Issue - meetings

To consider  the CAF action plan following  the CAF audit undertaken in September 2010.

The committee considered the common assessment framework (CAF) action plan which set out activities undertaken to address issues highlighted in the audits of CAF practices undertaken in August and September. These actions would not take account of the recommendations made in the recent follow up audit work completed in November as there would not have been time to consider these proposals and add potential actions to the plan.

The committee noted the particular issues highlighted for action in the audits which  were: evaluation of assessments undertaken which had resulted in no additional service being required,  level of information on CAF activity on Framework I and the backlog of CAF’s to be reviewed by a manager. Members were advised that the CAF Panel continued to monitor cases where there was no service allocation agreed. Where there was poor quality information supplied on the CAF form, this was followed up by the CAF Panel, with referrers, to ensure important information was supplied.  In response, to the detail of information held on Framework I concerning CAF decisions, we noted that the decisions taken by the CAF Panel were checked and ratified before addition to a child’s record on Framework I which, usually meant that there was a delay in adding this information to the system following the panel meeting. The timescale for clearing the backlog of CAF cases for decision was by the end of the year.

Clarification was sought on the training provided for referrers completing a CAF form. We were informed that Social Workers were already aware of the basic requirements of the CAF form, learned through their training.  There were sessions provided by a combination of council officers and partner representatives for staff that are and should be undertaking CAF’s. A new programme of training sessions on the due to start in Jan 2011.

The committee noted the CAF action plan and agreed that it be a standing item on the agenda to enable them to be kept informed of the continuing work to clear the backlog of cases.

There was concern expressed on the purpose, length and format of the CAF and whether it was always the right solution when seeking an additional service for a child. The committee however accepted that the information provided by the CAF could enable professionals at a CAF Panel meeting to detect any serious underlying issues the child maybe encountering. Also the discussion between the referrer and the parent, which the completion of the CAF form initiated, was recognised by the committee to be important in its own right.

RESOLVED

1. That a progress report on the actions, particularly the backlog of cases, in the CAF Action Plan be considered at our next meeting in January.

2. That a workshop session between the CAF  Panel, referrers, and the Children’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Committee is arranged to take place in the first quarter of the new year. The Independent Member in collaboration with the CAF Panel chair will devise a programme for this session.