Common Assessment Framework

Safeguarding Children is about doing our best for all children and young people and keeping them safe from harm. The aim of the Every Child Matters: Change for Children System is to identify at an early stage if a child or young person may need to extra support that is not already addressed by the universal services that all children and young people receive, for example by school or their GP.

The Common Assessment Framework is a tool that is being used nationally to help people working with children and young people to look at these extra support needs. It also encourages them to work with other groups and people who may be involved with the child. It can be used by anyone working with children and young people, and the voluntary and community sector has an equal part to play

So when would you use a Common Assessment?

You may come across a child or young person in the work you do in your voluntary group who you have some concerns about. They are not very serious concerns and you do not feel they are in any immediate danger of significant harm. You do however think that they, and/or their family, could do with some extra support in some way, from more than one agency.

How do you go about starting a Common Assessment?

If you did have such concerns, and thought a Common Assessment would help the child or young person, your next step would be to find out if anyone else who is working with the child has similar concerns.
If this type of situation arises, you should contact the Change for Children Team within Children and Young People’s Services. They will be able to give you support and guidance on what to do next. Their contact details are below.

The Common Assessment itself

If it is decided that a child would benefit from a Common Assessment, those working with the child and their family get together to complete a Common Assessment Framework form. This looks at different aspects of the child’s life and how they are developing in the following areas; Development of the child, Parents and Carers and Family and Environmental factors. Strengths as well as weaknesses are discussed and recorded and then conclusions and required actions will be agreed. Everyone should then work together to try and meet the needs that the Common Assessment has identified. This process however does not guarantee that a child/ family will receive any extra services or support.

If you feel that a child is being abused or is at risk of significant harm, the Common Assessment Framework is NOT appropriate. In this situation child protection procedures must be followed.

If you feel that starting a Common Assessment would be of benefit to a child and their family, or if you are asked to be involved in the process, there is support and guidance out there for you.

Further Information
Children and Young People’s Services in Wigan have a Change for Children Team. They are there to introduce this system throughout the borough. If you do have concerns about a child and feel a Common Assessment would be useful, you can contact them to discuss it further.
Change for Children Team
Opening Hours- 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Phone Number- 01942 828844
Address- Wigan Council Children and Young People’s Services, 7 Worsley Terrace, Gateway House, Standishgate, Wigan, WN1 1XW

The team are producing a CAF Handbook for all those working with children and young people in the borough. You can get your copy either from the Change for Children Team or Wigan and Leigh CVS.

You can also access further information on the Every Child Matters: Change for Children website, www.everychildmatters.gov.uk. You will find information and fact sheets on the Common Assessment Framework and also a sample form.