Multi-agency safeguarding hubs: An implementation and process evaluation

Ro Méndez-Pineda and Jenny Woodman highlight some of the complexities in relation to information-sharing and decision-making relating to their study of Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs in England.

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Multi-agency safeguarding hubs: An implementation and process evaluation

01 May 2025, 12:00 – 13:00

Room G03
Social Research Institute
55-59 Gordon Square
London
WC1H 0NU
United Kingdom

Ro and Jenny's study investigates Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH) in England to develop an understanding of their functions, mechanisms, and impacts. They identify two distinct models of MASH differentiated by strategic function: risk assessment MASH, and needs assessment MASH.

Ro and Jenny will discuss how effective information sharing relies on skilled practitioners, strong professional relationships often facilitated by physical co-location, and clear threshold guidance understood across agencies.

They conclude that while needs assessment models of MASH may be more conceptually appealing to practitioners and parents, they may require greater resources and may be unfeasible in areas with significant operational challenges and readiness. The findings provide a foundation for developing multi-agency working principles and identifying necessary conditions for effective information sharing in children's social care.

This event will be particularly useful for those interested in children's social care and policy evaluation.

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Mat Wright for UCL.

Rocío (Ro) Méndez-Pineda

Third-year PhD candidate in Social Science

UCL Social Research Institute

Her research examines multi-agency front door services in England using mixed-methods approaches and administrative data.

Her expertise spans both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, with research interests in children's social care policy, children's outcomes, and multi-agency working.

Professor Jenny Woodman

Professor of Child and Family Policy

TCRU, UCL Social Research Institute

Jenny co-directs the NIHR Children and Families Policy Research Unit.

Much of her research describes and evaluates public services for children and their families, especially at the interface of health and social care services, primary and community healthcare, multi-agency services and in the early years of childhood.