The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a standardised approach to assessing children and young people’s needs and deciding how they should be met.

The CAF is a key element of our strategy to delivering more effective early intervention and prevention and is a tool for the identification and initial assessment of children and young people considered to be in need of additional support.

Once completed the CAF will serve as a useful way to share information and to track and review a child or young person’s progress. At the point a CAF is completed by a practitioner they are also encouraged to consider and identify any future likely or predictable difficulties a child may face, for example the transition to secondary school. The CAF form should be used by practitioners in all agencies who work with unborn babies, babies, children, young people and their families and have been trained in its use.

The ‘CAF Support and Information Service'  will provide support with:

• the CAF Framework and Process
• helping you decide whether a CAF is the best way forward
• checking whether a CAF exists
• advice on appropriate and relevant agencies

Early Intervention Assessment Guidelines (PDF 86KB)

The following documents are available to download in Word just remember to save in a secure area.

Early Intervention Pre-assessment checklist (PDF 188KB) (Word)

This form is to be used if you are undecided as to whether a full CAF should be completed for a child or young person. If you answer no to two or more questions it is recommended a full CAF should be completed.

Early Intervention Assessment Form (PDF 384KB) (Word)

This is the main form to be used when assessing the needs of a child or young person

Early Intervention Assessment Delivery Plan and Review (PDF 230KB) (Word)

The delivery plan and review forms are to be used at the Team Around the Child meetings (TAC).

Further information for managers and practitioners can be found on the Department of Education's website.

Completed Common Assessment Framework (CAF) forms can be sent by secure email to the CAF Support and Information Service. If you have a Central Bedfordshire Council email address (for example: your.name@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk) you can attach the completed form to an email and send it to  cafadmin@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

If you do not have a Central Bedfordshire Council email address, you will either need to request a secure and encrypted email from the CAF Support and Information Service, or post the completed assessment to:

CAF Support and Information Service
Central Bedfordshire Council
Watling House,
Second Floor, Block C
High Street North
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU6 1LF