Common Assessment Framework

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of delivering frontline services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people. The CAF is a standardised approach to conducting assessments of children's additional needs and deciding how these should be met. It is used by practitioners across children's services and it is designed for use with children of all ages.  

The CAF promotes more effective, earlier identification of additional needs. It aims to provide a simple process for a holistic assessment of children's needs and strengths; taking account of the roles of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development. Practitioners are then better placed to agree with children and families about appropriate modes of support. 

Agencies on Wirral should only use the Wirral CAF form which can also be downloaded from this page. The Pre CAF form is also available from this page and can be used to help decide whether a CAF is necessary. National and local information, guidance and resources about integrated working and CAF can be downloaded from this page. The latest local CAF training information and a booking form can be downloaded here.  

The Team Around the Child (TAC) forms part of Wirral’s response to the Every Child Matters agenda by ensuring every child and young person is given help where needed to: 

  • Be healthy
  • Stay safe
  • Enjoy and achieve
  • Make a positive contribution
  • Achieve economic well-being 

The TAC brings together a range of different practitioners from across the children and young people’s workforce to support an individual child or young person and their family. The members of the TAC develop and deliver a package of solution-focused support to meet the needs identified through the CAF.  

The Team Around the Child model places the child at the centre of all activity and requires family members to be fully involved in the process. The model is used and supported by eleven area teams located across Wirral. The area teams provide support to children and young people, families and agencies involved with CAF and TAC. Contact details can be downloaded from this page.

Documents available for download from this page include: