Introduction to Family CAF

This page is known as: www.birmingham.gov.uk/caf-family

Think child, think parent, think family

The family CAF (fCAF) process is now being implemented across Birmingham as a methodology for assessing the needs of parents and children in the family and a coordinated approach to interventions from adults’ and children’s services to meet identified needs. The fCAF builds on the existing CAF work and adds an extra dimension by looking at the needs of the child and wider family.

The principles of fCAF now draw together Children’s and Adult service providers to provide an integrated support plan addressing family needs.

The assessment paperwork has been revised to reflect this new approach and can be accessed below:

Process map
Process map showing expected timescales for completion of each stage of the fCAF process. Download the document from eBriefing.
fCAF pre-assessment
Practitioners should complete this to determine if an fCAF should take place Download the document from eBriefing.
fCAF assessment with consent
Holistic assessment document to be completed with the family once consent has been obtained from parent(s) or guardian(s) and young person. Download the document from eBriefing.
fCAF section three
If you have completed the standard Birmingham CAF form for Children and Young People, but now feel that this should be continued as a Family CAF please download Section 3 and append this to the CAF; but remember you will have to revisit the Conclusions Solutions and Actions in Section 4 to include this new information. Download the document from eBriefing.
fCAF consent form
Consent form listing agencies in the children’s and adults’ workforce. Download the document from eBriefing.
fCAF Integrated Support Plan and Review
To be used at the initial planning meeting and at every subsequent review to record identified needs, actions needed , progress and future actions. Download the document from eBriefing.
Stepdown request for ISP
For use when there is an existing children’s social care assessment which is moving to fCAF. Download the document from eBriefing.

Information for schools using SIMS / CMIS / Progresso database

Each of the fCAF forms is designed to link with your school database which will allow users to create an fCAF document that pre-populates data fields with information already held on the school system; eg: Name, Address, DoB, sibling, attendance, attainment, achievement and benefit data. Please download the 'How to Guide' below to learn how to enable this functionality.

How to Guide for prepopulation (Automatic Population Rules)
Clarification for each of the CAF forms, which fields will be populated using data imported from the MIS and the rules that will be used. Download the document from eBriefing.
Additional file required for SIMS users
Schools using the SIMS management system will require an additional file that can be down loaded from the following site: http://link2ict.bham.org.uk/home/mis/CAFExtract.RptDef

This location is inaccessible outside of the BGfL network - if your school does not use the BGfL as your Internet Service Provider please contact the Link2ICT service desk and ask for it to be emailed to you.

Further help is available from the Central CAF Team on 303 8117