimised as the common

Halton CAF Guidance


processes are adopted by all agencies and services and therefore a consistent approach

is encouraged. If disagreements arise in relation to the Lead Professional role discussion

with appropriate line managers should take place and the Escalation Policy should be

implemented, if necessary.

In circumstances where the issues arise across geographical boundaries these may

be more noticeable as the implementation of the CAF varies from Authority to

Authority. If this situation occurs, open and positive communication between

practitioners and managers will often clarify differences in language. Clear

identification of roles and responsibilities at multi agency meetings and following

the CAF processes will minimise issues arising.

Should a family you are Lead Professional for move out of the borough, please

implement the Cross Boundary Protocol, agreed at the NW Regional CAF Group, in

order to ensure that the CAF support transfers with the family. They will then

contact the CAF Co-Ordinator, or equivalent, in the new Authority and share

appropriate information with them and request that the CAF be continued in their

area. Similarly, other Local Authorities may contact Halton in order to ensure that a

CAF started in another area continues in Halton. CAFs on different formats need to

be accepted in such instances.

Transition into Adult Services Individuals with additional needs may continue to require services beyond the age at

which they are entitled to them as part of children’s services (subject to appropriate

assessment). There are provisions in place for some young people reaching the

threshold between child and adult services, namely:

• an assessment of the needs of young people with learning difficulties and

disabilities up to the age of 25, to help them make an effective transition to adult

services (including CAFs)

• young people in and leaving care continue to get help from Children's Social

Care – via their personal adviser – until they reach 21, or for as long as they

remain in higher education

The planning process that follows a CAF can ensure that there is a clear plan for

addressing any issues identified. The Lead Professional can play a key role in helping a

young person make a smooth transition, in particular by:

• ensuring the young person understands the support he or she is entitled to as a

young adult and what this means, practically, in the context of local service

arrangements;

Halton CAF Guidance


• include adults services in review meetings prior to transfer

• accompanying the young person to introductory meetings with adult services

• sharing CAF information with adult services where appropriate and with consent

It will also be helpful for Lead Professionals to be familiar with how to work with relevant

adult services, including awareness of:

• the circumstances in which a young person is likely to receive services from adult

teams

• the type and level of services available locally / policy & practice guidelines