Overview of MASH

MASH training

What is a MASH? Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub A MASH is a centre which brings together

agencies (and their information) in order to: identify risks to children at the earliest possible point and respond with the most effective interventions.

A MASH carries out joint confidential screening, research and referral of vulnerable children.

Agencies work together to ensure vulnerable children are identified and properly cared for and protected

Why MASH? The Children Act 2004 states that partners agencies must

make arrangements to promote co-operation between relevant partner agencies to improve the well-being of children in their area

The inability of statutory safeguarding agencies to join up the information picture has been subject to persistent criticism and recommendation

MASH is a direct response to a number of serious case reviews including the Laming report which directly attributed the lack of good information sharing and communication to the subsequent death of a child

The Munro review highlights the value of co-located multi-agency teams dealing with referrals and decision making. MASH is singled out as good practice, with early evaluation showing improved decision making and outcomes for children

Safeguarding best practice London wide police research proved that:

Early identification of children's needs provides the best outcomes for children

Early identification of risk has the best impact as its allows agencies to respond quickly with the most effective interventions

Essential criteria for a MASH There are five core elements that must be

included in a MASH All notifications relating to safeguarding and promoting

the welfare of children must go through the hub Co-location of professionals from core agencies The hub is fire walled, keeping MASH activity confidential

and separate from operational activity An agreed process for analysing and assessing risk, based

on the fullest information picture and dissemination of a suitable information product to the most appropriate agency for necessary action

A process to identify victims and emerging harm through research and analysis

Partners in MASH To be a MASH, it is a requirement that, as a

minimum, the following partners are co-located:

Children’s social care Police Health Education Probation Housing Youth Offending Service

Redbridge MASH is represented by all the services listed above

Redbridge MASH Redbridge MASH is located on the 3rd floor of

Lynton House in Children's services Staff are co-located in a secure area with limited

access from the rest of Children’s services The Head of the MASH has day to day

management responsibility for the MASH. However, line management arrangements have not changed for partner agencies

Each agency will continue to access their own systems in the MASH. There is no requirement to access or learn new systems

Redbridge MASH structure chart

Screening & MASH Team

Manager

Senior Practitione

r

Referral &Initial

screening Officer

x5

Hospital senior social worker

Social worker X3 Detective

sergeant

Police Constable

x2Police

Researcherx2

Advanced YOS

Worker(1/2 day

per week)

Probation officer (1day)

HealthPractitioner

SeniorEducation

welfare Office

Housing Options Officer

Multi-agency

referral

Anonymous referral

MASH

MASH

MASH

4 hour

target

1 day 1 day

CAF CPATEI&FS

MERLIN

Review and summary of

collated information

Check eCAF

MASH process

RAG rate & pass to social

worker

Advice and info

Single agency respons

e

Open social care case: details sent to

case worker

New case created on protocol

Check protocol ICS

Other local

authority referral Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

l Step 6

Initial screening on whether to

MASH

Decision making

NFA

Self referral

Redbridge MASH process Step 1: Referral received into MASH

screening Step 2a/b: check Protocol to see

whether the child/ family known to Redbridge children’s services.

Step 3: if no open case , create new case record and record any relevant information held on protocol ICS/eCaf.

Step 4a: Head of MASH decides whether to ‘MASH’

Step 4b: Head of MASH RAG rates case

Redbridge MASH process (contd.) Step 5: MASH case assigned to a social worker with agreed

target timescale. High Risk – RED: completed within 4 hours Medium risk – AMBER: completed within 24 hours Low risk – GREEN: completed within 24 hours

The social worker handling the case then asks colleagues in the multi-agency teams in the MASH to check the child/family details against their databases and to collate any information they may have about the child referred.

The information is collated within the timescales set through the RAG rating and returned to the social worker.

Social worker reviews and analyses information received from partner agencies within the MASH and summarises that information on a MASH record on protocol ICS.

Based on this information reviewed, the social worker recommends what further action should be taken.

Redbridge MASH process (contd.) Step 6: The Head of the MASH or MASH

Practice Manager reviews the MASH record and decides the most appropriate action to take in relation to that contact.

Pathways include: CPAT EI&FS CAF Information & Advice Single Agency response

The Referral & Initial Screening Officer contacts the referrer to advise them as to what has happened with the referral.

Redbridge MASH criteria All NSPCC/ anonymous referrals All children whose identity is unknown Children/ YP who may have been trafficked Children/ YP at risk of sexual or other exploitation Transient families All referrals where DV is an issue (where there are

children in the family under 5 years old or unborn) and additional information is needed to determine the threshold

All referrals where there has been a previous MARAC discussion

Referrals about a child found begging whereby additional information is needed to determine the threshold

Minor concerns about a child on a repeat basis Children involved in gangs All other referrals deemed appropriate by MASH

manager

Expected outcomes of MASH Streamlines the referral process Improves communications between professionals Child’s needs responded to quickly and effectively Earlier identification of vulnerable children Most appropriate professional delivers interventions to meet

the needs identified Reduction in number of professionals involved and avoids

unnecessary duplication and visits