Agenda item

To receive an update on the development of Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).

The Committee considered the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) update report which was set out on agenda pages 47- 48. Brian Grady and Linda York representing Thames Valley Police presented the report and answered questions. 

Brian Grady stated that good progress was being made and all was in place for the implementation to go ahead in March – April time. There was a strategic and operational group in place taking the project forward.  Brian emphasized that there were four areas of work that were being considered: information sharing agreement; accommodation; staffing and business processes.

Brian Grady explained that information sharing was a critical element and this had now been established.  The Police, Wokingham Borough Council and Health had signed up to this agreement, the final agency to sing on was with colleagues in Probation and a date in December had been agreed for this.

Brian Grady informed that the accommodation still needed some work as the structure and resources needed to be agreed with Clinical Commissioning Group and Police colleagues.

Brian Grady reported that staffing was progressing but still needed some work as the structure needed to be designed and agreed with colleagues at the Police. Linda York stated that three posts had been recruited and timescales for training were going to be agreed in January. Linda felt confident that the training would be available for all in time for MASH to go live on 1 April 2016.

It was noted that business processes were progressing well, there was a sub group working on this element to ensure that these were consistent with our internal workings and with those of the Police.  Workshops would be set up during January 2016 with key colleagues testing the system and the processes.  The current best practice was going to be incorporated to meet the signs of safety methodology where appropriate.

In response to a question Brian Grady stated that there were risks surrounding information sharing in terms of security.  Also, it was noted that MASH in itself would not provide safeguarding, it was important to be aware of its limitations.

Linda York clarified that the Domestic Abuse Risk Assessor that had been appointed as mentioned in the report was a specific new post for MASH.

Members were informed that domestic abuse had been increasing over the last few years; it was believed that this was a result of people feeling more confident to report it and not because of an actual increase in abuse. Linda York stated that it was impossible to be absolutely certain if there had been a real increase in numbers.  Brian Grady informed that the Local Safeguarding Board had been investigating this issue.

The Chairman, councillor Helliar-Symons asked that the name of the MASH programme manager be revealed once this appointment was officialised.

Members were interested to know if projects such as MASH were happening in other local authorities in the country.  Andy Couldrick explained that Wokingham Borough was not a pioneer; the majority of other local authorities already had similar projects in various shapes and forms in place.  Andy believed this was a good position to be in as it was possible to learn from other local authorities’ experiences.

Linda York stated that the model of working in Berkshire was standardised and this enabled more resilience from the Police point of view.

Linda York informed that a performance management framework would be issued in the future; it was possible that numbers would go up as a result of ‘hidden harm’ information becoming available.  It was hoped that early and effective intervention would reduce instances of crime and it was important to have a strategy in place.

The Chairman thanked the Officers involved in the project for keeping the Committee updated on the development of MASH.

RESOLVED That: The Committee noted the update report on MASH.