Skip to content

CSC Knowledge Base Network

A structured, extensible open-source data-eco-system map and 'knowledge base' for the Children’s Social Care (CSC) sector. This project collates and creates an overview of key sector documentation, project relationships, data services, sector tools, rules, plans and events using a flexible YAML-based data model aligned with the Smart City Concept Model (SCCM) towards data interoperability.

Alongside the (filtered)graph-based relations visualisation, it aims to support key-term search and YAML schema validation across the structured/human readable .yml structured records. Development is scaffolded/designed to be extensible, transparent, and Git-native.

With a focus on ensuring an entirely open-source and Git-native tool, there are some interesting and potentially constraining problems to solve just within the available tech-stack(even before we address the arguably bigger issues of how to bring all the relvant data together, and what's a sustainable internal structure). We're particularly interested in the Git data limits vs CSC sector need on data storage towards such as optimised full text searches. The potential data-estate in this exploratory development, alongside how we might take or manage direct sector input into the YML structure(s) also ongoing factors.

Current Dev Phase: Discovery-Alpha

What is this for?

This proof of concept(PoC) project explores how a structured, searchable map of Children’s Social Care (CSC) data, tools, data projects, key frameworks, statuatoary guidance and activity could enable collaboration and support or optimise efforts across the sector. While exact use-cases are still emerging, our goal is to create a shared resource that brings together:

  • published reports
  • pre-defined data objects
  • web data (e.g. from the DfE, local authorities, third parties)
  • sector-developed tools and frameworks
  • connected people (organisational/sector tools linked where consent given or public record)

All of this would be made accessible through a visual or navigable interface, allowing users to explore connections between people, projects, standards, and services.

We think this could help:

  • Make relationships clearer — between local and national CSC initiatives, policies, systems, and data sources
  • Show who’s doing what — helping users track new tools, updates to frameworks, or structural changes in services
  • Bring siloed or under-the-radar work into view — so efforts can align, build on each other, or avoid duplication
  • Support local teams — by contributing to a more joined-up picture of activity across the sector

We envisage use-cases from:

  • Local authority data and performance teams
  • Children’s social care service managers and strategic leads
  • Academic researchers and national analysts
  • Project leads, developers and architects working in CSC data or digital delivery

We see this as a collaborative mapping tool, developed potentially with input from local authority teams, analysts, service leads, academic partners, and national bodies.

Plan

  • Interactive network map: Navigate to Network to view entities, relationships, and systems as a live graph
  • Structured data records: Underpinning the map is a growing library of structured YAML records, aligned to a SCCM concept framework(BSI as PAS 182) that describe:
  • Tools and systems (e.g. PATCH, Validator 903)
  • Frameworks and inspections (e.g. Ofsted ILACS, JTAI)
  • Relationships and service models
  • Rules, plans, events and guidance
  • Searchable resource: The search page enables you to explore the structured data model directly.
  • This is separate from the standard MkDocs search (top-right), which only covers page text within this site.
  • The CSC knowledge search indexes structured YAML content as well as .md, .pdf, .py, .js and .html files, and supports keyword relevance, match scoring, and metadata extraction.
  • (in dev)The search index|scope currently takes a data sample direct from local authority web sites. At the moment this is throttled to ~10, but with the potential to extract simplistic reference resource(s) directly from all ~153
  • (in dev)The search index|scope aims to scrape from relevant CSC public data sources in order to increase the tool's search scope. This could schedule indexing of relevant documents or data sources from defined .gov or .edu sites.
  • Documentation hub: Local documentation from D2I projects(Git repos) is also live-indexed to provide technical context

How is this structured?

Records in this tool are aligned with the Smart City Concept Model (SCCM), an open framework for describing public service ecosystems. Every entity towards the documented network(diagram) is represented as a YAML file, defined at the top level via SCCM concept types :

e.g. - @type: AGENT – people, teams, or organisations - @type: SERVICE – a system, service or tool - @type: EVENT – events such as inspections, launches, reviews - @type: RULE, @type: PLAN, @type: COLLECTION – policy elements, datasets or strategies - @type: RELATIONSHIP – links between entities (e.g. oversight, supply, influence)

YAML files are validated, searchable, and designed to be easier to contribute to as they're more human readable than other structured data forms (e.g. JSON, CSV... )

Note: Further SCCM allignment examples under Possible SCCM Mapping to CSC Eco-System

How can I get involved?

This project is being developed with and for the sector. We welcome:

  • Feedback and suggestions on what’s useful or missing(or broken)
  • Contributions of local projects or documentation
  • Ideas for how the tool could better support the sector

To contribute or get involved, please contact the Data to Insight team or fork from/visit the GitHub repo.

Foundations and Inspiration

This tool builds on the thinking behind platforms like the Children’s Services Network and grounded in open modelling approaches like the already mentioned Smart City Concept Model.

It is designed to be lightweight, transparent, and openly extensible — enabling others to adopt or adapt it for their own contexts.

Soft Systems Conceptual Mapping

System of Interest

Shared|public data platform and ecosystem used within Children’s Social Care to connect people|LA colleagues, data, tools, and services

Purpose

To enable shared sector understanding, validation, discovery, and collaboration between local authorities, tool development, projects and other initiatives in CSC

Worldview (Weltanschauung)

Fragmented data landscapes transformed into a collaborative, open ecosystem using lightweight, transparent structures like SCCM, JSON, YAML + MkDocs

Owner(s)

Likely data platform stewards: D2I, local authority data teams, ecosystem developers

Environment (External Constraints)

GitHub Pages (no backend), data security and ethics, evolving standards, distributed maintenance, changing ecosystem, frameworks and statuatory guidance, browser-only deployments

What’s next?

  • Ongoing expansion of linked tools, rules, and frameworks
  • Live|scheduled scrapes from key web resources or published docs/framesworks
  • Search and filter interface (in beta, but aiming to implement network diagram filters)
  • Option for local teams to submit structured entries or link live repositories
  • Export options for integration into other data tools

Thanks for the interest in CSC Knowledge Base Network
We hope it supports your work, and welcome your feedback as we continue to improve and expand it.

Possible SCCM Mapping to CSC Eco-System

SCCM Concept (Category) Suggested example(s) (in progress)
Community South East fostering cluster
Documentation CSC Independent Review
Events Children’s Social Care Review, ILACS Inspections, Public Inquiries
Organization Data to Insight, LIIA
Persons Organisational/sector tools linked where consent given or public record
Plans Kinship Care Strategy, Children’s Social Care National Framework
Relationships LA-1 ↔ Supports ↔ SSD Tests, DfE ↔ Pilots ↔ API Data Flows
Rules Statutory Guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025
Sector Tools PATCH, ChAT
Services