For the first time, practitioners will soon be able to share confidential assessments about children and young people. The electronic common assessment framework (eCAF) is a national database where children's needs can be assessed online. It is being set up as part of the Every Child Matters programme and is a major part of the drive to reduce unnecessary repeat assessments and inappropriate referrals.
eCAF will hold assessment information, basic details of the child, details of practitioners working with the child, the family structure and name of the child's lead professional. But there are concerns about security. In a House of Lords debate last month, Baroness Walmsley said: "It is simply not possible to keep such a large database secure."
Security concerns
She also expressed concern that families are giving consent to eCAFs under duress, despite the government's insistence that eCAF is a consent-based process. "My informants have been contacted by several practitioners involved in the pilots, who tell them that consent to share eCAFs is not being sought. Families are being told that they will not be able to access services unless they agree to an eCAF."
Despite successful bids for government funding to develop eCAF systems, Shropshire and Derbyshire County Councils have both decided not to implement eCAF due to the cost of securing a standalone system.
However, Laura Johnston, head of service development at children and young people's services, Shropshire County Council, says: "We do believe that the eCAF system will provide an improved service for children and their families. The volume of paper-based assessments and plans places demands both on professionals working in the field and on our support staff. An electronic system would speed this up."
CYP Now put practitioners' questions to the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The responses that follow are from the department.
- What is the eCAF?
Paul Hirst, deputy head teacher, Garforth Community College, Leeds
The common assessment framework (CAF) will help practitioners across agencies to plan and deliver coordinated services for, and with, children and young people with additional needs. eCAF will be an efficient and secure means of sharing this information electronically so that the CAF can work to its full potential and reduce the problems associated with working across geographical and organisational borders. Authorised, trained practitioners will be able to securely create, store and share CAF information electronically. It is a voluntary, consent-based process.
- Given that it's meant to be rolled in 2008, how long will it take to implement?
Martin Virr, development manager, partnerships service, children and young people's services, West Sussex County Council
This will be confirmed once we have selected our delivery partner for the national eCAF system - there is not yet a date for the system to be up and running. We expect to invite suppliers to tender for the work by the end of 2007.
- Will every service be expected to use it, including GPs?
A deputy head teacher at a secondary school in West Sussex
Everyone working with children and young people should be aware of the types of situation that indicate a need for a common assessment. The majority of assessments will be undertaken or arranged by practitioners in early years settings, schools and health settings. However, all practitioners working should either know how to com plete a common assessment or know how to arrange to have one done.
- What training will be provided?
Martin Virr
The emphasis will be on providing the necessary materials and support to allow local authorities and their partners delivering children's services to train their own teams. This will enable a range of training approaches to be developed to satisfy different groups, situations and learning styles.
- What's the link with the Integrated Children's System?
Laura Johnston, head of service development, Shropshire County Council
eCAF, the Integrated Children's System and ContactPoint are all intended to support improved integrated working. They are separate systems, which exist for different, specific purposes.
- How will eCAF work in relation to ContactPoint?
Patrick Myers, strategic support manager, Dorset Sure Start
It is intended that the eCAF system will automatically notify ContactPoint that a common assessment has been carried out, along with contact details for the practitioner who completed or updated it, but there will be no access to the assessment itself via ContactPoint.
- Families may be concerned about the security of their information. How will it be protected from hackers?
Jill Harrison, director of external affairs, Contact a Family
The eCAF system will comply with rigorous security standards. Access will be restricted to authorised users only and all users must undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks and have their identities verified before they can access the system.
- Will voluntary organisations have full access?
Jeremy Glover, chief executive, Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Bolton
eCAF is not a council database. Voluntary organisations will be able to access eCAF, but users will be subject to the same level of identity checks and must adhere to rules about information sharing. The aim of CAF, supported by eCAF, is to provide a common tool and process for practitioners across agencies to work with a child in order to plan and deliver the appropriate services in a coordinated way.
- Does the eCAF comply with the Information Commissioner's guidance on sharing personal information?
Bridget Robb, professional officer, the British Association of Social Workers
Yes.
- Will the system hold the most up-to-date information?
Martin Virr
The eCAF system will hold the most up-to-date action plan as agreed and recorded on the CAF form. The CAF will not hold any details or duplicate information on the action plans held in case management systems. It provides an overview for all the practitioners working around the child in order to promote the planning and delivery of appropriate coordinated services.
- Will there be funding for IT facilities and support?
A deputy head teacher at a secondary school in West Sussex
We will be funding the roll out of the system nationally and ensuring practitioners are trained to use the system properly. Funding has not been announced yet.
- Will CAF be made statutory?
Martin Virr
We strongly encourage local authorities and their partners delivering children's services to adopt the national system due to the significant proposed benefits, particularly the removal of organisational and geographic barriers. CAF, supported by eCAF, will help local authorities meet statutory duties.
- Will young people and families be able to access their data?
Martin Virr
The child, and where appropriate family, can request to see the records and challenge any inaccuracies that may have been captured, in accordance with data protection legislation.
