The division is split into following four functional areas, each of them managed by a
group manager.
Assessments and MASH Service
Care Management Service.
Disabled Children
Preventative Services
Additionally Principal Social Worker is appointed to champion best practice and
support reflective social work in the division.
Assessment and MASH Service
The MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) brings together a team of multi
disciplinary professionals from partner agencies co located to work with all
safeguarding concerns. The MASH will reinforce the need for a single point of entry
building on the work to allow agencies to work together at the earliest point of
identified needs for children with complex vulnerabilities.
In effect referred concerns will be jointly risk assessed by the core MASH members
who will review all the information available about the child/young person and make
an informed decision about which service is best placed to respond. If more than
one agency is involved the MASH process will make a decision as to who will be the
lead agent and this will be recorded and shared as appropriate.
The MASH is managed by the Group Manager for MASH and ASSESSMENT
Services, supported by:
Team Manager
Practice Manager
5 Senior Social Workers
And 15 other core officers across the safeguarding disciplines including the
police, health, education, Domestic Violence officers, Probation, YOS,
Targeted Support Officers from the MAPS, Housing, Substance Misuse
Officer, NRPF Officers, Hospital Social workers and Adults Safeguarding.
The Assessment team consists of 30 Social Workers and 5 Practice Managers. The
principle role of this division is described in the Children Act 1989 and subsequent
legislation incorporating children in need and children in care.
