Children FIRST
On Monday 1 June 2026, the former Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and the Early Help Front Door were merged into one service now called Children FIRST (The Children and Family Initial Response and Safeguarding Team). The service acts as a single coordinated access point where Requests for Support for children in Coventry are received and actioned.
Children FIRST has practitioners from key partners responsible for safeguarding children in Coventry and they are co-located in one building. Practitioners come from across health, children's services, police, education and probation, in addition other services are being brought into the service to strengthen decision making and information shared. Together, practitioners facilitate early, quality information sharing, analysis and decision-making, to safeguard children and young people effectively.
What does Children FIRST do?
Following receipt of a Request for Support, practitioners have conversations with families to gain an understanding of what life is like for them. Practitioners work alongside partner agencies to collate relevant and proportionate information which enhances their understanding of the families' circumstances and subsequently informs decisions on the level of support which may be required.
The information and recommendations gathered from different agencies builds a greater understanding of the circumstances of the family and any potential associated risks and/or impact on the child and/or young person. This informs decisions around the level of support and as a result agencies are able to act quickly in a co-ordinated and consistent way, ensuring that where it is necessary children are kept safe and ensures targeted support is available for families who need it most.
Where appropriate, Children FIRST will provide advice and guidance to partner agencies on how best to support families and for them to take appropriate actions based upon the Request for Support.
Feedback is given to professionals who have submitted a Request for Support.
Guidance on submitting a good quality Request for Support
Partners should be prepared to indicate the level of support they believe the family requires:
- Universal
- Early Support
- Family Help (Targeted Early Help/Child in Need)
- Family Help - Child Protection
Where partners believe the family is in need of Universal or Early Support, a Request for Support form is not required as this support can be accessed and delivered via local agencies from statutory, voluntary and community sectors working with the family to meet emerging needs. Families can visit the local Family Hub for support.
If partners are unsure they can speak to Early Help Assessment Coordinators (EHAC)/ Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) to seek advice prior to submitting a request.