1,000 referrals for vulnerable children in just three months
A service set up to help protect children in Walsall at risk of harm or abuse has had more than 1,000 referrals since it opened almost three months ago.
The team brings together staff from the council, police, probation, NHS and the voluntary sector who work with children and families in a bid to improve how cases are handled.
The borough's multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH), based on Lichfield Street, was set up in October. So far, the team has received 1,117 referrals relating to concerns over a child who may be at risk. Each referral is analysed and if it is considered to be serious, bosses hold a meeting to discuss what the next step is in order to get the child out of the harmful situation.
Before a referral is cast aside as not serious, a member of management has to have a final say.
The referral figures will be discussed at a meeting this week alongside data revealing the service has given out 2,510 pieces of advice and guidance given since opening.
Walsall council leader Mike Bird said: "Ensuring children in the borough are properly looked after is one of our top priorities and unfortunately is not always easy to make improvements in that area. It is also an area where you are open to criticism no matter what you do, it is one of the most difficult things to get right as a council.
"The safeguarding hub is an example of us being pro-active in trying to help with the problems young people can face in Walsall.
"I believe, as I am sure everyone else does, that every child deserves to live in a happy and healthy home and we want to try and make sure we are doing everything we can to make that a reality.
"The high amount of referrals is an indicator of the size of the task ahead but I believe the hub is part of an improvement we are making to change the picture across the borough."
A report into the work done at the centre will be discussed on Wednesday at Walsall Council's education and children's services scrutiny meeting. A report, which will go before members, says: "The effective delivery of high quality services to protect children and young people from harm has a direct impact on the welfare and well being of children and young people in Walsall.
"This work directly links to our priority that all children and young people in Walsall are safe, protected and supported.
"Multi agency working is key to early identification of risk, improved information sharing and communication, joint decision making, management of risk and coordinated protective action."
In November, council bosses agreed to invest almost £900,000 on tackling domestic abuse, mental health and substance misuse in Walsall.
