CAF is not related to child protection. Say for example, you have a child who you feel has a serious delay in speech. You would talk with the parent and with their agreement (very important that they agree and are a part of the assessment) you would instigate a CAF. This means filling out a form outlining your and the parent's concerns. From there a meeting is held which includes all professionals. At the meeting the child is discussed and the professionals work together to best help the child.
This may involve speech therapists, educational psychologists, you, the staff from your staffing, the Health Visitor etc.
In this way all of the professionals are working together, information is shared and the best services are provided for the child, in line with the 5 positive outcomes under Every Child Matters.
When I thought that my son was deaf (many years ago) I had to:
1 Go to my Health Visitor
2 Health Visitor advised me to see my GP
3 GP referred us to hospital
4 Hospital fitted hearing aids
5 Ear Nose and Throat dept sent us to speech therapy
6 Speech therapist advised us to contact Educational Psychologist (to find out what sort of school he should go to)
7 Ed Psy told me to seek a nursery place for my son
8 Nursery advised me to join the National Deaf Children's Society
For each step I had to explain my son's condition and who had done what and why!
Very difficult indded!
Had CAF existed can you imagine how much easier things would have been for me and my son?
So CAF saves the parent from repeating the condition over and over
All professionals are informed of what is happening at the same time
Best services are provided.
Every child under the age of 18's details are kept on a national register
The details are name, address, GP, DOB, Parent's names BUT no details other than 'CAF being undertaken' is available.
The National Register is only able to be viewed by a some professionals involved in the child's CAF.
I'm sorry that this is so long winded but I really hope it helps
Ann
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