Hackney MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) Children's and Families Service

Under Review — this page was due to be reviewed by 25 December 2023. The information shown here may be outdated.

Who are we?
The Hackney MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) is a single point of contact or ‘front door’ for Hackney Children and Families Services.

What do we do?
Professionals from children and families services, police, health and probation, work together through MASH.

They share information and make decisions about the kinds of services and levels of support children, young people and families need.

MASH share knowledge, information and professional judgements about the referral and next steps.

This helps to make quick decisions that assist families and referrers to get prompt access to services.

If you’re worried about a child or young person

If a case is already allocated within Hackney Children and Families Services, please contact the child’s allocated unit to discuss your concerns.

If you are worried about a child who is not open to Hackney Children and Families Services, where you feel your concern is urgent and you need to speak to a social worker to agree a plan of action today, please call MASH on 020 8356 5500 or email MASH@hackney.gov.uk:

the phone line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays
outside of these hours, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 020 8356 2710

If you’re unsure about what support a child and family needs, or whether you should make a referral to MASH

Eligibility criteria

Inclusions

How does the consultation line work?

it’s for professionals only
for cases that are not already open to the Council’s service
you must have consulted your designated safeguarding lead first
you will need to use the usual MASH number – 020 8356 5500 – and ask for a consultation
experienced members of staff from MASH will respond
MASH will listen to your concerns and offer advice and guidance about the most appropriate next steps – their advice may include:
a request for you to have further conversations with the child and family about the concerns and – with their consent – other members of the family’s network
a written referral to MASH
a referral to another service

MASH will keep a log of calls to monitor the consultation lines use, but calls will not be recorded on our files. It is important that anyone contacting MASH make their own agency records of discussions.