Working Together to Safeguard Children definition for child sexual abuse is as follows:

'Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts, such as 162 masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place in family settings, in institutional settings, online, and technology can be used to facilitate off-line abuse. Child sexual abuse material available online may have been generated in a family environment. Online abuse can also take the form of cyber grooming or self-generated sexual content under coercion. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children. A child of any age or gender can be a victim of sexual abuse.'

Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership (MSCP) response to child sexual abuse strategic position statement

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a deeply harmful and often hidden crime. The MSCP is committed to ensuring that all children are protected from sexual abuse. We aim to create a coordinated, evidence-informed, and trauma-responsive system that identifies, prevents, and responds to child sexual abuse across all agencies.

This statement sets out our strategic position, informed by:

• The National Review into Child Sexual Abuse within the Family Environment by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
• Resources and guidance from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Centre).
• The Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI) framework on the multi-agency response to CSA in the family environment.

We will:

• ensure our strategic approach is survivor-informed, trauma-aware, and culturally competent.
• promote professional curiosity and confidence in identifying CSA, including intra-familial abuse.

We are committed to ensuring that safeguarding responses are proactive, child-centred, and multi-agency. Our vision is to build a system where:

• children are heard, believed, and supported.
• professionals are confident and equipped to identify the signs and indicators and respond to CSA.
• agencies work collaboratively to prevent harm and promote recovery.

The 2024 national review analysed 136 serious safeguarding incidents and 41 case reviews. Key findings include:

• failure to listen to children: many children communicated distress in subtle ways, but professionals did not act.
• over-reliance on disclosure: safeguarding responses often waited for children to speak out, despite evidence that most do not disclose abuse.
• weak multi-agency coordination: poor information-sharing and fragmented responses led to missed opportunities.
• inadequate risk assessments: known offenders were present in over a third of cases, yet risks were not robustly managed.
• cultural and disability considerations: responses often failed to account for race, ethnicity, and disability, creating barriers to protection.

The JTAI framework emphasises:

• a joined-up multi-agency response to CSA.
• early identification and intervention, especially in intra-familial contexts.
• voice of the child as central to safeguarding practice.
• learning from case reviews to improve future responses.

Our strategic objectives.

Objective 1: prevention and early identification

• promote professional curiosity and awareness of CSA signs and indicators.
• address barriers to disclosure through safe, trusted relationships.
• utilise national campaigns and resources designed specifically for parents/carers to raise awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse including the NSPCC Talk PANTS

Objective 2: multi-agency response and support

• consistent use of Kent and Medway CSA pathway to strengthen joint working and information-sharing.
• improve data collection and analysis using the CSA Centre Improving your data on child sexual abuse

Objective 3: workforce development

• learning lessons group to undertake a workforce learning and skills scoping exercise (training and tools) to identified strengths and gaps.
• promote the CSA Centre free learning modules to enhance agencies own training programmes including spotting the signs and indicators of child sexual abuse, speaking to children about child sexual abuse, supporting parents/carers when their child may have been sexually abused, promoting reflective supervision and learning from reviews and multi-agency audits.

Objective 4: voice of the child

• ensure children’s voices are central to all safeguarding decisions.
• actively listen and respond to children’s concerns, even when indirect.

Objective 5: quality assurance and learning

• monitor CSA responses through single and multi-agency audits.
• share learning from the national review and local case studies.

Governance and Accountability

The MSCP Executive Group is responsibility for implementation of the strategic vision with delivery through the JTAI Preparation Working Group and Strengthening Professional Practice group. 

Progress will be reviewed every 3months and informed by:

• Medway local child safeguarding practice reviews
• JTAI inspection outcomes.
• CSA Centre research and guidance.

Beech House Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)

Beech House SARC offers a comprehensive service for adults and children in Kent and Medway, who have experienced sexual violence or sexual abuse. You can access Beech House via the police and other professionals, as well as the self-referral pathway (booking an appointment at the SARC, without the police).

You will be offered support and guidance, a medical assessment/treatment, a forensic examination, and the opportunity of aftercare referrals for support services.  These services will be offered based on your individual needs, and you can choose to use as much or as little of the services as you wish.

Visit Beech House SARC website for more information.

To help Kent professionals understand the Kent SARC, a short video has been produced.

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