Ensuring children have access to universal services

The Croydon Child Index ensures children have access to the universal services they require. Lead professionals will need to complete a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) assessment to add a child to the index.

What the Child Index is

The Croydon Child Index has been set up as a local initiative which is maintained by Croydon Council and the Croydon Primary Care NHS Trust to ensure children have access to the universal services they require.

The index serves four main purposes:

  • to ensure that children and young people get the universal services they are entitled to (this includes being registered with a GP and receiving education);
  • to help us to take a more rounded view of the needs of children and young people, and therefore be better placed to respond to them;
  • to improve communications between different professionals,
  • to record details of common assessment frameworks (CAFs) undertaken and the lead professional working with a child

Information included in the index

The index only holds a limited amount of information. This includes a child or young person's:

  • name
  • date of birth 
  • gender 
  • address 
  • GP or health visitor 
  • school or college they attend 
  • involvement with social services 

Croydon Council (Department for Children, Young People and Learners) and the Croydon Primary Care NHS Trust each keep its own records and the index shares a limited amount of information from these records. 

Who has access to the index

Only authorised users who need it to do their job will have access to it. The index is strictly managed.

Education

In education, this includes:

  • education welfare officers
  • education psychologists
  • senior youth workers

Social services

In social services, this includes:

  • social workers based in our assessment service
  • children's social workers based at Mayday Hospital.

Health service

In the health service, the index will be used by:

  • team leaders in the health visiting and school nursing service
  • staff who have a special responsibility for safeguarding children and young people
  • the specialist nurse for children with special needs

Adding a child to the index

If you are the lead professional who is working a with a child, you will need to submit a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) form so we can record the child on the index

You will need to get consent from the young person or carer before you submit the CAF assessment.

Download and complete the form

Download the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) assessment

Submit by post

Applications Helpdesk
Croydon Council
9th Floor, South Side
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon
CR9 2BA

Submit by email

Email the form to: applications.helpdesk@croydon.gov.uk