CSE and FGM

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

Further Guidance on CSE can be found on the Kent Safeguarding Children Board website

For advice and guidance please contact the Education Safeguarding Team or Kent Safeguarding Children Board.

Multi-Agency Sexual Exploitation (MASE) meeting

The monthly MASE meeting is a standing group of the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Children Boards and its membership is drawn from the key organisations represented on those boards. It takes a strategic view of the management of all issues relating to CSE and monitors the delivery of Kent and Medway CSE Action Plan.

Risthardh Hare, Interim Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, is the Children, Young People and Education lead on the MASE.

Contact

Risthardh Hare
Telephone: 03000 41 68 37
Email: Risthardh.Hare@kent.gov.uk

Operation Willow

Operation Willow is the awareness raising and intelligence gathering campaign linked to Child Sexual Exploitation. Information gathered through Operation Willow is reviewed and then passed to the most appropriate police team (e.g. Missing and Child Exploitation Team - MCET, Vulnerabilities Investigation Team - VIT, Paedophile Online Investigation Team - POLIT) who follow up with further research and investigation. In this way young people will be protected, perpetrators prosecuted and their activities disrupted.

For more information on Operation Willow see our page.

Key Documents

Contact Education Safeguarding Team

Claire Ray
Telephone: 03000 41 57 88
Email: claire.ray@kent.gov.uk

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is illegal in England and Wales under the FGM Act 2003 ("the 2003 Act"). It is a form of child abuse and violence against women. FGM comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

Section 5B of the 2003 Act 1 introduces a mandatory reporting duty which requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to report 'known' cases of FGM in under 18s which they identify in the course of their professional work to the police. The duty applies from 31 October 2015 onwards.

For advice and guidance please contact NSPCC FGM Helpline 08000 283550.

Key Documents

Contact Details

Claire Ray
Telephone: 03000 41 57 88
Email: claire.ray@kent.gov.uk

Events

Apr

Grief, Loss and Bereavement in Schools

In any class of twenty children or young people, there will be five or six who are dealing with some aspect of death, grief or loss.

Apr

Friendship Skills

Participants will consider the development of friendship skills and understand the particular difficulties that some children and young people experience.