Field Court Chambers

This Practice Note explains what the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is, how it is operated co-ordinating voluntary support to children and their families across a number of different services. It covers when a CAF should be used and when more formal intervention is required.

This Practice Note has been produced to assist practitioners in navigating local authority duties to children and young people who may be entitled to advice and assistance in England only. This will include children who are subject to care orders or who are or have been voluntarily accommodated by the local authority and in terms of educational prospects, any young person who has been in state care either in the jurisdiction or elsewhere.

This Practice Note looks at the duties a local authority has in relation to children looked after by them, which includes children who are subject to care orders, interim care orders and those who are voluntarily accommodated by the local authority pursuant to section 20 of the Children Act 1989. It covers a local authority’s duty to safeguard and promote a child’s welfare and make such services available for children as are reasonable, specifically in relation to placing the child in suitable accommodation and preparing a care plan.