This guidance for Ofsted inspectors is for use from September 2015 when inspecting safeguarding in education, skills and early years settings. It sets out what inspectors must do and what schools can expect, and provides guidance for inspectors on making their judgement. The guidance mentions the need to consider safeguarding arrangements around FGM.
Document Type: Law, Guidance and Policy
Keeping Children Safe in Education – Statutory Guidance for Schools and Colleges
This statutory guidance from the Department for Education is issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002, the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and the Education (Non-Maintained Special Schools) (England) Regulations 2011. Schools and colleges must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015
Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act passed on 10th March 2015 places statutory duties to produce a range of local strategies (multi-agency collaboration, awareness raising, training and workplace policies) which will cover FGM
Dyfed Powys Police – FGM Policy
Dyfed Powys Police is committed to giving victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) a level of service that gives them the confidence to report incidents, so the protection and safety of victims are at the forefront of subsequent police actions. FGM is a serious form of abuse, in particular, involving children.
All Wales Protocol: Female Genital Mutilation
The protocol includes: Professional Guidance of Female Genital Mutilation for Health Professionals, Good Practice for Staff Working in Social Services Departments, Good Practice Guidance: The Role of the Police, Good Practice Guidance: The Role of the Voluntary Sector and Good Practice Guidance for Staff Working in the Education Authorities
Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines: Female Genital Mutilation (Northern Ireland)
These guidelines are practice guidelines and are designed to be educative and provide advice on FGM cases.
Maternity guidelines for the care of women who have been affected by FGM
These guidelines have been produced to support the policy of asking all women at their booking appointment whether they have experienced any form of surgery to their genitals including female genital mutilation.
What to do if you’re worried about a child: Advice for practitioners
Department of Education advice to help practitioners identify the signs of child abuse and neglect and understand what action to take.
Guidance on refugee claims relating to FGM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides guidance on the treatment of claims for refugee status relating to female genital mutilation (FGM). Under certain circumstances, a parent could also establish a well-founded fear of persecution, within the scope of the 1951 Convention refugee definition, in connection with the exposure of his or her child to the risk of FGM.
Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers
Information sharing is vital to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. A key factor identified in many serious case reviews (SCRs) has been a failure by practitioners to record information, to share it, to understand its significance and then take appropriate action.