Common Assessment Framework

The Department for Children Schools and Families announced in a written ministerial statement on 25 July 2007 that the Government will implement a single national IT system (eCAF) to support the common assessment framework for childrens services. The common assessment framework (CAF) is a key element of the Every Child Matters programme and aims to provide a standardised approach for practitioners in the assessment of a childs needs and the design of an integrated service to meet those needs. The system will hold information about only some (not all) children, with consent and for a limited period of time. For more information see September [2007] Fam Law.