The hub which is made up of staff from Torfaen Council and Gwent Police was launched today in dedicated new offices in Civic Centre, Pontypool.

Following an in-depth review, Gwent Police and Torfaen Council agreed to integrate key staff dealing with child safety referrals into a MASSH to support early intervention and prevention and to improve information, advice and assistance to families.

The co-location of Police, Social Workers, Customer Care, Families First and Administrators into the MASSH will help manage the growing demand for children’s services and create a single point of contact and referral process. The integrated team will also improve feedback to members of the public and external agencies making referrals.

Torfaen’s Chief Executive, Alison Ward MBE said: ‘Over the last decade, Torfaen has seen an increase in referrals made directly into our Children’s Services team from the police, schools, health and partner agencies. Through collaborative working, our new MASSH will safely managing the growing demand for Children’s Services by reducing duplication and managing future referrals more efficiently using joint decision making processes, better information sharing and coordinated interventions.  Ultimately, this new way of working will reduce time spent dealing with referrals and provide more resources to make children safe in Torfaen.’

Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Pam Kelly, said: ‘Through improved sign-posting to early intervention and prevention services in Torfaen, we’ll be able to make quicker decisions around safeguarding concerns and offer families the right support, at the right time. As a result, the MASSH will be able to act quickly, in a more co-ordinated and consistent way, ensuring that vulnerable children are kept safe.

‘Once a concern is reported, the MASSH will assess whether or not it meets the threshold for children’s social care involvement. Referrals that don’t meet the threshold will be signposted to specific early help services, ensuring they receive an offer of appropriate support at the earliest opportunity.’

The work of the MASSH will be overseen by the council’s Children’s Services Transformation Programme Board and the Regional Safeguarding Board.