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199 Children's Services Procedures Manual
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282 <h2>
282 Contacts and Referrals
282 </h2>
284 </div>
287 <div id="scope_box">
288 <h3>
288 RELATED PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 This chapter should be read in conjunction with:
289 </p>
290 <p>
290 W867 [WCAG21 2.4.4 (A)] Identical adjacent links that use different link text may be confusing: See
matching tag on line: 291
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href="http://media.inzu.net/2acc977c715cd84d14a75f01032546ad/mysite/downloads/570_606709_Effective_Support_for
_Children.20.6.17_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
290 The Bexley Threshold: Bexley Safeguarding Partnership - Effective Support for Children, Young
People and Families in Bexley
290 </a>
290 </p>
291 <p>
291 W867 [WCAG21 2.4.4 (A)] Identical adjacent links that use different link text may be confusing: See
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291 Bexley Safeguarding Partnership guidance; 'Effective Support for Children, Young People and
Families in Bexley'
291 </a>
291 </p>
292 <p>
292 <a href="local_resources.html#ch_social_care">
292 Management Actions Note
292 </a>
292 </p>
293 <p>
293 <a href="http://www.bexleylscb.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
293 SHIELD - Bexley Safeguarding Partnership
293 </a>
293 </p>
294 <p>
294 <a href="files/marac_process.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
294 Bexley MARAC Process
294 </a>
294 </p>
295 <p>
295 <a href="files/CSC_MASH.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
295 CSC MASH Operational Practice Framework
295 </a>
295 </p>
296 <h3>
296 AMENDMENT
296 </h3>
297 <p>
297 In April 2020, a link was added into Related Guidance to CSC MASH Operational Practice Framework.
297 </p>
298 </div>
299 <div id="sections">
301 <h3 id="sections_list">
301 Contents
301 </h3>
302 <ol>
303 <li>
303 <a href="#initialcon">
303 Initial Contacts & Referrals
303 </a>
303 </li>
304 <li>
304 <a href="#screen">
304 Screening Checks
304 </a>
304 </li>
305 <li>
305 <a href="#mash">
305 MASH Checks
305 </a>
305 </li>
306 <li>
306 <a href="#consent">
306 Consent & Information Sharing
306 </a>
306 </li>
307 </ol>
308 <h3 id="initialcon">
308 1. Initial Contacts & Referrals
308 </h3>
309 <p>
309 The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the single point of contact for members of the public
and professionals seeking advice and/or services, to support and protect vulnerable children,
young people and their families who need, 'intensive' or 'specialist' help, according to the
309 <a
href="http://media.inzu.net/2acc977c715cd84d14a75f01032546ad/mysite/downloads/570_606709_Effective
_Support_for_Children.20.6.17_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
309 Bexley Safeguarding Partnership guidance; 'Effective Support for Children, Young People and
Families in Bexley'
309 </a>
309 . It is the referral gateway for the Family Wellbeing Service or Children's Social Care (including
services for children with disabilities).
309 </p>
310 <p>
310 The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is a team of professionals from a range of agencies who
in certain circumstances, carry out enhanced information sharing [1] at the point of contact, to
enable informed decisions to be made about presenting need and risk, to refer the child and family
to the right service.
310 </p>
311 <p>
311 Professionals requesting a Family Wellbeing or Children's Social Care service will need to
complete the
311 <a
href="http://www.bexley.gov.uk/sites/bexley-cms/files/2017-10/Early-Help-Family-Wellbeing-and-Chil
drens-Social-Care-referral-form.doc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
311 referral form (Bexley.gov.uk)
311 </a>
311 , and sent to the MASH. Consent from the family should always be obtained before making contact
with the CRS unless in specific circumstances. For more information about consent see the '
311 <a
href="http://www.bexleylscb.org.uk/page.php?section=section_0&id=267#Information%20sharing
" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
311 Information Sharing
311 </a>
311 ' which includes a 'Consent' section.
312 </p>
313 <p class="tiny_text">
313 [1] London Borough of Bexley, MASH Information Sharing Protocol
313 </p>
314 <h3 id="screen">
314 2. Screening Checks
314 </h3>
315 <p>
315 All contacts within MASH are initially recorded and screened by a contact officer. If the person
making contact with MASH requires information e.g. how to access a service, the contact officer
will signpost the person to the service and no further action will be taken.
315 </p>
316 <p>
316 Upon receipt of a request for a Family Wellbeing or Social Care service, the contact officer will
conduct basic screening checks to confirm if the child has received and/or is currently receiving
either service. Screening checks are to confirm identifying details for the child and prevent
duplication of services. If screening checks show the child is already receiving a service, the
information will be immediately forwarded to the allocated social worker, or key worker.
316 </p>
317 If the child is not currently receiving a service, the contact information will be forwarded to a
senior social worker in MASH to review the presenting level of need and risk, to make a threshold
decision about which service can best help the child and family. The MASH social worker will need to
establish the following information as far as possible:
318 <ul>
319 <li class="sub_list">
319 Full names, dates of birth and gender of children;
319 </li>
320 <li class="sub_list">
320 Family address and, where relevant, school/nursery attended;
320 </li>
321 <li class="sub_list">
321 Identity of those with Parental Responsibility;
321 </li>
322 <li class="sub_list">
322 Names and dates of birth of all members of the household;
322 </li>
323 <li class="sub_list">
323 Ethnicity, first language and religion of children and parents;
323 </li>
324 <li class="sub_list">
324 Any special needs of the children including the means in which they communicate;
324 </li>
325 <li class="sub_list">
325 Any significant recent or past events;
325 </li>
326 <li class="sub_list">
326 Cause for concern including details of allegations, their sources, timing and location;
326 </li>
327 <li class="sub_list">
327 The child's current location and emotional and physical condition;
327 </li>
328 <li class="sub_list">
328 Whether the child needs immediate protection;
328 </li>
329 <li class="sub_list">
329 Details of any alleged perpetrator;
329 </li>
330 <li class="sub_list">
330 Referrer's relationship with and knowledge of the child and his or her family;
330 </li>
331 <li class="sub_list">
331 Known involvement of other agencies;
331 </li>
332 <li class="sub_list">
332 Information regarding parents' knowledge and agreement to referral.
332 </li>
333 <li class="remove_bullet">
333 If it is clear from the contact information:
334 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
335 <li>
335 The child requires a preventative 'additional' service;
335 </li>
336 <li>
336 Consent is obtained; and
336 </li>
337 <li>
337 The situation meets at least one of the following Family Wellbeing service criteria:
338 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-roman">
339 <li>
339 Parental domestic violence;
339 </li>
340 <li>
340 Parental mental ill-health;
340 </li>
341 <li>
341 Parental substance misuse; and/or
341 </li>
342 <li>
342 A child at risk of exclusion or excluded from school.
342 </li>
343 </ol>
344 </li>
345 </ol>
346 </li>
347 <li class="remove_bullet">
347 The CRS social worker will make a referral to the Family Wellbeing service, (within 24 hours).
347 </li>
348 </ul>
349 <p>
349 If it is clear from the contact information (a) the child requires a preventative 'additional'
service, (b) consent is obtained and (c) the situation meets at least one of the following Family
Wellbeing service criteria: Parental domestic violence, parental mental ill-health, parental
substance misuse and/or a child at risk of exclusion or excluded from school. The MASH social
worker will make a referral to the Family Wellbeing service (within 24 hours).
349 </p>
350 <p>
350 If it is clear from the contact information the threshold is met for an 'intensive' service. The
MASH social worker will make a referral to the Children's Social Care Assessment service or if the
child has a disability that meets the eligibility criteria, a referral will be made to the
Children with Disability service, (within 24 hours).
350 </p>
351 <p>
351 If it is clear from the contact information that the child may be at risk of significant harm and
threshold is met for a 'specialist' service. The MASH social worker will immediately make a
referral to the Assessment Service for a Child Protection Strategy Meeting (Section 47) [2] to
consider the need for a child protection enquiry.
351 </p>
352 <p>
352 Where families do not meet the threshold and eligibility criteria for either a Family Wellbeing or
Children's Social Care service, the person making contact with MASH will be signposted to other
services. E.g. Children's Centres' and Targeted Youth Support.
352 </p>
353 <p>
353 If the person making contact with the MASH is worried about the wellbeing and/or welfare of a
child, they can call the MASH to discuss the situation with a MASH social worker, or another
professional in the MASH, who can provide a consultation and advise whether or not the child
should be referred for a service.
353 </p>
354 <p>
354 The MASH social work decision and outcome will be shared in writing, with the person making
contact with the MASH, within 48 hours. If there is disagreement regarding the decision and
outcome in the MASH, the person making contact should contact the manager of the MASH in the first
instance.
354 </p>
355 <p>
355 (See also
355 <a href="files/marac_process.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
355 Bexley MARAC Process
355 </a>
355 )
355 </p>
356 <p class="tiny_text">
356 [2] Children Act 1989, Section 47. Child at risk of significant harm
356 </p>
357 <h3 id="mash">
357 3. MASH Checks
357 </h3>
358 <p>
358 If the level of need and risk of harm is unclear the MASH will need to gather more information
before making a decision. In these circumstances a manager will decide enhanced MASH information
checks will be initiated, MASH checking is a process of enhanced information sharing between the
agencies in the MASH. Not all contacts coming into the will be subject to enhanced MASH checks,
only those where there is insufficient information to make a clear decision at the point of
contact.
358 <span class="italic">
358 <span class="bold">
358 NOTE
358 </span>
358 : MASH checks are only intended to make the initial contact decision, they do not replace the
need for agency checks to be undertaken as part of any child and family assessment/child
protection enquiry.
358 </span>
358 </p>
359 <p>
359 When MASH checks are initiated, the contact record will be assigned to a Social Worker in MASH to
conduct and co-ordinate the MASH checks with the relevant designated professionals. The assigned
social worker responsible for co-ordinating the MASH checks will immediately request information
from the other designated MASH professionals. Each designated professional will conduct checks
within their own agency return the information to the co-ordinating social worker. This
information provided by the designated professional needs to be clear, relevant and include some
analysis to provide meaning to the information in the context of the enquiry. It is the
responsibility of the agency providing the information to keep a record of the information they
have shared.
359 </p>
360 E620 The 'border' attribute is not allowed here:
The most common reasons for this error are the use of an old unsupported attribute, a new one which is not yet part of the specification being tested against, or the misuse of attributes for use with javascript. If the attribute is for use with AngularJS, then see the FAQ for more information. See the HTML Living Standard. <table title="MASH Risk Level table" style="width:95%" border="1">
361 <tr class="table_header">
362 <td>
362
362 </td>
363 <td>
363 R = RED
363 </td>
364 <td>
364 A = AMBER
364 </td>
365 </tr>
366 <tr>
367 <td class="table_row_even">
367 <span class="bold">
367 Risk level
367 </span>
367 </td>
368 <td>
368 Child / young person appears to be at risk of immediate and/or serious harm.
368 </td>
369 <td>
369 <p>
369 Child / young person appears to be at risk of harm, but not imminent and possibly less
serious.
369 </p>
370 <p>
370 OR
370 </p>
371 <p>
371 Child appears to be a Child in Need
371 </p>
371 </td>
372 </tr>
373 <tr>
374 <td class="table_row_even">
374 <span class="bold">
374 MASH response time
374 </span>
374 </td>
375 <td>
375 Checks to be completed
375 <span class="bold">
375 within 4 hours
375 </span>
375 .
375 </td>
376 <td>
376 As soon as possible, but
376 <span class="bold">
376 within 1 working day
376 </span>
376 .
376 </td>
377 </tr>
378 </table>
379 <p>
379 The co-ordinating social worker will collate and analyse all the information from the incoming
MASH checks, make a judgement on the level of presenting risk or need and make a decision on the
next step. Where there remains uncertainty about the best course of action the MASH team will hold
a Signs of Safety rapid case mapping discussion and to assist in coming to a decision.
379 </p>
380 <h3 id="consent">
380 4. Consent & Information Sharing
380 </h3>
381 <p>
381 It is not an expectation that members of the public will have gained consent from the
child/parent, or at least one person with parental responsibility, to make contact with the MASH.
381 </p>
382 <p>
382 Best practice dictates that when professionals request a service, they will have gained the
explicit consent of the child/parent, or at least one person with parental responsibility.
382 </p>
383 <p>
383 If a professional is requesting a Family Wellbeing service, there must always be consent. If a
professional is requesting a Children's Social Care 'Child in Need' assessment and they do not
have consent, MASH may ask the professional to discuss the matter with the child/family, before
they will take further action. However, if it has not been possible to get consent and/or there
are potential safeguarding concerns, it is expected the professional will have at minimum informed
the child/parent they are making contact with the MASH.
383 <span class="italic">
383 For further guidance on when these circumstances apply, refer to the
383 </span>
383 <span class="category">
383 London Child Protection Procedures, Sharing and Processing Personal Information Procedure -
under review
383 </span>
383 .
384 </p>
385 <p>
385 There are some circumstances; when there is evidence or reasonable cause to believe that a child
is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm; where sharing information without
consent will be justified in the public interest. When there is justifiable public interest, there
are some circumstances where consent can be overridden, furthermore there may also be times when
it is also NOT appropriate to inform the child/parent or person with parental responsibility that
the information will be shared. If doing so would:
385 </p>
386 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
387 <li>
387 Place a person at increased risk of significant harm; or
387 </li>
388 <li>
388 Prejudice the prevention, detection or prosecution of a serious crime; or
388 </li>
389 <li>
389 Lead to an unjustified delay in making enquiries about allegations of significant harm to a
child. [3]
389 </li>
390 </ol>
391 <p>
391 In these circumstances a manager in the MASH will record a clear rationale for overriding consent
on the child's record on L.C.S.
391 </p>
392 <p class="tiny_text">
392 [3] Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers. DCSF, p21.
392 </p>
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