CALFB: Resources for Exploring Concerns

National FGM Centre

Exploring Concerns around Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief

The National FGM Centre have created four documents to support professionals in introducing conversations around faith or belief in order to set the foundation for exploring any concerns in the future. You can download copies and find out more below. If you would like training around this topic please contact us.

Exploring Concerns around Faith and Belief: Guidance for organisations working with children and families

 

In this document we provide an overview of what it child abuse linked to faith or belief and provide useful advice and guidance to frontline professionals working with children and young people. The aim of the document is to enable frontline professionals to develop the skills needed to have conversations with children and parents about faith and belief.

It is hoped that by developing the necessary skills and knowledge about this issue will enable professionals to have informed conversations when there are concerns about child abuse linked to faith or belief.

Question Guide for Social Workers: Exploring faith or belief within an Assessment

 

Depending on the information shared in the referral, this question guide can be used by social workers to ensure that faith or belief is explored with families within a holistic assessment, to assess the impact faith or belief has on parenting practices and capacity.

Social workers should use their professional judgement regarding which questions are relevant and appropriate to ask.

Parent(s)/carer(s) are entitled to their beliefs, however when these cross over into causing potential or actual harm to a child’s emotional/physical health, it is unacceptable and should be considered child abuse.

Question Guide for multi-agency professionals: Exploring culture, faith and belief within an assessment

 

This question guide can be used by multi-agency professionals to explore culture, faith, or belief with families within a holistic assessment of risk in any case of child protection.

It is important to make consideration to an individual and family’s home context as child-rearing beliefs and practices have strong associations with an individual’s culture, faith or belief, socioeconomic status, and immigration background. In order to understand a family holistically, it is important to consider parenting practices, and the ways in which culture, faith or belief has influenced an individual’s parenting. One way to do this is to ask families about their backgrounds.

Language and Terminology Guide: Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief

 

This document contains terminology that may be used in accusations against children and some local examples (this is not an exhaustive list).

Terminology Guide

Exploring concerns about faith or belief with children: Infographic/poster

 

The document covers some signs and scenarios you may come across. We have highlighted some ways you can explore concerns around abuse linked to faith or belief in a sensitive way.

exploring concerns around CALFB

View recorded cases of CALFB from around the world and local terminology and prevalence data in a countries with a blue dot.

Find out more about Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief on out ‘About CALFB’ page or head to our CALFB resource page for videos, guidance and more.