8. Our Multi-Agency Partnerships

Strong multi-agency partnerships are central to effective safeguarding. We work with other organisations to protect children, prevent harm and ensure swift, coordinated intervention where concerns arise. Below is an overview of the key agencies we work with and how each supports us in keeping children safe.

External Safeguarding Specialists

What External Specialists Do:

We work with safeguarding consultants, trainers and experts when specialist input is required—for example, reviewing policies, auditing safeguarding practice, or providing advanced training.

How External Specialists Support Us:

· Strengthen safeguarding quality assurance

· Provide independent advice aligned with best practice and national updates

· Support training in emerging areas such as online safety, digital safeguarding, or contextual safeguarding

Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCB)

What OSCB Does: The OSCB brings together statutory safeguarding partners across Oxfordshire—including the local authority, police and health services—to coordinate safeguarding procedures, provide training, publish guidance and share learning from case reviews. They also lead the county’s approach to Early Help and multi-agency working.

How OSCB Supports Us:

· Provides up-to-date safeguarding procedures, policies and specialist guidance

· Delivers training used by our staff to stay compliant with national and local expectations

· Shares learning from serious case reviews and audits to help strengthen practice across schools

· Ensures our safeguarding systems align with county-wide expectations and statutory duties

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the central ‘front door’ for all child protection and immediate safeguarding concerns in Oxfordshire. MASH brings together professionals from a wide range of agencies—including children’s social care, health services, Thames Valley Police, education, probation, and emergency services—to share information swiftly and identify risks to children at the earliest possible stage. This multi-agency team assesses referrals, determines the level of risk, and decides what action or intervention is needed to safeguard a child. MASH plays a crucial role in enabling timely, well-informed decisions by ensuring that no single agency works in isolation.

How MASH Supports Us:

We contact MASH whenever if we have a concern that a child may be suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm and requires an immediate safeguarding response. MASH provides:

· Rapid risk assessment by drawing together information from multiple agencies

· Guidance on thresholds of need and whether concerns meet the criteria for statutory intervention

· Direction on next steps, such as social care assessment, Early Help support or signposting to other services

· Opportunities for coordinated, multi-agency planning, ensuring children receive the right support at the right time

Before making a referral, the school follows county guidance by considering the Threshold of Need, gathering relevant information, and evidencing any Early Help support already in place. MASH then determines whether the child needs protection, further assessment or targeted support. This partnership ensures that safeguarding concerns are escalated appropriately and that children at risk receive a swift, coordinated, and effective response.

Local Authority Children’s Social Care

What Social Care Does:

Local authority children’s social care services are responsible for assessing and responding to safeguarding referrals, undertaking statutory child protection investigations, coordinating support plans, and ensuring children at risk of harm receive appropriate protection.

How Social Care Supports Us:

· Provides timely advice when we raise concerns about a child

· Leads child protection processes, including assessments, Child in Need plans and Child Protection Conferences

· Works jointly with the school to share information, ensure the child’s voice is heard, and plan supportive interventions

· Helps ensure statutory safeguarding duties are fulfilled under national legislation

Health Services

What Health Services Do:

Health partners include school nurses, GPs, CAMHS, paediatric teams and other health professionals. They identify health-related safeguarding risks and contribute specialist assessments relating to physical and emotional wellbeing.

How Health Services Support Us:

· Offer medical, emotional and mental-health expertise

· Attend multi-agency safeguarding meetings and provide essential reports

· Assist with early identification of issues including neglect, mental health concerns, developmental needs, or physical injury

· Support children with ongoing health needs that may impact their safety or wellbeing

Thames Valley Police

What the Police Do:

The police safeguard children through criminal investigations, community safety initiatives, and the identification of safeguarding risks relating to exploitation, domestic abuse, missing children or online harms.

How the Police Support Us:

· Provide intelligence and contextual safeguarding insights relevant to children’s safety

· Attend multi-agency meetings and support coordinated responses to risk

· Work with us to address concerns such as criminal exploitation, bullying, harassment or online safety issues

· Strengthen preventative education through programmes linked to community safety

Early Help Services (Including LCSS)

What Early Help and LCSS Do:

Early Help provides support for emerging concerns before they escalate. The Locality and Community Support Service (LCSS) is the first point of professional contact for non-immediate concerns. LCSS advises schools on thresholds, early intervention and suitable family support options.

How Early Help & LCSS Support Us:

· Provide professional advice on low-level or emerging concerns

· Help us identify suitable support for families at an early stage

· Coordinate Early Help plans involving multiple agencies

· Strengthen early identification approaches recommended by OSCB