To think CAF's are a waste of time

[PenelopePisstop]

Common Assessment Framework. Paperwork, meetings, time, going round in circles and most of all doing Social Services work for them!

Before Social Workers go for me - it's the system that pisses me right off. How SW's stay sane working in their structure I do not know. Or maybe it's just my crappy Local Authority.

Pretty big generalisation there. When CAF's work they are really worth it. Quick and efficient use of resources.
Having to lead a CAF is a pain but experience tells me they aren't 't all bad, sorry.

Agree on leading and I'm probably 'on one' because my LA is particularly poor.

My experience of them is pretty pants too. Take ages to fill in & result in not a lot happening. If you're lucky you might get involved with months or even years of meetings with little outcome. X

We can't even get anyone to help sort a CAF for us, I keep asking and getting nowhere and we can't even get on a social workers case load as we aren't 'critical enough'.

That about sums it up melly, no-one will help you because 'we' are supposed to do it.

When we try to refer to Social Services, there is no response or they say no further action. Meanwhile there are young people in need.

All we get is our local authority preaching to us abou what 'we' should do.

Sorry, but if used properly, CAF'S work well.

It is individual LA's, or individuals, that stop the process from working as it should.

Last year, the criteria for intervention was changed, when the budget cuts came in. It was a back door way of giving less, without looking like you were (as directed by the government).

There were cuts across the board and to the most vulnerable.

At the same time the charities, who are used under the CAF, either cut their budgets, or ceased to exist.

I work directly in this process within the NHS. For the last 3.5 years there have been 9 of us who cover one area of the country, providing clerical and admin support for authors and lead professionals. During this time we have seen so many improvements in outcomes for lots of chidren, young people, and their families, where the process has been taken on board and used correctly. My job was to carry out the tedious paperwork duties involved, and allow the lp's to concentrate on the more important aspects of care. We have found it has worked very well and generally get good feedback from families who have been involved and benefitted. It's not perfect, obviously, still the gap between the upper limit of the CAF's scope and the thresholds of Social Care - but it has - in my experience - helped lots of children and families.

From what you say meetme you are definately not working in my area. I can see that with then right resources and support then the CAF would work, however sadly it my area that is not the case.

penelope, I don't think I'll be working in my area for too much longer! The results of the 'review' are to be annnounced in the next couple of weeks and I think we are seen as a luxury service (even though we are all part-time band 3's!). It's such a shame, I'm quite passionate about my job as I've witnessed the benefits CAF can bring - but the advances made in our area will probably just slide away

As a parent of a child with SN i found the CAF system very helpful, though this was 4 years ago.

It also is very dependant on the person filling out the CAF forms having the knowledge & ability to fill the forms out so the child involved accesses the appropiate services.

Like everything CAF forms aren't perfect but when used as intended they can make a massive difference to a family.

shellywelly I think you've hit the nail on the head there, you engaged and so the process was effective. Unfortunately, for the young people that I work with, the parent (s) will not engage and are generally the biggest part of the YP's problems. So no amount of form fill and meeting will help the YP.

On the very few occasions where parents like yourself have been fully supportive, then the CAF system works.