CAF Consent Statement

This document should only be used when an ‘own agency’ consent form is not available.

Written consent must be obtained from the parent(s), carer(s) or young person by the practitioner who is instigating the CAF at the beginning of the CAF process. Verbal consent is not acceptable. At this point the family are consenting to the whole CAF process and by doing so will not be asked to provide written consent at any other point in this CAF episode.

Before you complete the online registration form you must discuss starting the CAF process with the family and obtain consent for you to store and share their information. As per our good practice guide; you will be contacting other agencies in order to gather information to complete the CAF assessment. CAF is not a self-reporting tool.

The CAF assessment does have a signature box but this is not relating to overall consent, this is to confirm that the assessment has been shared with and agreed by the family.

You do not need to gain a signature at each TAF meeting but it is good practice to share all plans and assessments with the family.

Consent for information storage and information sharing:
I understand the information that is recorded on the online registration, CAF assessment, TAF plans and Closure Form will be stored and used for the purpose of providing services to:
Me
The child (ren) or young person(s) for whom I am a parent/carer
I have had the reasons for information sharing and information storage explained to me and I understand those reasons:
Yes
No
I agree to the sharing of information with/from other agencies:
Yes
No
I have listed below any agencies that I am unhappy to share information with:

Parent(s)/Carer(s) Signature:

By signing below I am agreeing to consent to the CAF process being started for me/my family/the family which I care for. I also consent for regular Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings to take place. I agree that these meetings will take place at regular intervals (which will be agreed by me and the professionals involved in the CAF process).

Signature / Name / Date
Signature / Name / Date

Assessor’s Signature:

Signature / Name
Agency / Date

Note for practitioners: Please note that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council do not require a copy of this consent form. When you complete the CAF online registration form it will ask you to tick to confirm you have written consent from the family and have explained information sharing and storage to them. This consent should be kept on your own agency records and will be referred too if required; i.e. should an Ofsted inspector wish to confirm consent has been obtained. If you have used an own agency form to obtain consent then you will be required to provide that if requested.

Exceptional circumstances: significant harm to infant, child or young person

If at any time during the course of this assessment you feel that an infant, child or young person has been harmed or abused or is at risk of harm or abuse, you must follow your local safeguarding children board (LSCB) procedures as set out in the booklet What To Do If You Are Worried A Child Is Being Abused (Department of Health, 2003)

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