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Related content

• Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
• eCAF Question and Answer
• Electronic Enablement of the CAF - Evaluation of High-Level Options
• Integrated working
• Multi-agency services: Building the work group
• Multi-agency services: Location
• Multi-agency services: Partnership agreements
• Multi-agency services: Staffing

E-enablement of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF): National eCAF

On 25 July 2007, the Government announced that it would provide assistance to front-line professionals in children's services by implementing a national ICT system to support the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). The National eCAF system is the e-enablement of the CAF.

The National eCAF system

The National eCAF system allows practitioners to electronically create, store and share a CAF securely. It gives practitioners from different sectors, who are approved and trained to use the system, appropriate access to information on assessments. This allows them to participate in the delivery of the most appropriate services. In order to gain access to the CAF, practitioners need explicit consent from the young people who are the subject of the CAF and/or, where appropriate, their parents or carers.

Benefits of a National eCAF system

The National eCAF system is available to all organisations that work with children. It is strongly recommended that the system is taken up by as many organisations as possible, in order to maximise the benefits of a national approach.

From an organisational perspective:

the system facilitates the effective and efficient delivery of coordinated services the system promotes multi-agency and cross-border working and early interventions the costs of design, build, hosting and software are met by the DCSF the CAF (supported by the National eCAF system) also helps organisations involved in the delivery of children's services meet their statutory duties under sections 10 and 11 of the Children Act 2004.

For practitioners the National eCAF system will:

facilitate cross-border working increase the transparency of work performed by other agencies free up time for practitioners by implementing a consistent approach and more efficient working practices.

For children or families the National eCAF system will:

reduce the need for multiple assessments create a holistic view of childrens' needs   encourage early identification and responses to those needs.

National eCAF progress to date

The DCSF National eCAF project team continues to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that developments are relevant and lead to more effective practices. It also works closely with colleagues delivering other Every Child Matters (ECM) initiatives such as ContactPoint and the Integrated Children's System (ICS).

Practitioners' input is vital to ensuring the successful design of the National eCAF system. From the outset, practitioners were involved in the design and procedures of the CAF and made recommendations for appropriate ICT support. The National eCAF system user group was established to bring together key stakeholders from the National eCAF user base.

The National eCAF system will be deployed in a phased approach and the DCSF is working with a National eCAF early adoptor group, to help shape the overall implementation approach.

It is planned that National eCAF will be available in the first quarter of 2010. An update will be provided in spring 2009.

Contact the National eCAF project team

The National eCAF project team can be contacted directly by email.

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Last updated on 26/01/2009