Nottinghamshire Common Assessment Framework Handbook

2.1
Rationale for the Lead Professional
The lead professional contributes to the delivery of early intervention to children, young
people and families by taking the lead in coordinating provision and acting as the single
point of contact when a range of services are involved in providing integrated support to
a child or young person and their family following a Common Assessment.
This is outlined in the Statutory Guidance Supporting Section 10 (Inter-Agency
Cooperation) and Section 11 (Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children) of
Children Act 2004. All local authorities and relevant partners have to take account of this
guidance. If they decide to depart from it, they must have clear reasons for doing so.
2.2
Vision and Core Functions
for the Lead Professional
Vision
All children and young people with additional needs who
require support from more than one practitioner should
experience a seamless and effective service in which one
practitioner takes a lead role to ensure that services are coordinated,
coherent and achieving intended outcomes
Core functions of the Lead Professional
Act as a single
point of contact
for the child or
family
Co-ordinate the
delivery of actions
agreed by the
practitioners
involved
Reduce overlap
and inconsistency
in the services
received
2.3
The role of the Lead Professional
The lead professional contributes to the delivery of early intervention to children, young
people and families by taking the lead in coordinating provision, and acting as the single
point of contact when a range of services is involved in providing integrated support to
a child or young person and their family following a Common Assessment. The lead
professional could be any practitioner from across the children and young people’s
workforce, who is working with a child as part of his/her work. The group of practitioners
working with a child agree together with the family who would be best placed to be the
lead professional. This is usually the practitioner working most closely with the family,
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