Integrated Practice - Keeping Families at the Centre

As more and more case studies are showing us the real benefits gained by adopting an Integrated Practice approach, the Hertfordshire Children's Trust Partnership has agreed that all relevant agencies and services will replace their external referral processes and align to the Common Assessment Framework (with the exception of some specialist services, which will be listed in the guidance).

A Single Service Request form replaces existing referral forms used within Hertfordshire i.e. where a child or young person has a single need. For CSF, the Single Service Request form will replace CSF3155.

The Single Service Request form prompts practitioners to consider the Every Child Matters outcome areas and, if more than one area of need is identified, the requirement is that these needs are addressed by way of the Common Assessment Framework. The Common Assessment will, therefore, be used (and accepted as) the universal assessment to access support for children and families where a multi-agency response is required e.g. leading to a Team Around the Child and appointment of a Lead Professional.


Integrated Practice Networks

CAF Form

Please remember: All CAFs and related forms and processes MUST be logged with the CAF administrator on 01438 737575. If there are concerns that a child or young person are at risk of harm, please seek advice from Customer Services immediately.

This year, personalised commissioning has been introduced to support Integrated Practice and to sit alongside the Common Assessment Framework in Hertfordshire. The scheme will be in place until 31st March 2010, and then subject to a review to measure its success. It aims to support the CAF and Team Around the Child arrangements and to prevent referrals being made to Social Care, where the only reason for referral is to request Child in Need funding (under Section 17 of the Children Act).

The limit is now 500 pounds per child, providing a CAF has been completed, alongside the personalised commissioning form.

A . Personalised commissioning form and guidance

An aide memoir to remind you to log CAF progress with the administrator for data collection purposes.

B. Step by step flow chart for recording CAF processes