The value of audit tools in children's services: Reflections upon a common assessment framework audit

This paper considers the value of audit tools in children's services. The article draws upon reflections from an audit of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) in an English local authority. The wider context of the CAF is outlined, highlighting the prominence of performance management within children's services and critical commentary around the same. Thereafter, the local context of CAF audit and the Quality Review Form ('audit form') used in the exercise is described. Observations from the audit are noted and the author reflects upon the validity of the audit form in light of the relevant literature. The article concludes that the CAF audit form does have many shortfalls, similar to those evident in other audit tools, including reliance upon quantitative data and a lack of both practitioners and children's perspectives. However, there is significant potential for it to be shaped into a useful tool to facilitate organisational learning, particularly through the incorporation of qualitative approaches to outcomes measurement. © 2012 The Author