Children's MASH

What is a MASH?

The MASH (Multi-Agency Support Hub) is a single point of entry to multi-agency help and support for children, young people and their families who have additional needs and who require the support of more than one agency or professional. The MASH meets four days a week and is made up of representatives from key statutory agencies: 

• Police 
• Child Health
• School Attendance Service
• Children's Social Care

Other agencies who attend regularly include: the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS); the Community Drug and Alcohol Team (CDAT); the Youth Justice Service; the Children's Convenor and Action for Children. 

If you are concerned for a child or family then you can contact them for advice, discuss whether a referral is needed or you can fill in their online referral form which can be found here

If you send in a written referral and Children's Services have not contacted you within three working days then you must contact them.

What happens next?

Partners in the MASH will share relevant information to decide if: 

• The child has been harmed, or could be harmed in the future; or
• The child would benefit from support from other agencies who help children and their families.  
• there is a need for immediate protective action and/or
• this is a child protection case requiring a strategy discussion, or an assessment; and
• services should be provided and/or
• another agency should deal with the matter, and/or
• you need to continue to monitor the situation and/or
• further information is needed and/or
• there is a need to make a referral to the Convenor or
• no further action (a record of the referral will be kept).

What if the decision is no further action?

Sometimes Children's Services may be unable to get involved. This could be because the situation is not serious enough, or because there is not yet enough information. In either case, you need to be clear if you are a professional working with the family, about what your continued involvement will be in regards to monitoring the child's situation. This may include continuing to follow up concerns, working with the family and collecting further information etc.

If you continue to have concerns for the child but are not satisfied with the response from the MASH you should speak with your line manager. They may decide to speak with the manager/service manager responsible for the MASH.

Only if line managers cannot agree then the matter should be referred to the Children's Services, Quality Assurance Manager, who will bring this to the attention of the Chair of the Islands Child Protection Committee. This will be in line with Islands Child Protection Committee Policy for Resolving Professional Disagreements.

If you are a family member or anyone else who knows the family/child then you can continue to report concerns to MASH.

If you remain concerned and you believe that the test for compulsory intervention, set out in the Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law 2008 (s.35) might be met, you may refer the matter to the Children's Convenor.