Island's MASH can respond 'within minutes' to safeguarding concerns

Immediacy of action from MASH 'has been amazing'

The Isle of Man Constabulary is generally the agency which refers children most often to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub. 

That's according to the detective inspector for protecting vulnerable people.

MASH 'brings together professionals from services that have contact with children and young people of the Island who may be at risk of harm'.

All this week professionals on the Isle of Man are marking Safeguarding Week - with the theme of 'All Age Exploitation'.

Here at Manx Radio we've heard from:

• The Independent Chair of the Island's Safeguarding Board, Lesley Walker
• The Detective Inspector for Protecting Vulnerable People, Sam Cannell 
• The named professional for contextual safeguarding, Samantha Holmes and the Head of Safeguarding for Children and Adults, Terri Banks.

Today (14 November) we're turning our attention to the Island's Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub - or 'MASH'.

The Island's first ever MASH was launched here last summer with an initial six-month pilot phase.

It is a 'co-located, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary team that brings together professionals from services that have contact with children and young people of the Island who may be at risk of harm'.

Its purpose is to 'improve outcomes for them by ensuring there is a comprehensive and joined-up response to reducing the risk of harm, with professionals able to make the best possible use of their combined knowledge to ensure that children and young people are safe'.

The hub does this by joining up teams from agencies like Manx Care’s Children’s Social Care and Adult Social Work teams, the Early Help team, broader health professionals from across the body, including its safeguarding team, and officers from Isle of Man Constabulary.

Lesley Walker is Chair of the Isle of Man Safeguarding Board:

Last year the Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said the multi-agency approach appeared to be 'working well and having a positive impact'.

You can hear more HERE.

However MASH has continued its work beyond that initial six-month pilot phase with strategy meetings convened under the Children and Young Persons Act when a safeguarding concern is flagged by one of the various agencies.

So how do the various agencies fit into the picture?

AGENCIES

The Isle of Man Constabulary's Detective Inspector for Protecting Vulnerable People, Samuel Cannell, told Manx Radio they are the biggest referrer into the hub and provided some insight into how the set-up works:

What about our health and social care services?

Here's Manx Care's Head of Safeguarding Terri Banks and, the Island's Named Professional for Contextual Safeguarding, Samantha Holmes:

The concept of MASH is not unique to the Island - in fact the move indicates Manx services are aligning their work more broadly with that seen in other jurisdictions.

According to the UK government 'many areas have established Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs to mitigate the risk of anyone slipping through the safeguarding net and they and others have requested guidance on best practice'.

A report on the topic found that 'multi-agency working is key to early and effective identification of risk, improved information sharing, joint decision making and coordinated action'.

EVENTS

Safeguarding Week runs until Friday (15 November) and events are still planned across the Island.

You can find out more here.

SUPPORT

If you think you or someone you know is being exploited or is at risk of being exploited, contact the Isle of Man Constabulary on 01624 631212 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

You can hear more about the MASH and how it works in this episode of Newscast: