Nottinghamshire Common Assessment Framework Handbook

Appendix O
Common Assessment Framework
Terms of Reference– May 2010
Overall Purpose: To support the strategic implementation of the Nottinghamshire CAF Quality Assurance Framework and
contribute to the development and implementation of future policy and strategy relating to CAF Quality Assurance and
related activity at local, regional and national level.
The CAF Quality Assurance Group will support the achievement of the Nottinghamshire’s Children’s Trust Vision to ensure
that “we will work together to provide integrated services for all children and young people in Nottinghamshire to improve
their life chances and help them to maximise their potential”.
Aims
1. To provide opportunities for partners across the Children’s Trust to come together to support the implementation of
Nottinghamshire CAF Quality Assurance Framework to improve the outcomes for children and young people in
Nottinghamshire through providing a consistent approach to the CAF across the Children’s Trust.
2. To advise the Early Intervention Working Group on the implementation of national, regional and local strategies
and guidance.
3. To monitor and oversee the implementation of the East Midlands Regional Standards for CAF and Integrated Working
Practices and the Nottinghamshire CAF Quality Assurance Framework.
4. To undertake a systematic and rigorous approach to performance management, involving both quantitative and
qualitative data analysis utilising the Nottinghamshire Quality Assurance Framework (see appendix 2).
5. To have an overview of how the CAF is being implemented across Nottinghamshire aiming to improve early ntervention
and preventative working arrangements.
6. To inform and influence the strategic direction of the Children’s Trust through the Early Intervention Working Group to
ensure that early intervention and preventative working arrangements are improved.
7. To act as a conduit for information, guidance, policy and practice on early intervention and preventative working
arrangements between the Children’s Trust Board, it’s Executive, sub groups and themed partnership groups.
8. To proactively listen to and engage with children, young people and families on an ongoing basis as is necessary and
ensure that issues are considered and responded to.
9. To strengthen accountability and partnership arrangements for using the CAF.
10. To consider the outcomes of each audit, including any feedback from practitioners, children, young people and their
families that have been part of the quality assurance process, and identify any further action.
11. To recognise elements of best practice through the Quality Assurance process and capture the learning for
disseminating to members of the Children and Young People’s Workforce.
12. To ensure that all policies, strategies and joint commissioning activity is in line with equality and diversity legislation
e.g., ensuring that Equality Impact Assessments are a routine component of all guidance, policies issued.
13. To ensure that the safeguarding of children is given the fullest consideration in the development of early intervention
and preventative working arrangements.
14. To strengthen joint commissioning and planning activity to reflect the need to identify children and young people at risk
to enable earlier interventions to prevent poor outcomes and the need for specialist interventions at a later date.
15. To act as a conduit for the development and implementation of the Children’s Trust Workforce Strategy in relation to
early intervention and preventative working arrangements.