female genital mutilation safeguarding children in city and hackney level 3 update
TRANSCRIPT
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 happenedFGM 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 2011To support front line professionals in recognising and preventing
FGM
www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-genital-mutilation-guidelines
Tackling FGM in the UK: Intercollegiate recommendation for identifying, recording and reporting 2013
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 K58 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
MidwiferyPregnant 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 VisitorsHealth 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: 13IF-1 vulnerable child then narrative
12b 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 contactsNSPCC FGM helpline 0800 028 3550 [email protected]
Home Office [email protected]
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
