Known, Suspected or At Risk?

You will be able toHow should uncertainty shape a proportionate safeguarding response?

Case opening

What do you know?

Three England and Wales cases are presented: A) a girl under 18 directly discloses that FGM has been carried out; B) a professional observes signs that create suspicion but has no direct disclosure or visual confirmation within the duty test; C) there are concerns that a girl may be at future risk.

First decision

Choose before opening the debrief.

Apply the personal mandatory-reporting duty identically to all threeClassify each case, then apply the specific duty only where its legal test is met while still following wider safeguarding in all relevant casesDo nothing until police confirm the factsAsk the family to verify

Record your rationale: what is known, reported, inferred, assumed or unknown?

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