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Original poster

What is a CAF meeting that your midwife undertakes with you.

42 replies

EmilyJane86 · 28/02/2014 23:17

I am 9 weeks pg and I agreed to having a CAF meeting with my midwife thinking it was some routine thing. After speaking to friends they tell me they did not have one? I have a history of depression but I am fine now could this be why the midwife has asked to do one?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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wherethewildthingis · 01/03/2014 00:47

Sorry op for coming across like a massive cow.... Just that I think when you do your e learning tomorrow you will feel much better about this. And have a look at that link. It's very much about giving you the support you need, and nothing else at this point. Good luck.

Original poster

EmilyJane86 · 01/03/2014 00:54

Thanks. I feel better now as long as it's about support and not thinking I won't be a fit mother xx

OP posts:

Sillylass79 · 01/03/2014 01:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bugoven · 01/03/2014 03:43

Many members of my family have various mental health problems and I have suffered with depression myself. Like you, I put the welfare of my child first and when asked at my booking in appointment if I had any mental health problems, was honest. My MW added some notes to the section on my form along with "to be aware". If at some point I am offered some additional support I would also feel a little worried but most importantly be grateful that I had been heard and my concerns taken seriously. Please don't worry too much. I have carried out CAFs myself several times as part of my work with young people and sometimes the conclusion was that maybe some additional support such as a nice course for the kid and regular contact with mum would ensure the family's needs were met. There were far more complex cases aswell but for families in crisis. I really think you did the right thing by being honest.

PuppyMummy · 01/03/2014 07:01

Agree with some other posters, CAF is not routine but nor is it child protection.

I am a year head at a school and several of my children are subject to a CAF. its about any agencies being involved getting together to support or allows access to other agencies for support (some will not take a referal unless a CAF is in place).

It is voluntary but I would be careful with just cancelling any meetings. You could end up in a situation where you refusing to engage looks worse and raises more concerns.

Could be better to go along with it and if there are no concerns then it can just be closed.

I would also be cross that the midwife hasn't explained to you properly what it is.

hth

peeapod · 01/03/2014 07:59

please be careful. This is scary reading for me as thats how it was put to me and how it was all wrapped up in support and love etc.

Please take a look at my blog (which i posted on another thread you posted im sure) about the caf threasholds etc. It is exactly aboit child protection.

The caf is not for you. It is to assess your unborn child and their potential needs considering your additional 'needs'.

My caf was done at the worst possible point in my pregnancy as i was moving a week later. There was so much focus on what i couldn't do rather than what i could. It was very medicalised and very negative. The report is littered with all these random 'concerns', some of which appeared after the caf had been done.
If the midwife had actually addressed these with us it would have been better. As it happens this triggered a referal to social services and other 'support' agencies. It shot my aniwxty through the roof.
One of the concerns was that we werent ready for baby. I was 18w pg!! Ffs.
I dont want to scare you i want you to be equipped. You cant get out of it, but you can have a better experience than me by being aware of its true intention before the event. If you google caf assessment you can even find all the forms online and see what it involves. As i said.. Its been a nightmare for us because its scrutiny wrapped up in support. It was concerned the house was a bit messy for example (remember we were moving) and this has left us completely paranoid and really anal about cleaning. Whoever thought a clean house and being good parents were realted? Feel free to pm me if you need anything else...

Sillylass79 · 01/03/2014 08:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Minifingers · 01/03/2014 08:37

My dd's head of year (she is in year 10) is requesting a CAF for her because of her challenging behaviour in school and out. I am grateful - we have been struggling on alone for 3 years with dd, and I've been longing for some social services involvement to support us and her.

LucyB1 · 01/03/2014 08:43

I wouldn't worry a cad is there to support you. Nothing more. It is a process where by multiple agencies can work together to common outcomes (not overlap work). You will be involved in the assessment and subsequent meetings and your day is always taken into account (you set the outcomes etc) please don't worry. It is there to support you.

LucyB1 · 01/03/2014 08:43

caf

peeapod · 01/03/2014 08:54

please dont say its there to support you when the CAF isn't even about you but the unborn child and protecting them.. heres the information on them... read please.. <a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130903161352/www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/strategy/integratedworking/caf/a0068970/the-pre-caf-and-full-caf-forms" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130903161352/www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/strategy/integratedworking/caf/a0068970/the-pre-caf-and-full-caf-forms

LucyB1 · 01/03/2014 08:56

It is there to support the family. Following the initial caf assessment there will be taf meetings. Which mean team around the family. To coordinate support around the FAMILY.

Original poster

EmilyJane86 · 01/03/2014 08:57

It's only going to be my midwife in the meeting and it's not for a month lol. My parter is a policeman we own our house. I just think she's worried about me getting pnd

OP posts:

Sillylass79 · 01/03/2014 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Diamondsareagirls · 01/03/2014 18:22

Hi OP,
As other posters have said, this will have been done as a result of a referral your GP will have made when you when for support with your depression. Everything you have said about your current situation will mean the agencies involved in your CAF will not be concerned about the wellbeing of your child unless you refuse to engage in the process and then you will find things get more intense as it will raise some red flags.

I can imagine this must be very frustrating to hear as you were very honest with your gp and have since got yourself into a fantastic place in your life. Try not to let it frustrate/annoy you but at the same time don't let the midwife fob you off with it being about offering you baby massage courses etc as that isn't true.

Mumof3xx · 01/03/2014 18:29

The initial meeting just you and your midwife for an hour is likely to fill in the caf

This would then be distributed to any other professionals involved with you now and in the future and then more meetings would take place with these people present

The caf itself is a document about you and your baby and your situation. It's given to professionals involved to insure they have all the info needed and that they don't have to keep asking you the same things

MostWicked · 01/03/2014 20:41

A CAF does not mean child protection. It can sometimes, other times there are no CP issue or concerns at all. It is just a way of getting all the professionals who are involved in supporting you, working together to ensure that your child's needs are met, and that clearly includes, ensuring that you have all the support you need.

It is completely voluntary and you can pull out at any time, so if you have the meeting and complete the form with your MW, if you don't like what she wants to write, you don't have to agree to it. It cannot go ahead without you.

There are LOADS of families I know, who have a CAF to get access to additional support because of illness or disability.

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