Making Multi-Agency Safeguarding Work in Practice

2025-12-17 15:07

Multi-agency safeguarding and sharing information

Multi-agency safeguarding is where good intentions either become real protectionor get stuck in delays, unclear thresholds, and we thought someone else was doing it moments. This article covers:
How to make information sharing work (what to record, what to share, and when);
How MASH referrals typically flow;
Common joint-working challenges (thresholds, consent, capacity, language);
How to build relationships with social care, police, and health; and
How to contribute effectively to strategy meetings and case conferences.

You'll also find a detailed Q&A section with common questions people ask.

Why multi-agency working matters (and why it's hard)

Safeguarding rarely sits neatly in one service. A child's risk can involve:

Home circumstances
School attendance and behaviour
Health needs
Community risks
Online harm

Multi-agency working is about joining the dots earlyand acting consistently.

1) Information sharing: the practical basics

Information sharing can feel intimidating, but the goal is simple: share whats necessary to protect a child.

What to capture in your records before you share

What you observed (facts, dates, times)
What the child said (verbatim where possible)
What you did (actions taken, who you spoke to)
Why you're concerned (risk indicators)
What you're requesting (advice, assessment, immediate action)

This is where digital safeguarding records matter: they create a clear chronology that other agencies can trust.

Consent: don't let it become a blocker

Where appropriate, involve parents/carers and seek consent. But if seeking consent increases risk or delays protection, follow safeguarding procedures and document your rationale.

2) MASH referrals: how to make yours clearer and faster

MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) teams triage high volumes. A strong referral helps them act.

What makes a referral useful

Clear reason for referral (one sentence)
Immediate risk level (what might happen next?)
Key facts and chronology (short, structured)
What you've already done (and outcomes)
What support the child/family has (protective factors)

Practical tip: write referrals like a briefing note, not an essay.

3) Joint working challenges (and how to reduce friction)

Multi-agency work often breaks down for predictable reasons.

Common friction points

Different thresholds and language between agencies
Capacity constraints and delays
Unclear ownership of actions
Incomplete timelines or missing evidence
Meetings that don't end with a clear plan

What helps

Use shared language: what happened, what's the risk, what's the plan
Confirm actions in writing after calls/meetings
Keep your chronology updated in digital safeguarding records
Escalate professionally when drift occurs (and document it)

4) Building relationships with partner agencies (without being pushy)

Good relationships reduce delays.

Practical ways to build trust

Know your local pathways and named contacts
Be consistent: clear referrals, timely updates, reliable attendance
Ask for feedback: How can we make referrals easier for you to triage?
Share what you can offer: attendance data, behaviour patterns, pastoral context

5) Case conferences and strategy meetings: how to contribute well

These meetings work best when everyone brings evidence and leaves with actions.

What to prepare

A short chronology (key dates, key events)
What you've observed and whats changed
The child's voice (where appropriate)
What support has been tried and what worked
Your safeguarding view: risks + protective factors

During the meeting

Be factual and calm
Ask for clarity: Who is doing what by when?
Confirm escalation routes if risk increases

After the meeting

Update your digital safeguarding records the same day
Share actions internally (pastoral, DSL, senior leaders)

6) Where safeguarding software fits (especially across multiple sites)

If you're operating across clubs, schools, venues, or regions, consistency is the challenge.

Safeguarding software helps you:

Centralise concerns into consistent digital safeguarding records
Maintain clean chronologies for referrals and meetings
Improve handovers between staff and safeguarding leads
Keep compliance visible (including staff training and DBS status where relevant)

Q&A: common multi-agency safeguarding questions

Q1: What should we include in a MASH referral?

A clear reason for referral, immediate risk, key facts/chronology, actions already taken, and what youre requesting. Keep it structured.

Q2: What if another agency doesn't respond?

Follow your escalation pathway, document attempts, and keep the child's risk under review. Confirm actions in writing after calls.

Q3: Can we share information without consent?

If there's a safeguarding concern and sharing is necessary to protect a child, you may be able to share. Record your rationale and follow your local safeguarding procedures.

Q4: How do we avoid drift in multi-agency plans?

End every meeting with named actions, deadlines, and a review date. Update digital safeguarding records and chase professionally.

Q5: How do we make our records useful to other agencies?

Write factual notes, keep a clear chronology, include the child's voice where appropriate, and record decisions and outcomes.

Q6: Where does DBS check status fit into multi-agency safeguarding?

It's not the whole picture, but it matters operationally. Clear DBS status visibility supports safer staffing decisions and reduces risk in child-facing provision.

Quick checklist: multi-agency safeguarding done well

Records are factual, timely, and chronological
Referrals are structured and clear
Actions are confirmed in writing after meetings
Escalation routes are used when drift occurs
Concerns and outcomes are logged in digital safeguarding records
Safeguarding software supports consistent practice across teams