The Children’s Trust Board should have clear arrangements in place for implementing the Common Assessment Framework locally. This includes ensuring that the whole children and young people’s workforce are aware of it and how it is used, and that there are enough people in the local area with the necessary skills, training and support to undertake a CAF. These arrangements should reflect that the CAF form is not a referral form, although it may be used to support a referral or specialist assessment. The absence of a CAF should not be a barrier to accessing services.
