MASH Officer

Recruitment Hub; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme + life

Option to purchase up to 25 days leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee discounts

Flexible and family working

Management team support

Learning & career development

Subsidised town centre parking

Job summary

Northamptonshire Children's Trust is seeking a MASH Officer to join the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub in Northamptonshire. This frontline role handles referrals from the public and professionals, gathering and analysing information to identify risk and need, and ensuring timely responses.

The posting notes a 12-month maternity cover, 18.5 hours per week, with hybrid working options. You will work with health, education, police and social care to safeguard children and families, maintaining

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for all children's safeguarding enquiries, handling telephone and written referrals from the public, professionals and partner agencies
• Gather, analyse and collate complex information from multiple sources to build a clear picture of risk, vulnerability and need
• Ensure contacts are prioritised, accurately recorded and progressed within agreed MASH timescales and RAG ratings
• Provide high-quality advice, guidance and signposting, ensuring referrers receive timely and professional responses
• Work closely with Decision Makers and Team Managers, escalating urgent safeguarding concerns and seeking guidance where required
• Maintain accurate, confidential and sensitive records in line with data protection and safeguarding requirements
• Provide clear feedback on case progress and outcomes to partner agencies and professionals
• Operate confidently within a multi-agency setting, understanding the roles of different organisations and how they work together to safeguard children

Job description

Our benefits

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health pension protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

About the role

Are you looking for a new challenge in children's safeguarding where no two days are the same? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, frontline environment and enjoy piecing together information to make a real difference to children and young people?

As a MASH Officer within Northamptonshire's Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), you will play a vital role at the very first point of contact for safeguarding concerns. You'll work alongside professionals from health, education, police and social care, ensuring that children at risk are identified quickly and supported appropriately. This is a role where your curiosity, resilience and commitment to protecting children directly improves outcomes every day.

This is a 12 month maternity cover opportunity of 18.5 hours per week based at Brackmills, Northampton with an option to work hybrid depending on rota pattern and business needs.

What will you be doing?

You’ll be working in a dynamic, high-pressure environment where safeguarding is always the priority. In this role, you will:

• Act as the first point of contact for all children's safeguarding enquiries, handling telephone and written referrals from the public, professionals and partner agencies
• Gather, analyse and collate complex information from multiple sources to build a clear picture of risk, vulnerability and need
• Ensure contacts are prioritised, accurately recorded and progressed within agreed MASH timescales and RAG ratings
• Provide high-quality advice, guidance and signposting, ensuring referrers receive timely and professional responses
• Work closely with Decision Makers and Team Managers, escalating urgent safeguarding concerns and seeking guidance where required
• Maintain accurate, confidential and sensitive records in line with data protection and safeguarding requirements
• Provide clear feedback on case progress and outcomes to partner agencies and professionals
• Operate confidently within a multi-agency setting, understanding the roles of different organisations and how they work together to safeguard children

Your tenacity, attention to detail and ability to work under pressure will be key to ensuring children receive the right support at the right time.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

About you

You are a confident and compassionate professional who puts children's safety at the centre of everything you do.

You are an excellent communicator, able to engage effectively with professionals, partner agencies and members of the public

You are able to collect, interpret and analyse complex and sometimes conflicting information in a structured and proportionate way

You have a sound understanding of safeguarding legislation, guidance and professional boundaries

You have experience of working with children, young people and families, with an understanding of risk, vulnerability and family dynamics

You work calmly and accurately under pressure in a fast-paced environment

You have strong IT skills and can record, retrieve and manage sensitive information accurately

You have a team-focused mindset, with the ability to work collaboratively within a multi-agency safeguarding setting

Most importantly, you share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and you understand the responsibility that comes with working at the frontline of children's services.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check

About us

At Northamptonshire Children's Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of everything we do. Every decision we make and every action we take is guided by our commitment to delivering high-quality services that make a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people and families across Northamptonshire.

We know that our people are our greatest strength. Our workforce is at the centre of our success, and we are committed to creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to do the best job of their lives every day. We foster a culture built on kindness, collaboration and trust, where achievements are recognised, ideas are welcomed and innovation is encouraged.

We are proud of the positive impact we make together and delighted that our work has been recognised by Ofsted, with an Outstanding rating for Leadership and Management and Good ratings across Help and Protection, Children in Care and Care Leavers.

At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a Disability Confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers, who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.

If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of an ambitious, supportive and forward-thinking organisation, Northamptonshire Children’s Trust could be the place for you.

Supporting Children - A Career That Matters

Attached documents

• JD _ PS MASH OFFICER.pdf - Job description and Person specification