London MASH Project

1. London MASH Project Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs Pan London Work Mark J Clark

2. London MASH Project The vision - ‘to identify and make safe at the earliest opportunity all vulnerable people in our communities through the sharing of information and intelligence across the safeguarding partnership’ Why Change? - Safeguard the vulnerable and reduce harm! Lord Laming, Munro & Ofsted Serious Case Reviews – Adults and children

3. London MASH Project • This project was brought together by the GLA and London Councils. It is led by the London Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB) and Association of Directors of Children's Services (ALDCS) • The aim of the project is to increase the sharing of information between partners, particularly for safeguarding vulnerable people • A seminar on 28 February 2011 with 11 boroughs, identified by ALDCS, considered good practice across London and the challenges and blockages • This framework seeks to capture that good practice, within themes that have become apparent, and chart a way forward for better information sharing in London

4. London MASH Project The Seminar highlighted: • Different cultures clearly exist, but agencies need to work together in a common way across London • Prevention is the end goal. Risk and/harm must be identified in the huge volumes to allow timely, appropriate interventions • Co-location is already successful, and the way forward • A common process is essential, adapted to fit locally, to allow clarity on sharing within and between boroughs • Health is a key component, and the process must encourage them to share fully. It must build bridges to key decision makers e.g. head teachers • The system should allow links to be made to adults

5. London MASH Project • The three outcomes: • Early identification and understanding of risk. • Victim identification and intervention • Harm identification and reduction

6. London MASH Project THE 5 CORE ELEMENTS All notifications relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children to go through the Hub A co-located team of professionals from Core Agencies delivering an integrated service with the aim to research, interpret and determine what is proportionate and relevant to share The hub is fire walled, keeping MASH activity confidential and separate from operational activity and providing a confidential record system of activity to support this. An agreed process for analysing and assessing risk, based on the fullest information picture and dissemination of a suitable information product to the most appropriate agency for necessary action A process to identify victims and emerging harm through research and analysis

7. London MASH Project Concern from police Concern from Professional /public MASH Enquiry Triaging- Risk Assessment RAG Open / closed to Social care MASH Health & Mental Health Youth Offending Team Probation Children‘s Social Care Education Police Early Years Decision Social Care Manager

8. London MASH Project RedPotential child protection issue Information package within 4 hrs. Amber Significant concerns but immediate action to Safeguard the child is not required. Information package by end of next working day. Green Concerns regarding a child’s wellbeing. Maybe a child in need under Sec 17 Children’s Act. Information package within 3 working days

9. London MASH Project Confidential Discussion Room Police Confidential Data Room (PND-VISOR) Analyst MASH HUB OFFICE Social Care, Health, Mental Health, Police, Probation, Education, Housing, 3rd Sector, YOT, Plus ANY others relevant

10. London MASH Project • CONSENT or NOT? S.11 Children Act 2004, obliges relevant agencies to ensure that its “functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children” DPA Sec 29 1998 • disclose personal information without consent to detect or prevent crime • defined category of public interest –The protection of vulnerable members of the community.

11. London MASH Project Information Sharing Agreement • Corporate & specific MASH ISA • Twice been through Counsel at Local Authority & MPS • Consultation across all partners • Caldicott Guardian seminar and critique

12. London MASH Project • The main legal framework relating to the protection of personal information and how it is exchanged in a MASH is set out in: • The Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), including the right to a private and family life • The common law duty of confidentiality • The Data Protection Act 1998, covering protection of personal information • There is no general power to obtain, hold or process data and there is no ‘MASH’ statutory power to share information. However, some Acts of Parliament do give statutory public bodies express or implied statutory powers to share information. Some of these are relevant to all members of the MASH. Others relate to specific organisations.

13. London MASH Project Information Sharing Agreement (ISA) Numerous Versions Appendix A – At NHS request in December 2012. The following headings 1. Information entering the MASH from non-police sources 2. Business Continuity 3. Confidentiality and Vetting 4. Movement of Information 5. Storage of Information on Partner’s System 6. Storage of Papers  7. Disposal of Electronic Information 8. Disposal of Papers 9. Reporting procedures

14. London MASH Project The Future of MASH. Home Office – "Multi Agency Working & Information Sharing Project" Safeguarding Adults Inclusion of National Referral Mechanism for Child Trafficking Possible growth in a host of areas such as missing people identification and Child Sexual Exploitation etc

15. London MASH Project Any Questions or help in the future? mark.j.clark@met.police.uk 07500 765523