Multi Agency Referral Form (marf) The marf is designed to enable a non-urgent referral to be made to the Multi Agency Referral Hub (mash) No other forms will be accepted and these procedures supersede all previous versions What to do

All three sections of this form must be completed as fully as possible before any referral is made to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). The form is designed to include all family members in one referral, if that is appropriate, but please ensure that where concerns relate to a specific child or young person that this is clearly identified. It needs to be submitted by email together with a completed copy of the CAF to children@milton-keynes.gov.uk (colleagues who need to use a secure external account should use RaATBusinessSupport@milton-keynes.gcsx.gov.uk )

Where there are urgent child protection concerns, the MKSCB policy and procedures should be followed. These can be viewed at www.mkscb.org. Situations where there is immediate possible or actual significant harm to a child or young person should be referred immediately by telephone to 01908 253169 (or 01908 265545 out of hours) and the MARF (a competed CAF is not required under these circumstances) should be emailed to confirm the referral to email address above.

Please provide as much detail as possible. The information provided will be used to determine the response is needed. In most cases it will be expected that action will have already been taken to address the issues causing concern and these must be fully described in the relevant section so please provide sufficient detail or evidence of previous interventions and support, including their aims and resulting outcomes.

In the majority of cases, referrals will have been fully discussed, and consent obtained, before any referral is made for additional services, unless this would place any child or young person at risk; in which case a full explanation of the circumstances must be given in the space provided.

Thresholds and Outcome of Referrals

To review the referral we use the Milton Keynes Safeguarding Children Board ‘Levels of need when working with children, young people and families’ which sets out the thresholds for intervention. This can be helpful if you are unsure whether to submit a referral to the MASH. You can view a copy at www.mkscb.org

1. 
   Ask for further information or suggest alternative responses including further support through what we call Level 1 (Universal services) or Level 2 (Additional).
   
2. 
   Refer to the relevant Children and Family Practice for further assessment where children needs can be met by a multi-agency response at what we call Level 3 (Additional).
   
3. 
   Refer to children’s social care for a more specialist Children and Families Assessment (where children or young people may be at risk of, or are, suffering significant harm which requires Level 4 intervention).
   

The referrer will be acknowledged within 24 hours and are notified of the outcome within two weeks.