• Common Assessment Framework
• Early Intervention and Prevention Service (EIPS)
• Lead Professional
• Child and Family Support Meetings
• Information Sharing
• Child Concern Framework
• SCYPP Integrated Working Training
• Sutton's Children & Young People's Plan 2006 - 2009

This section contains information about the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) in Sutton along with all the relevant CAF documentation.

The Common Assessment Framework for children and young people is a shared assessment tool used across agencies in England.  It is designed to help practitioners develop a shared understanding of a child’s needs, so they can be met more effectively. It will avoid children and families having to tell and re-tell the stories.

The CAF will:

Promote earlier intervention where additional needs are observed.

Reduce the number and duration of different assessment processes that children and young people need to undergo

Help embed a common language about the needs of children.

Enable information to follow the child.

Promote the appropriate sharing of information

The CAF in Sutton consists of; a pre-assessment checklist, a CAF Form and a CAF Review Form. All of these documents, together with service specific ‘Request for Service Forms' can be found below. 'Request for Service Forms' should be completed along with a CAF to access particular services. So for example if you wanted to refer a child to Webster-Stratton you should complete a CAF and the Webster-Stratton 'Request for Service Form'.

To find out if a CAF has been completed or started contact the CAF Administrator, Ann Stevens on either or on 020 8404 1538 or on either of the CAF email addresses below

For information on Sutton's CAF processes and procedures please see the LBS CAF flow chart and LBS CAF Guidance below. You can also contact Grant Landon on the email address shown below or on 020 8404 1999.

A copy of the completed CAF should always be sent the CAF Administrator either via email or;

Post: CAF Administrator, CYPLS, The Grove, High Street, Carshalton, SM5 3AL

Fax: 020 8404 0017

For national information on the CAF, Lead Professional, Information Sharing and other ECM initiatives, please click on the link to the every child matters website below.

 N.B. - When opening a document always save a copy to your PC before entering information. On the CAF form and CAF Review form alway click 'enable macros' which activates the spell-checking feature of the form.

To access the Early Intervention and Prevention Service please complete the below Request for Service Form. It is not necessary to complete a CAF but if one has been completed, or any other Statutory Assessment, this should be sent along with the form

• Act as a single point of contact for the child or family, who they can trust and who can engage them in making choices, navigating their way through the system and effecting change
• Co-ordinate the delivery of the actions agreed by the practitioners involved, to ensure that children and families receive an effective service which is regularly reviewed. These actions will be based on the outcome of the assessment and recorded in a plan.
• Reduce overlap and inconsistency in the services provided

For more information on the Lead Professional Role and specifically how it is being implemented in Sutton please see the Lead Professional Guidance below.

If you need specific advice or support please contact Grant Landon on the email address below or on 020 8404 1999

A Child and Family Support Meeting  (CFSM) provides a structure for agencies to come together to address need for children and young people at Stage 3 of the of the Child Concern Framework. The meeting provides a tool for workers across agencies to come together to pool information, expertise and problem solving skills around children and young people. The emphasis is on the early identification of children and young people at risk of developing higher levels of needs and not achieving one or more of the positive outcomes. The success of these meetings relies on agencies having a genuine desire to work together and openly with families.

Sharing information is vital for early intervention to ensure that children and young people get the services they require. It is also essential to protect children and young people from suffering harm from abuse or neglect, and to prevent them from offending.

Organisations working with people in Sutton, like all such organisations, keep records. A new version of the leaflet 'Information About You' has been produced. Practitioners working with children, young people and their families, should give them copies of this leaflet to explain how, why and when information is collected and shared.

To obtain copies of this leaflet contact Grant Landon on the email address below or on 020 8404 1999.

Alternatively, you can download a copy below.

The exchange of sensitive information between agencies must be done in a secure way. The document below, 'secure email guidance', details how you can securely exchange sensitive information via email.

In Sutton there is an integrated approach to achieving positive outcomes for vulnerable children using the Child Concern Framework known as the Sutton Sun.

This model includes an integrated approach to early identification of need, assessment and the provision of services. Severity of need is aligned with a framework for assessment and a coherent structure of information sharing.

A key element of the approach is that individual agencies can initiate multi-agency assessment, planning and support when the need arises. This will help us to focus our efforts in a coherent and connected way across all agencies dealing with children and young people.

• Using the CAF in Practice – aimed at new and returning employees who are or will be involved in the CAF process

• CAF Update / Refresher – aimed at practitioners who need to update their knowledge and understanding of CAF principles and processes

• Lead Professional Workshops – aimed at professionals who are involved in the CAF process and who may act as Lead Professional

• Chairing Child and Family Support Meetings – aimed at professionals who are or will be chairing Child and Family Support Meetings 

• Information Sharing  – aimed at any professionals who need to obtain and exchange sensitive client data in the course of their work

Attached below are dates of forthcoming courses and flyers for each course. To book a place on CAF, Lead Professional and Information Sharing Courses please contact Chris Lewis - 020 8770 5295. To book a place on the Chairing Child and Family Support Meeting Courses please contact Tracy Gunstone - 020 8770 6855

For further information on any of these courses please contact Grant Landon - 020 8404 1999

The Children and Young People's Plan identifies the needs and priorities of children and young people in Sutton and explains how the Council and its partners will work together to meet those needs over the next three years, with specific actions for the next twelve months.

In particular the Children and Young People's Plan seeks to:

• extend and further develop our preventative and early intervention strategies and services;
• ensure that the most vulnerable, challenging or disadvantaged children and young people are given every opportunity to succeed;
• develop still more integrated and secure approaches to safeguarding and protecting children and promoting their welfare.