Female Genital Mutilation Safeguarding children in City and

Female Genital Mutilation Safeguarding children in City and Hackney Level 3 update

Panel Sarian Kamara Community Facilitator Reggie Marriage Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children Homerton Hospital Cathal Ryan Service Manager Hackney Children’s Social Care Jane Kennedy Consultant Midwife Homerton Hospital Leethan Bartholomew Community Partnership Advisor for City and Hackney Ruth Hallgarten Named GP for Safeguarding Children

Learning objectives Raise awareness of FGM in our local population To safeguard and protect all girls and women who may be at risk of FGM to avoid the often severe consequences for their physical or mental health Inform Primary Care of our recording and reporting responsibilities Provide a consistent and joined up approach to tackling the risk of FGM for our patients

Before FGM has happened FGM is child abuse FGM is a serious criminal offence in the UK. Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 Therefore we must report anyone undertaking or facilitating FGM to the police Be aware of the communities in which FGM is practiced Be aware of any families within these communities who are making preparations for the child to take the child on holiday, arranging vaccinations or planning absence from school Be aware of the child talking about a special procedure/ ceremony that is going to take place

FGM Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines 2011 To support front line professionals in recognising and preventing FGM www. gov. uk/government/publications/female-genital-mutilationguidelines

FGM is child abuse and must be integrated into all UK safeguarding procedures The NHS should document and collect information on FGM The NHS should develop protocols for sharing information about girls at risk of FGM with other health and social care agencies, education and the police Develop the competence, knowledge and awareness of frontline health professionals to ensure prevention and protection of girls at risk of FGM Identify girls at risk and refer them as part of child safeguarding obligations and provide sustained information and support to families to protect girls at risk

Primary Care Pregnant women are now routinely asked by their midwife about her own FGM at booking in order to identify girls who may be at future risk GP receives electronic booking letter giving details of FGM if relevant GP codes Female genital mutilation K 58 on patient’s notes (EMIS code) GP discusses this woman at the link meeting with health visitor and midwife GP does a household search on patient, if she has any daughters or girls under 18 living in the same household who are registered at the practice these children may also be at risk of FGM. Be aware of private fostering arrangements Seek further advise from Children’s Social Care telephone 0208 356 5500

Midwifery Pregnant women are now routinely asked about FGM at booking Hospital Children’s Safeguarding Teams bring the cases for discussion to the maternity psychosocial meeting Appropriate physical and psychological care offered to the woman Once delivered, midwifery will share this information with Children’s Social Care, the GP and the Health Visitor

Health Visitors will identify maternal FGM from the new birth notification and apply a red flag alert on RIO for both mother and baby daughter ( also any older sisters) Health Visitor will check that a referral to Children’s Social Care has been made and will follow up the outcome of this referral Will discuss at GP link meeting When the child is 5, the Health Visitor will transfer this information to the School Nursing Service School Nursing will review termly with their school safeguarding teams about girls at risk of FGM

Primary Care When a daughter has been born to a mother known to have undergone FGM Emis computer codes: 13 IF-1 vulnerable child then narrative 12 b Family history of female genital mutilation Opportunistically discuss at post natal checks, baby checks, immunisations etc. Provide information on the legal consequences of FGM to families requesting holiday vaccinations and document in their medical records It is illegal to take a British national or permanent resident abroad for FGM or to help someone to do this

Children’s Social Care What happens after referral? Children’s Social Care undertakes an assessment of need and risk on all female children under the age of 18 years when a woman has been identified as having been subject to FGM GP input may be requested

Children’s Social Care outcomes of referrals Assessment shows that girl is not at risk of FGM and case is closed Assessment shows that girl is at risk of FGM and joint child protection enquiries and legal steps are taken as needed, GP input may be requested

What to do if you identify that a woman has FGM or you have concerns that a girl may be at risk of FGM Call Children’s Social Care to check there has not been a previous referral 020 8356 5500 If an assessment has already been completed, unless there is new information there is no need for a referral

Useful contacts NSPCC FGM helpline 0800 028 3550 fgmhelp@nspcc. org. uk Home Office FGMEnquiries@homeoffice. gsi. gov. uk Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Investigation Command / Project Azure 020 7161 2888 Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) www. forwarduk. org. uk 020 8960 4000 Childline www. childline. org. uk 0800 1111 Manor Gardens Health Advocacy Project www. manorgardenscentre. org 020 7272 3556 rhallgarten@nhs. net marylee 1@nhs. net

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