Safeguarding: A National Priority
Professor Dame Christine Beasley
Chief Nursing Officer for England
FGM NCG Conference – 20th January 2010
Why is Safeguarding important?
• It is about:
– Protection
– Prevention
– Environment
– Achievement
– Transition
Awareness raising:
In the
community
Advocacy/
translation
Staff
training
Multi
agency
With
families
Women’s
services
Multi Agency Approach:
Legislative
framework
individual
NGOs/agencies
DoH/NHS
Legislation:
National:
• Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
– All forms of FGM illegal including being taken abroad for the
procedure or when self-inflicted
• Prohibition of FGM (Scotland) Act 2005
– All forms of FGM illegal including being taken abroad for the
procedure or when self-inflicted
• Childrens Act 1989
– Local Authorities can apply for various orders to prevent children
being taken abroad
International:
• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
Against Women
NHS Resources:
14 specialist clinics in the NHS
that treat women and girls who
have undergone FGM. Specialised
FGM services are crucial to
providing sensitive and appropriate
care to women already affected by FGM
Training DVD for health professionals :
(for copies please contact Ben.Robins@dh.gsi.gov.uk).
FGM awareness advert for Somalian Television:
www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=b6chv-YRDBU
Children and young people DV toolkit - contains some FGM guidance:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/ViolenceagainstWomenandGirls/Resources/index.htm
Government Action:
Established a Taskforce on the Health Aspects of Violence Against Women
and Girls which looks at FGM
Appointed a cross government FGM coordinator: objectives
include development of a publicity campaign, drafting of a multi agency
guidelines and training resources.
Cross-government work addressing this and other harmful
traditional practices - regional seminars took place in June/July 2009 to raise
awareness in communities and with front line professionals.
Taskforce Subgroup: Emerging Findings
Victim care at the heart of services
Supporting staff to deal with FGM
Awareness raised across the board
The NHS must support staff to
work in partnership with a range
of agencies in order to provide a
holistic, culturally sensitive
response to the needs of victims.
Recommendations of the Taskforce Subgroup:
Prevention – Challenge attitudes
Identification –Training and key indicators
Key services – Clearer pathways
Information Sharing – Greater clarity on protocols
Workforce – National lead on FGM
Systems and incentives - Commissioning
To Conclude:
FGM is abuse, and against the law.
There is limited information available on FGM – some mapping
is required
There is much to be done in order for health services to
respond adequately to the needs of those who have undergone
FGM.
There is much good practice for us to draw on.
A joined up, multi agency approach is crucial.