Bedford Integrated Front Door (previously MASH)
The IFD brings together the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and Early Help Hub in one place to facilitate early, better quality information sharing, analysis and decision-making to safeguard children, young people and families more effectively.
The Early Help Hub focuses on partnership working with agencies to provide children, young people and families with early help assessments and intervention to ensure families are able to access services and support at the right time.
How to contact the Integrated Front Door: If your concern is of an immediate safeguarding nature then please contact the Integrated Front Door on 01234 718700 during office hours (8.45am to 5.20pm, Monday to Thursday; 8.45am to 4.20pm on a Friday) or out of office hours please call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 0300 300 8123.
Telephone: 01234 718700 during office hours 0300 300 8123 out of hours
The role of the LADO is set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children and is governed by the Authorities' duties under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 and MKSCB Inter-Agency Policy and Procedures (Ch 2.8). This guidance outlines procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children who are paid, unpaid, volunteers, casual, agency or anyone self-employed.
The LADO* must be contacted within one working day in respect of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:
- behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed a child;
- possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
- behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.
If you need to report an allegation or concern about an adult who works with children you should, in the first instance, speak to your Senior Manager and then to the LADO/Designated Officer within one working day of all allegations that come to an employer's attention or that are made directly to the Police.
Bedford Borough: 01234 276 693 or via secure email: Lado@bedford.gov.uk
Useful Links:
NSPCC stands for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. It means that each of us has a responsibility to keep childhood free from abuse, and we must do everything possible to protect children and prevent it from happening.
Childline is a free, private and confidential service where you can be you. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, however you want to get in touch. We're here for you online, on the phone, anytime.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection offers support and advice around online abuse or the inappropriate way someone is communicating online.
Bedfordshire Police - If it's not an emergency, the easiest way to contact the police is online or calling 101.
Always call 999 in an emergency situation where:
- there is an immediate danger to life
- someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent