Different agencies contribute their own expertise to a pool of information on the child. At the expert level the contact
with the child is far less frequent than that of the key workers.
Consider the specialists at the extremities of the web of support. Their diagnoses and expertise are vital to the planning
of support for the child even though they might see the child infrequently.
- How do you think the information they provide is passed down the web?
- Who becomes pivotal in using the expert knowledge?
- Make a list of who would be directly interested in what the expert provides.
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is the current process of gathering
information about the child in order to assess and agree on their needs. This integrates viewpoints of many professionals
on issues such as medical, social and family support.
A multidisciplinary team aims at joining up their assessments with the child and family at the centre as illustrated
earlier by the web of support. The team works around the child giving support and advice and is known as the Team Around the
Child (TAC).
Have a look at the CAF guide below (in particular page 17: The common service
delivery pathway).
The CAF for children and young people (Children's Workforce Development Council)
The important point is that there is co-ordination of advice at the 'point of delivery'.