What should I do if I have an urgent concern?
If you have an urgent concern please do not hesitate to call the MASH immediately on 0300 126 7000 where you will be able to speak to a professional who will listen to and record your concern. You will be required to submit a written copy of the referral following this conversation if it meets the thresholds for a referral
What should I do I have a concern?
If there is no immediate danger, you should establish the level of need and risk before you take action. Thresholds Guidance will help you to do this.
This document sets out our approach to providing support to potentially vulnerable children in Northamptonshire, keeping all children safe and protected from harm.
Coronavirus safeguarding arrangements
The following document contains temporary guidance whilst services are established during this critical period of time.
If you believe your concern meets the threshold for statutory intervention please either call the MASH on 0300 126 7000 or complete the online referral form.
Complete a MASH referral
You can use the guide below for instructions on signing up to use the referral form, logging in and saving completed copies of your referrals.
If you are unsure and would like to discuss further please call the MASH on 0300 126 7000.
What is the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub?
Various professionals from different organisations work together in the MASH, including social care, police and the NHS. By working together, we are able to gather and collate information quickly to make informed decisions about the risks posed to a child and decide on the most appropriate response to your concern.
The leaflet below has advice for parents and carers for what happens when a referral is made. Please pass this on any parents or carers you working with.
What will happen when I raise a concern?
Where there reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering significant harm or is likely to do so, we share and use information to help us to decide on the best course of action. This is likely to include more detailed enquiries by social workers and partner organisations. If we decide that a case does not meet the threshold for significant harm and does not need social care involvement, we will recommend alternative forms of support that are available to the family.
What will reporting a concern involve?
Professionals reporting a concern will be expected to provide various details about themselves, the child, the family and the concern. This information will be recorded and may be shared with relevant partners. Where appropriate, you will be expected to gain the consent of the parents or carers unless there is a good reason not to. The general expectation is that you should have informed the parents or carers that you are making a referral.
What happens after I raise a concern?
Once you have raised a concern by phone and you have been told it meets the thresholds for a safeguarding requirement, you will be required to complete a follow up online referral.
Complete an online referral
After a referral is made further information may be collected with our partner agencies and, where appropriate, the family of the child will be contacted. Once the concern has been assessed and an outcome has been agreed, you will receive an email informing you of the outcome.