Closure of an Episode should be celebrated as it marks a real achievement.
A Common Assessment Episode is usually closed when the progress made against the identified goals in the assessment, are agreed by the parents/carers and child/young person and practitioners to be good enough.
If appropriate goals have been identified in the Common Assessment through a statement that identifies what can reasonably be achieved in the agreed timescales, closure will often be possible after one or two review meetings.
Closure of a Common Assessment is not the end of work with a family, child or young person but a milestone in their journey. It identifies that they no longer require a multi-agency approach, co-ordinated by a Lead Professional. They may still require targeted services from one agency, or they may be able to have their needs met through universal provision.
Closure will often be for positive reasons because things have improved and the child or young person additional needs have been met. Conversely closure may also be for negative reasons for example because the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the child or young person requires a level of specialist intervention.
Other reasons include a family moving away from Leeds to live in another area, or a family’s lack of engagement with the Common Assessment process, a change of circumstances, a change of mind or withdrawal of consent.
It is important that if families disengage from the Common Assessment process, practitioners do not withdraw, but continue to provide necessary services as effectively as possible. A family’s withdrawal at one point in time does not mean they will not re-engage with the process in the future. If Common Assessment seems to be a useful way forward it should continue to be offered to ALL families whenever they may benefit.
When, for whatever reason a practitioner or lead professional, together with the parent/carers or child/young person believe an Episode should be closed they should contact the CAF Team. The team will close the episode on the database and record the reasons for closure. The CAF Team then will send the practitioner or Lead professional a closure summary which should be circulated to all involved including the parent/carer and young person to confirm that the episode is closed.
The agencies that continue to be involved with the child or family usually through the delivery of universal services continue their responsibility for service delivery and effective good practice and this should also be recorded on the database.
Practitioners are advised to keep the CAF team informed of any changes such as change in Lead Professional, change of family address, if a referral to Children and Young Peoples Social care has been made.