Standardising multi-agency safeguarding hubs (MASH): building a framework to effectively identify and manage risk

Sarah Shorrock (University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom)
Steven Parker (Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom)
Gareth Addidle (University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom)
Mark Dimelow (Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom)
Joyce Liddle (Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom)
Douglas Martin (University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom)
Tony Procto (University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom)
Philippa Olive (University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom)

Emerald Open Research

ISSN: 2631-3952

Article publication date: 20 March 2023

Issue publication date: 22 December 2023

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Abstract

MASH has been a feature of safeguarding practices in England and Wales since 2011, bringing safeguarding agencies together to effectively share information and prevent organizational silos. Core agencies include the police, social care, and health, with key features of co-location, joint decision-making and co-ordination. A standardised definition for MASH implementation does not exist, and this lack of a clear definition has meant various structures have emerged, impacting on safeguarding practices. This policy brief draws on workshops with a range of safeguarding practitioners between May and July 2022, about the challenges of collaborative working practices and how MASH can become more standardised. Whilst national standardisation is required, there needs to be flexibility when implementing guidelines, so that practices and processes reflect regional needs and resources.

Keywords

Citation

Shorrock, S., Parker, S., Addidle, G., Dimelow, M., Liddle, J., Martin, D., Procto, T. and Olive, P. (2023), "Standardising multi-agency safeguarding hubs (MASH): building a framework to effectively identify and manage risk", Emerald Open Research, Vol. 1 No. 13. https://doi.org/10.1108/EOR-13-2023-0022

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023 Shorrock, S. et al.

License

This is an open access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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