The Cabinet Member for Social
Care and Health Integration (CMSC) and the Commissioning Director
for Care and Support (CD) introduced a report on the Multi-Agency
Safeguarding Hub (MASH), providing a brief narrative as to the
context behind the move of the MASH into Children’s Care and
Support in September 2020, as well as the various challenges that
had been facing the service at a time of unprecedented demand,
which had increased in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst
considerable progress had been made since the move of the service,
it was acknowledged that it would take some time to address
residual issues within the system, along with the escalating demand
pressures.
In response to questions from
Members, the CD and the Strategic Director for Children’s and
Adult’s Services (SD) stated that:
- The quality of
referral into the MASH often proved problematic. Work was needed
within the Early Help system to ensure that all colleagues and
partners could identify and articulate risks in the correct way.
This was particularly important when considering the high-pressured
MASH environment stemming from the high volume of demand, with
clear information proving vital to assist the Council to make the
right decisions for its young people. It was also emphasised that
those receiving the MASH referrals needed to be curious and to use
the Multi-Agency information to better support their
decision-making, gaining a deeper understanding of the history of
the child and their family.
- The largest referrer
into the MASH was the Police.
- The importance of the
Early Help system, sitting underneath MASH and acting as a first
point of contact, could not be understated as this provided the
opportunity for early intervention. This would not only greatly
help children and young people before any issues could escalate but
would also prevent a higher volume of demand coming through to the
MASH service.
- There was a disparity
between schools that referred into the MASH, and those that did
not. The Council was strengthening its relationship with schools,
with the MASH now having regular meetings with the schools’
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) to discuss issues and provide
advice in advance of referrals. The Council was also in the process
of arranging similar quarterly meetings with the
Police.
- It was vital that the
new MASH model had the right agencies wrapped around families and
included key components of colleagues in Community Solutions, who
were excellent at helping residents to navigate various issues.
Whilst the primary focus needed to be on the highest level of risk,
support from all Council services and partners was needed to
address all levels of need.
- A recent visit from
the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and
Skills (OFSTED) had acknowledged the journey of change and clear
programme of improvement for MASH, as well as the challenges facing
the service. A draft OFSTED letter was likely to be received by the
SD in advance of the Committee’s next 7 July 2021 meeting,
and if this was the case, it would be shared with the Chair before
this meeting, for comment.