Looking for warning signs of Female Genital Mutilation
With recent changes to safeguarding children Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been more widely exposed and it is now those working in childcare responsibility to look out for warning signs and report their concerns.
Having a clear understanding of what Female Genital Mutilation can help practitioners spot warning signs. FGM is a procedure where the girl’s genitals are deliberately cut; they can also be injured or changed. If this procedure is done without a medical reason, then this is illegal. Female Genital Mutilation is commonly carried out on young children up to the age of 15.
Looking for warning signs
As children form strong bonds with practitioners(key person), this can help children feel safe and secure and lead to a disclosure being shared. In these circumstances, it is practitioners responsibility to listen in the same way they would for a safeguarding disclosure and report their concern appropriately. There may also be other times in the day where warning signs can be seen e.g., during nappies changes and potty training, again practitioners to be fully aware that these times in the days are when warning signs can be spotted.
With this subject being quite sensitive it is essential that management makes practitioners aware of FGM during an induction and are given full information on what to look out for. It should, however, be expressed that practitioners are not experts in this field and they cannot confirm that the procedure has taken place on a child, practitioners responsibility is to look out for warning signs and report their concerns.
Signs and Symptoms of Female Genital Mutilation
- Difficulty walking, sitting or standing
- Spending a longer period of time in the bathroom
- Displaying unusual behaviour after being off nursery
- Reluctant to being undressed after having a wet accident
- Long unexplained absences
Who to report your concern to
If you are at all concerned or a child has made a disclosure to you follow these simple steps
- Talk to them about your concerns, however, use simple language and to the point questions
- Be highly sensitive and let them know that they can talk to you again
- Follow your settings safeguarding procedure and/or contact the police;
- You can access help and support anonymously from the NSPCC FGM Helpline on 0800 028 3550 or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org
- If you worried and someone is at immediate risk of FGM, you should contact the police immediately.
How management can make practitioners aware of Female Genital Mutilation
Firstly when employing new recruits and ideal opportunity is to make this part of the employee’s induction. Going through signs and symptoms will help practitioners understand their duty of care towards children. Expressing the importance of reporting a concern is hugely important, but also reminding them that they are not professionals in confirming if the procedure has been undertaken.
With female genital mutilation being more widely exposed there is more information that management can retrieve to share with practitioners during their induction or during a whole team meeting. This poster can be displayed in the setting to make all aware aswell as completing this e-learning training will allow all staff to be fully aware of what to look out for.