Stupid, stupid, stupid CAF

[Katymac]

I am going to be sat in a room with the Parent Support Advisor & SENCO.

So much for multi-agency working

I reckon we give lots of actions to the people who don't turn up

Hi Katymac, i was told by IPSEA that with CAF everyone involved HAS to attend. Who arranged the meeting?

I was also told everyone HAS to attend. We've got ours tomorrow and for the 1st time in 4years the main paed is coming even though its clinic time. CAF's are 3 line whip I thought.

The CAF team

Oh Joy

Katymac, the meeting is pointless unless everyone attends. I would be writing to whoever arranged asking what the purpose of the meeting is and what they hope to achieve. Its ridiculous, just you and SENCO.

Well they wanted to cancel and rearrange in September

& I wasn't having that

Katy, your meetings sounds like mine 'multi d' meetings. Myself and SENCO sit there disagreeing for an hour!

When i applied for a SA, the LA recommended a CAF. I wasnt too impressed as i feared the same, just myself and SENCO as everyone else has never managed to attend a meeting yet!

They havent planned the meeting very well, you should complain.

& we got a new chicken yesterday & the other chickens have killed it

if this is your first TAC after completing CAF then there is time limit on how long between CAF assessment and TAC.

TAC?

It was about 7 weeks ago we filled the form in

each CAF should be followed up by a TAC (Team Around the Child)

Is that the same as a CAF meeting?

Not many on DD's bloody team

We had a TAC last week. If we had agreed to a CAF (which someone from the LEA suggested, but we and the school shot down in flames as there is really no need) then it would have doubled up as a CAF team meeting.

Paed and Ed Psych couldn't make it. but CAMHS, SALT, someone from the LEA, the Head, the SENCo, DS's class teacher and an autism outreach teacher from a local specialist school attended. That is a proper CAF meeting.

I was really dubious about the whole thing, but it was actually a great opportunity for me to say what i have been saying to the school for months in front of all the other professionals, and to get some back up from those professionals who agreed with me, not the school.

I would ask them to rearrange as a matter of urgency, agree a few proposed dates with the school for a new meeting (before term end) and contact everyone you want to be there personally contact by email (cc-ing in school)saying it is a matter of urgency.

A CAF / TAC meeting with a couple of attendees is a complete waste of time.

What I didn't make clear was - the CAF is a big form that should be filled in by you with whoever is responsible for doing CAFs in your borough, but the TAC should form part of the CAF (my understanding, anyway) as you get to agree on a lead professional from the TAC who will be responsible for co-ordinating support from the professionals involved in looking after your child (in theory!) - so at the TAC this gets agreed and everyone involved starts off being aware of the issues.

Isn't that the whole point of doing a CAF?

Shows how important they consider my DD to be

Often it is laziness on the part of the school, or just a general unwillingness among professionals to chase up and demand attendance and input from other busy professionals. Don't accept it. If they think your DD needs a CAF then they should bloody well do it properly.

Believe me they will after tomorrow

I have been asked to lead professional on a CAF - I should bloody know how they work

I am SO SO SO cross

MY DD IS BEING NEGLECTED by these supposed professionals

Good luck Katymac kick ass!
I was told we had to have CAF completed or we couldn't access any outside help! Had 1st TAC meeting a couple of weeks ago - EP couldn't make it and behaviour support teacher was given the CAF in the meeting as she hadn't read it .Nobody took any minutes but observations were arranged. I discussed requesting SA but Senco said to wait 4 weeks until report is back frrom behaviour support or I wouldn't get it. Bearing in mind only a few weeks of term left I have ignored her advice and sent request in at the weekend. Senco won't be happy with me

FGS - minutes will be taken - even if I have to take them myself

Statement will be applied for (by me I think)

I have asked for 3 lots of support filling in the DLA (so I can be sure of getting a good one)

Think they should re-name it FAF 'cos that's what it is!

Think they should re-name it FAF 'cos that's what it is! In fact every meeting I go to in future I shall call it that.

It's so heartbreaking as the ones I have been involved in are all professional people keen to help the family

Why isn't it like that for DD?

Right - up early to make sure I have all the paperwork

I have lost one letter

Re-reading my statements to make sure they are 'sane'

Wish me luck (it's not until 2 )

Katy, good luck, give them hell!