Should i do a CAF

[spiritsam]

Hi everyone my nursery suggested doing a CAF for my DD so that i don't keep having to tell her story over and over . Have any of you done this and did it help please ? x

Yes, def fill in CAF (Common Application Form).

It gets you 'well and truly' in the system.

They can then use that same form to ask for help from different agencies.....

Ah brilliant , thanks so much :) x

Oops not sure if i was clear enough meant a Common Assessment Framework , do you mean the same thing ? x p.s. forgive my ignorance it's all new to me :)

I think I got it wrong. That's what I meant.

No i appreciate your input . Thank you x

In my LA area, the CAF is used as a way of 'diverting' children away from obtaining SEN assistance directly e.g. ASD Outreach, EP. So, if school want the EP to see a child, the LA will make them fill in a CAF and suddenly access to statutory services becomes a matter for discussion in meetings as a way of prolonging the inevitable appearance of the professional you are seeking to access. This is unlawful and we have challenged this practice successfully.

However, if used properly, with the appropriate protections for data sharing and retention, the CAF can be helpful as you suggest as it can lead to a holistic approach and aid multi-agency working.

What kind of help are they seeking for your daughter?

Hi bigbobble
Nursery suggested doing it for the information sharing so that i don't miss anything . They have put in for 1 to 1 funding , Daughter is soon seeing Paed and OT and has a SALT who referred her for CDT.
DD has speech problems , some major tantrums , trouble sitiing and playing ..... i could go on and on .

Where I live it is for all agency's to get together and share info aswell. I have found it a great tool, it how I got a social worker for ds3 so now anly ds2 is under CAF but still going well.

Hi spiritsam, Like bigbobble I think cafs are sometimes used as a delaying tactic and are not always used in the manner they were intended. Perhaps it depends on the LA?

Hi Keepingupwiththejoneses
Am glad you have found it usefull am hoping i will too :)
Hi Charlie06
God it's such a minefield . Is LA Local Authority ? Am in Norfolk if so !

Yes it is local authority and it is a minefield. I know nothing about Norfolk, sorry.

Is your child subject to a statement already or is this process being used instead of looking at him/her under the statutory assessment process? Given how long it takes, have you considered asking for a statutory assessment at the same time? The two are seperate processes although the same info may be used for both? This may avoid delay.

In our LA early years funding comes from a separate pot and the level of 1:1 provided to my child was significantly lower through early years funding than the 32.5 hours available via the statement. The LA refused to assess when first requested in our case.

I don't know your situation and recognise we are all in different circumstances but I wish I was more forceful in getting an early statement for my son. I don't see how delay can be helpful at all and believe that sometimes delay is purely about LAs saving money but the resulting lack of early provision can have an incredibly detrimental impact on our children.

Have just had quick look at paperwork and please forgive if i come across as stupid it's just info overload ! The last lot of paperwork that went from Nursery was request for Early Years Action Plus , i think this is all to do with the 1 to 1 funding they put in for ? DD was assessed in March by Support teacher for 1 to 1 .
DD was also referred by SALT to CDT and she is down to see Paed , OT and maybe their SALT .
Think i need to ask Nursery in morning and if nt start the ball rolling myself for SA .... oh my head hurts !

Don't worry spiritsam, the processes are very daunting and if there are agendas in play around funding it's hard to get straight answers, it's not you it's the way things are done that's so complicated.

Good luck with your application for a statutory assessment, I had a quick look on Norfolk county council website and they have documentation available re their statutory assessment processes online.

I found Ipsea and ACE really helpful for advice and info and you may already know but Ipsea have letters in a template format you can use to request a SA available online.

Our LA really don't seem to like CAFs. I had to threaten them with one in order to get the professionals to work together. It was most odd.

We have CAF for our son with special needs, good opportunity for all professionals to meet up. They tend to tell each other what needs doing. All professionals seem under extra pressure from each other at these meetings to do what they should be doing.
We had ESCO then get involved, and they use social workers, and some social workers are scare mongering assume the worst busy bodies, so one suggested there might be domestic violence in our home causing DS behaviour, I was so fricken angry at that assumption, so now we have social services doing a children in need plan, based on an assumption.
It's really important you keep close ties with someone who really understands the situation if you're going through these meetings, if you like your healthvisitor for example, get her close with you, or a childrens centre support worker, so they can be an advocate for you at these meetings and stand up for you. It's really important, because not all professionals are out to help you, some make negative assumptions, that you need to protect yourself from, by having a professional you know be there for you.