LGA Governance


Agenda item

Agenda item

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Minutes:

Mark Norris, LGA Senior Adviser updated the Board on the latest work of the FGM working group following its inception in January. There had been three meetings of the group which had heard from a number of organisations and experts on FGM, including:

 

·         NSPCC

·         FORWARD

·         British Arab Federation

·         London Borough of Hackney

·         London Borough of Lambeth

·         Association of Chief Police Officers

·         London Borough of Newham.

 

The Board was informed that the working group’s activity centred on two key themes, firstly, improving the ability of councils to deliver services that deal with cases of FGM, and secondly assisting councils in changing societal attitudes in those communities where FGM was practised.

 

The LGA was currently working on a toolkit which would include a Councillors Guide to FGM with the focus on the role of the council in tackling FGM and their responsibilities. The toolkit would also include case studies based on the guide and examining the issues identified in the working group’s discussions. In addition the LGA was to conduct an audit on the rates of referrals from professionals to children’s services, following government’s multi-agency guidelines stating that where there was concern a child had undergone FGM, referrals should be made to children’s services to allow the police to investigate. The LGA was also in the process of helping to facilitate a bid to the Department for Education’s (DfE) Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme fund for the development of a specialist FGM service.

 

Members welcomed the report and made a number of comments including:

 

·         The need for action to be taken by central and local government to tackle the practice.

·         Doctors, family health services and public health also needed to be made aware of the risks of FGM and be given guidelines to help identify cases and the routes of referring cases to children’s services.

·         It would be helpful for members of the Board to view the toolkit before it goes out to all councils.

·         It was important that the toolkit was clear on the role of school governors and the importance of raising awareness to boards of school governors.

·         Educating men and women on the issue was vital, and the toolkit needed to consider how faith leaders could help in spreading the message against the practice of FGM through sermons that had been prepared on the issue.

·         Data needed to be recorded on an individual’s educational and health record in order for health and education professionals to be aware of the potential of FGM incidents occurring.

·         The subject of FGM should be placed on the curriculum at schools to ensure future generations are aware of the dangers of FGM.

·         The Board need to liaise with the WLGA and Welsh government on the possibility of establishing a centre of excellence.

 

Cllr Lucas informed the Board that Coventry City Council had taken the model resolution on FGM, which helped raise awareness of the issue amongst councillors. It was important to change the attitudes of people in order to eradicate the practice of FGM.

 

Action:

 

Cllr Burbage to be provided with the details of the peer moving the amendment in the House of Lords which would criminalise encouraging and promoting FGM.

 

Officers to circulate a link to the Home Office toolkit once available.

 

To bring a further report to the next Board meeting in September.

 

Decision:

 

Members noted the report and the work of the FGM working group.

 

Supporting documents: