The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a national, standardised approach to conducting a holistic assessment of the needs of a child or young person and deciding how their needs should be met. It enables and supports early intervention, and cross-agency working.

The Government has planned to assist front-line professionals in children's services by implementing a single national IT system to support the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). The National eCAF system is the e-enablement of CAF.

CAF training is now part of the Integrated Working & Safeguarding Programme. For more information please click here

Learning Locator - information on centres offering practitioner related courses throughout the city.

eLearning courses - Safeguarding Children, CAF Awareness, Information Sharing

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts -  free training for Portsmouth practitioners.

On 22nd July the Government announced that ContactPoint will be shut down on 6th August.  For more information please email CPMT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, or telephone 023 9284 1462. 

CAF Pre-assessment form (Word doc)

NEW CAF form (June 2010)

CAF Supporters Flyer (July 2010)

Inter-Agency Referral Form (Word doc)

Inter-Agency Practitioners Toolkit  (web page) 

Integrating Processes Bulletins (web page)

Guidance to Parenting Contract (Word doc)

Parenting Contract Invite Letter (Word doc)

Education Parenting Contract Template (Word doc)

Voluntary Agencies Parenting Contract Template (Word doc)

YOT Parenting Contract Template (Word doc)

Note: the Toolkit is being revised and will be reissued in February 2010.

Children's Workforce Development Council - training, qualifications, support and advice.

HM Government Information Sharing Guidance (Oct 2008) - guidance for practitioners & managers; pocket guide; case examples; legal guidance.

What About Us?  (Oct 2008) Key Findings from the project that worked with pupils, students and teachers to find better ways to include young people with learning disabilties in the life of mainstream schools and colleges. 

The Independent Safeguarding Authority - responsible for new vetting & barring scheme due to go live in October 2009.

Integrated working factsheets  - from the ECM website 

Every Child Matters Glossary - reproduced by kind permission of the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (Note: this is a large PDF file)