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'.