This i-learn module identifies midwives' and support workers' safeguarding responsibilities and the practical steps they can take to protect victims, potential victims and the unborn child. It aims to develop confidence in handling victims in a clinical setting who may have experienced FGM together with an understanding of statutory responsibilities where a woman discloses she has undergone FGM.

The module will enable you to understand your personal mandatory reporting duty of female genital mutilation (FGM) in relation to girls under the age of 18 and to distinguish this from NHS England's recording duty. It aims to increase awareness of the law in relation to mandatory reporting in the UK and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals. It also outlines the referral pathway(s) following the disclosure of FGM and/or other serious crimes.

By the end of the course you should be able to:

• Outline the Personal Mandatory Reporting Duty of FGM and its application to midwives
• Understand the UK law that applies to the Personal Mandatory Reporting Duty of FGM in relation to girls under the age of 18
• Identify the referral pathway(s) to be used by a midwife to safeguard the woman and her unborn child where a disclosure of FGM or a risk of FGM has been made or has been identified in a clinical setting, i.e. the midwife has seen the physical signs of FGM or suspected FGM
• Understand the issues around making a personal mandatory report to the police
• Understand the possible next steps including civil and criminal court proceedings
• Distinguish the personal mandatory reporting duty from NHS England’s recording duty

Study time: 30 minutes

Original content: June 2019