Make a referral to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
If you are witnessing or hearing a child being assaulted or immediately in danger consider calling the Police on 999.
Before you start
For guidance about threshold criteria for referrals to Children’s Social Care, please see Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Partnership Thresholds for Intervention.
Consent
It is your responsibility to ensure you have received informed consent to share the information you will provide within this referral form.
Consent should be sought from the parent/carer unless obtaining this consent will place the child at further risk of significant harm – obtaining consent should not delay a request for support being made.
Young people aged 16 or 17 have capacity under the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 for the purposes of consent, however professionals should encourage young people to involve their parents particularly where significant decisions relating to healthcare treatment need to be made.
In some cases a referral for child protection should be done even if the child objects.
You will need
When calling us, or completing the form, you will be asked for:
- Details of the child
- Details of the parent or carer
- To identify the child or young person's needs that are causing concern
- Any supporting documents that you wish to attach. Please be aware that the total file size should not exceed 3MB
- You will be able to download a copy to save and print by selecting the appropriate link when you submit the online referral form
What happens next
A MASH social worker will contact you to discuss your referral.
A social work manager will review the information and decide within 24 hours about the next appropriate steps.
The MASH will contact you 72 hours after you made contact, in order to provide feedback on your referral.
The Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Partnership also provides guidance and resources about child protection.
Start referral - for professionals
We have a separate form for members of the public to complete.