The Benefits of Having a Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

The benefits of having a MASH are:

• Established pathways for information gathering and access to services from all partners
• Maximised effectiveness of multi-agency information gathering and decision making
• It aids decision making by providing an earlier richer picture
• Optimised decision making for vulnerable children, young people and their families through a multi-agency integrated approach, to improve the protection and service delivery to the families

The MASH:

• provides a faster, more co-ordinated response through improved information sharing between partners
• assists in the early identification of safeguarding concerns as a result of improved inter-agency working arrangements
• improves recognition of risk and threat
• enables closer partnership working and clearer accountability
• identifies and targets resources effectively, to ensure children and families are accessing the most appropriate service or intervention to meet their needs and improve overall outcomes

Agreement from the family is requested when progressing a MASH enquiry. However there may be occasions when a MASH will progress without agreement. The MASH manager can override the requirement for agreement if this may place a child or family at risk.