What is the MASH?

What is the MASH?

The Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) provides a single point of access to the services that help keep children safe. It is a multi-agency team made up of representatives from a range of services that provide advice, support and protection as needed. These services include:

• children’s social care

• Lewisham police

• health services 

• child and adolescent mental health services

• early help

• housing 

• probation 

• substance misuse

• victim support.

The MASH provides a secure environment for these services to share information and improve decision-making whenever there are concerns for a child.

What does the MASH do?

If you are concerned about a child who has additional needs that are not being met by services currently involved with the family, the MASH will respond to requests for advice and support. The MASH also responds to child protection concerns for children at risk of significant harm.

Further information is available on requesting help from the MASH, and for families whose children have been referred to the MASH.

How does it work? 

When the MASH receives a referral, the agencies within the team can share information they have on the family with a social worker, who will use this to decide what help the child and family need and whether the child is at risk of harm. The MASH ensures that all referrals are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner and that information is shared within a secure environment.

By sharing information as soon as possible, the team can get a better understanding of what difficulties the family may be facing. This way, we can make sure the family receives the right kind of help and support at the right time.