Exploration of the costs and impact of the Common Assessment Framework

Abstract

• The models of service delivery, along with the remit of the teams responsible for the Common Assessment Framework (CAF), differed substantially across the four participating authorities. The implementation and use of CAF was led by Integrated Working (IW) teams in two of the authorities and CAF strategy teams in the other two authorities. Two of the authorities had implemented eCAF and two had developed local systems for the recording of CAF. • Overall, parents/carers interviewed for this study were positive about the CAF and the support they received following an assessment. The interviewees that were less positive were those who had experienced delays or a lack of communication from the CAF initiator following the completion of the CAF assessment. • The Lead Professional role was highly valued; both parents/carers and professionals reported that this role was both a key service, through the provision of emotional and practical support, and of central importance to ensuring a coordinated service response, through advocacy. • Some parents/carers expressed concerns that being assessed using a CAF might lead to professionals across agencies making judgements about their parenting skills and subsequently result in a referral to children’s social care. Clarification for parents/carers of data sharing protocols, along with explanation of the link between CAF and children’s social care might alleviate these misconceptions. • Professionals using CAF in the participating authorities reported that in general it had resulted in

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