What is a Lead Professional?
Where a child or young person with multiple additional needs requires support from more than one practitioner, the lead professional is someone who:
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Acts as a single point of contact that the child or young person and their family can trust, and who is able to support them in making choices and in navigating their way through the system
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Ensures that they get appropriate interventions when needed, which are well planned, regularly reviewed and effectively delivered through the CAF action plan
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Reduces overlap and inconsistency from other practitioners
The Lead Professional is NOT responsible for booking the TAC meeting, inviting practitioners to the meeting or ensuring the actions agreed are carried out.
Many practitioners in the children and young people’s workforce can be a lead professional at certain times for some of their cases. The following list gives some examples of who may take on the role:
- Children centre workers
- Health visitors
- Housing support staff
- Learning mentors
- Connexions advisors
- Early years workers
- Education welfare officers
- Police officers
A child, young person, parent or carer can request that the CAF process is undertaken. It is possible that a young person, parent or carer may go on to be the lead professional.
