Safeguarding

MASH: Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs Explained UK

January 2025•10 min read

What is a MASH?

A Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is a co-located, multi-agency team that acts as the single point of entry for safeguarding concerns about children (and in some areas, adults). By bringing together professionals from different agencies in one place, the MASH enables faster, better-informed decision-making about how to respond to concerns.

While the term "MASH" is widely used, some areas use different names such as "Front Door," "First Response," or "Integrated Front Door." The principles are the same: multi-agency information sharing to support timely, appropriate responses.

Why MASH Exists

Before MASH, agencies often held information in silos. A referral might come to children's social care, but relevant information held by police, health, or education might not be known. This could lead to:

  • Incomplete risk assessments
  • Delayed responses
  • Concerns not being escalated appropriately
  • Patterns not being identified

MASH addresses these issues by enabling immediate multi-agency information sharing at the point of referral.

Who Works in a MASH?

MASH teams typically include representatives from:

  • Children's social care: Social workers and managers
  • Police: Officers from public protection units
  • Health: Nurses, health visitors, or other health professionals
  • Education: Education welfare officers or school liaison
  • Probation: For information about adults who pose risks
  • Mental health: For information about parental mental health
  • Housing: For information about housing circumstances
  • Domestic abuse services: Specialist knowledge and information

Key benefit: Co-location means that when a referral is received, all agencies can immediately check their records and share relevant information, enabling a complete picture within hours rather than days or weeks.

What Happens When a Referral is Made

Step 1: Referral Received

Referrals come in via phone, email, or online forms. The MASH team logs the referral and gathers initial information from the referrer.

Step 2: Agency Checks

Each agency in the MASH checks their systems for relevant information about the child and family:

  • Previous referrals or involvement
  • Police call-outs or incidents
  • Health concerns or missed appointments
  • School attendance and safeguarding concerns
  • Any adults who may pose a risk

Step 3: Information Sharing Meeting

Professionals discuss the referral and share their information. This enables a fuller understanding of the family's circumstances and history.

Step 4: Decision

Based on the combined information, a decision is made about the appropriate response:

  • No further action required
  • Signpost to universal services
  • Refer to early help
  • Child and family assessment (Section 17)
  • Child protection enquiries (Section 47)
  • Immediate protection required

Step 5: Outcome

The outcome is communicated to the referrer and appropriate action is taken.

Making a Good Referral to MASH

To help MASH make good decisions, include:

  • Child's details: Name, date of birth, address, school
  • Family composition: Who lives in the household
  • Specific concerns: What has happened or what are you worried about
  • Evidence: What have you seen, heard, or been told
  • Chronology: Is this the first concern or part of a pattern?
  • Parental awareness: Do parents know you're referring?
  • Child's views: What has the child said?
  • Your details: So MASH can contact you for more information

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MASH Thresholds

MASH applies thresholds to determine the appropriate response level. Most areas use a tiered model:

  • Level 1: Universal services (no additional support needed)
  • Level 2: Early help (some additional support needed)
  • Level 3: Child in Need (statutory assessment required)
  • Level 4: Child protection (significant harm suspected)

If You Disagree with a MASH Decision

If you believe a referral should have been accepted at a higher threshold:

  • Ask for the rationale for the decision
  • Provide any additional information that may change the assessment
  • Use your agency's escalation process
  • Document your concerns and actions

Working with MASH

For social workers receiving cases from MASH:

  • Review all the information gathered at MASH stage
  • Build on what's already known—don't start from scratch
  • Contact MASH if you need additional information
  • Feedback outcomes so MASH can improve decision-making

Benefits of MASH

  • Faster decision-making through immediate information sharing
  • Better risk assessment based on fuller information
  • More appropriate responses (not over- or under-responding)
  • Identification of patterns that might be missed in silos
  • More efficient use of resources

Challenges

  • Variability in how MASH operates between areas
  • Ensuring all relevant agencies participate fully
  • Managing high volumes of referrals
  • Maintaining focus on quality, not just speed

Conclusion

MASH has transformed how safeguarding referrals are handled, enabling faster, better-informed decisions through multi-agency information sharing. Understanding how MASH works helps professionals make effective referrals and ensures children receive the right response at the right time.