Stockport's Common Processes Team has been developed to ensure a co-ordinated and integrated approach to new ways of working, bringing together the Common Assessment Framework (C.A.F.), the Lead Practitioner, the Team Around the Child (T.A.C.) process and ContactPoint.
This means that all services which work with children, young people and their families, whether in statutory, community or voluntary sectors will use the same method (C.A.F.) for initially assessing children and understanding their needs. The aim of this is to reduce duplication, and support integrated working.
The underlying principles of the Common Assessment Framework are:
- It looks at the whole child/young person
- It takes account of strengths as well as needs
- It is simple to use
- It is empowering
- It enables and encourages information held by agencies to follow the child
- It is a tool to support practice
The Team Around the Child process has been developed to provide a consistent approach for people working with children who may need extra help, including children with disabilities. The process is available for children and young people of all ages from 0 to 18.
The underlying principles of the Team Around the Child model are:
- The child's needs must come first
- The child's welfare is everyone's responsibility
- All organisations must work together
- The parents'/carers' rights must be considered
- The family should always be present at a Team Around the Child Meeting
ContactPoint is a key element of the Every Child Matters programme to transform children's services by supporting more effective prevention and early intervention. It provides a quick way for authorised practitioners in different services to find out who is working with a child or young person. This will make it easier for practitioners to work as part of a team and deliver faster, more coordinated support.
Common Assessment Framework Frequently Asked Questions
This section answers frequently asked questions regarding the Common Assessment Framework (C.A.F.).
If you have a query that is not answered here, please contact the Common Processes Team, where a team member will be happy to assist you with your query and support you throughout the C.A.F. process.
Common Processes Forms and Templates
The Common Processes Team has created forms and templates to assist practitioners through the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and Team Around the Child (TAC) process
Common Processes Procedures
In partnership with other agencies, the Common Processes Team has created Guidance to ensure that there is clarity for practitioners on how to use to use the Common Assessment Framework and Team Around the Child process.
Common Processes Team Structure
Common Processes Team Structure
Community Outreach Team
The Community Outreach Team offers support to children, young people and families who are experiencing difficulties in order to prevent family breakdown and enable the child or young person to remain in the family home if it is safe to do so.
Forthcoming Training
Information about forthcoming training events
Information Sharing Guidance
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (D.C.S.F.) have launched Information Sharing Guidance for practitioners working with children and young people. We have developed our own guidance in Stockport which reflects this but also refers to the agreements that have been signed by our partners allowing us to share information between agencies.
Northwest Regional Common Assessment Framework Group
Stockport's Common Processes Team meets regularly with colleagues from other North West authorities as part of a regional group. The function of this group is to share practice and work towards a consistent approach with regard to supporting children and families across the region that are in need of a multi-agency response.
Team Around the Child Frequently Asked Questions
The Child in Need (C.I.N.) process is now known as ‘Team Around the Child’ (T.A.C.) to emphasise that the process brings together parents and practitioners, into a small, individualised team for each particular child who has been identified as having additional needs. Team Around the Child (T.A.C.), promotes supportive early intervention and is part of the strategy for integrated service delivery to improve outcomes for children and young people.