National eCAF is a secure consent-based IT system for storing, accessing and sharing information captured through a Common Assessment Framework
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) has been developed to help practitioners working with children, young people and families to assess the additional needs of children and young people and to work together to meet them.
National eCAF will enable authorised, trained practitioners from across the children’s workforce to electronically store and share CAF information quickly and securely, and to work together to build a holistic picture of a child or young person’s needs. The system reduces the need for children, young people and families to repeat their story for different services.
A single system for cross-border, multi-agency working
Children with additional needs often need support from more than one agency and from more than one local authority area, which is why cross-border, multi-agency working is so important.
Currently, CAF information is paper-based or stored on local IT systems. National eCAF will operate across local authority areas, unlike local systems.
Practitioners who use National eCAF can be located in any area of the country and within any accredited organisation, working together across borders and agencies, improving the service experience and continuity of care for children, young people and families who move locations or use multiple services in different areas.
Who will benefit from National eCAF?
At any one time, 3-4 million children and young people in England will need to access additional services over and above the core health and education services. Some of these children and young people will need help from multiple agencies, and it is these children in particular that the CAF and National eCAF are designed to support.
Some benefits of National eCAF
- More secure, faster sharing of the most up-to-date CAF information (with consent) reducing the need for children, young people and families to repeat their story
- Facilitates cross-border, multi-agency working enabling practitioners to build a more holistic picture of a child or young person’s needs
- Improves the service experience and continuity of care for children, young people and families accessing services across different areas
How will National eCAF work?
National eCAF is simply an electronic version of the standard CAF process already being used by children’s services practitioners across England. The National eCAF system is based on the latest CAF form and guidance issued by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
With the informed and explicit consent of a child or young person (or their parent/carer where appropriate) a practitioner will enter information gathered through the CAF process, and any agreed actions to meet the additional needs identified. Other authorised and agreed practitioners supporting that child or young person can view this information and update their own actions and enter relevant information onto the National eCAF system.
Improving outcomes for children, young people and families
For practitioners to provide the best possible services for children and young people they need the best available tools and guidance to work with. National eCAF promotes a standard, best practice approach to the CAF process. It has been developed in close consultation with stakeholders across the children’s workforce, including practitioners from all sectors, local authorities from each region, and voluntary organisations including Barnardo’s and Kids.
Access and security
The National eCAF system complies with national and international standards for secure information management. Practitioners will only have access to information about a child or young person they are specifically working with, and only after the informed and explicit consent of that child or young person (or their parent/carer where appropriate). National eCAF users must complete training, identity checks and enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.
National eCAF timing
National eCAF is being implemented in a phased approach. A small group of six Early Adopter organisations were the first to access the system in March 2010, and a national rollout will begin in 2011. The DfE (Department for Education) will make the system available to accredited local authorities and national partners, who will then make the system available to practitioners in their area. Roll out of National eCAF to practitioners in the Leicester City area began in December 2010.
For more information
Leicester City eCAF Team
Leicester City CAF Information Team
To find out more about eCAF, CAF, information sharing or other aspects of integrated working, please visit the Department for Education website and Children’s Workforce Development Council website.
