Purpose and Function

The fundamental purpose of the Children's Safeguards Service (CSS) is to provide support, guidance and challenge to schools and other services within the Directorate regarding their key responsibility of ensuring that children are protected from abuse as defined by the four categories described in Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999 - physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Strategic planning and operational practice of the service is driven by the principles that underpin the Children Act 1989 and these provide a framework for the objectives of the Service: -

• Paramount: The needs of the child are seen as paramount at all times.

• Protection: The Service aims to promote high standards of Child Protection policy procedures and practice in all schools that provide for Kent children.

• Prevention: The Service aims to raise the profile of children's rights and develop schemes of work in schools across the county that will help to empower children to better protect themselves. In addition we need to ensure that care provided, particularly in residential special school settings, conforms with the requirements of the National Minimum Standards.
   
• Partnership: The Service strives to work collaboratively with internal and external customers and other stakeholders to ensure that the objectives of the service are achieved and maintained. Clear demarcation of roles and responsibilities as defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 1999 helps to provide a focus for this objective. Service staff will endeavor to function in a reasonable, transparent and proportional manner when working in partnership with schools and multi agency colleagues although it should be recognised that responsibility for statutory intervention in cases of child protection remains with the police and social services.

The Planning context of the Children's Safeguards Service (CSS) is driven by the legislative requirements of the Children Act (1989), Section 175 of The Education Act (2202), the Protection of Children Act (1999), the Care Standards Act (2000) and the principles of the Human Rights Act. In addition, guidance emanating from the DCSF 'Safeguarding Children in Education' directly influences the policies and procedures of the Service, which subsequently impact on Kent schools. Such policies are currently under review to conform with revised guidelines. About this Site Due to the increasing range of documents and information provided by the Children's Safeguards Service, we have now organised information into dedicated areas.

Please use the left-hand side navigation panel to select which area you would like to view. If you have any enquiries about this site, please contact the Children's Safeguards Service, on 01622 696366 or 01622 696677.