Multi-agency hub safeguards vulnerable children

Vulnerable children in Norfolk are to benefit from more joined-up working between agencies with the police, county council and partners creating a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).

The project, due to be up-and-running by June, will initially bring staff from Norfolk Constabulary and Norfolk County Council under one roof, sharing information and responding quickly to child protection concerns.

Community services, health services and other agencies will also be involved at a later stage to better safeguard both vulnerable children and adults.

Assistant Chief Constable Kevin Wilkins said: “The recently-finalised Norfolk Police Children and Young People Strategy reinforces the constabulary’s commitment to build strong partnerships. The new MASH realises true partnership working, with critical partners sharing systems, processes, people and intelligence in one location, reducing bureaucracy, time and cost.”

The MASH will mean that when a child protection inquiry comes into the county council, officers from different agencies will be able to immediately discuss the background of the case and make a joint visit, if necessary.

Although the police and county council already work closely together, with their partners, bringing the teams into one location will speed up communication and assessment.

“We know that young people who are exposed to risk factors, including abuse, domestic violence, drugs and crime within the family unit, are more likely to commit crime themselves. This MASH will enable the police, county council and other partners to deliver joint identification, assessment and action.

“This will ultimately improve outcomes for young people, providing more effective and targeted services to these groups by identifying early those who are most at risk of harm,” added Mr Wilkins.

It is anticipated that other agencies will come on board as the project develops.

For the last two months, a MASH project group, made up of representatives from Norfolk County Council (Children’s and Community Services), police, health and probation, has been meeting to discuss ways of moving forward and developing the agency.

Alison Thomas, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Child protection continues to be one of our main priorities and we want to do all we can to keep children safe from harm.”

The MASH is likely to be based at a council building in Norwich.