MASH update

MASH is one year old!

In May 2017 MASH will reach its first anniversary. MASH has received over 23,000 contacts and referrals from professionals and members of the public since its launch. It receives 99 calls and 100 emails a day on average, with 35% of calls across 2016-2017 for consultations. 18.9% of referrals were from nursery, schools or colleges.

We are proud that we are able to offer professionals a direct call to a social worker for advice, information and consultation as few local authorities provide this.  

To coincide with our first anniversary, we will be launching our MASH Annual Report on 3 May 2017.  Some highlights from this report show that through the triangulation of information we are making co-ordinated decisions about children and adults. Timescales and caseloads of MASH professionals are also  inevitably linked.  Since 1 March our caseloads are now 15 referrals per day on average, meaning we have time to look deeply into each referral and understand the concerns being raised.

We have also worked very hard with the police to tackle domestic abuse and are able to report that incidents are being responded to through secondary multi-agency risk analysis, in live time.

Escalation Process

Despite the high amount of referrals received, MASH has received a small number of case escalations - just 6 in 2016-2017.  If you are not happy with the outcome or decision from the MASH please tell us and use the escalation process. 

To feedback to the MASH or initiate a case escalation please email mashmanagers@warwickshire.gov.uk

To escalate issues from cases allocated to children's teams please contact the district Operations Manager.  

You said. We Acted

We constantly seek and listen to feedback.  For example, feedback from professionals has highlighted that the Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF) needs to improve.  We have made changes to the form, agreed last month by the Warwickshire Safeguarding Children's Board.  The new form and updated guidance is available on the WSCB website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/wscb

Our annual report sets out a number of priorities following feedback and review of the MASH, including:

• When the outcome of MASH is an Early Help Single Assessment, there is a need to work with professionals to ensure a co-ordinated service is provided
• Ensure feedback is provided to the referrer and other agencies who provide information through triage 100% of the time.
• Develop an online form and improve advice and support available on the website