Agenda item

Purpose: The findings of LSCB Task and Finish Group are that FGM be a matter raised at the Health and Wellbeing Board in order to ensure that addressing FGM is a priority for all agencies and that it is seen s a family and community issue.

Fran Gosling-Thomas introduced the report to the Health and Wellbeing Board. She apologised that the report had been brought back to the Board so soon after initially being brought to their attention in March 2015 however, greater focus needed to be given to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

A task and finish group had been set up around the issue of FGM however this had now completed its initial tasks. There was work taking place on the issue across partner agencies however, there was no agreed over-arching strategy or action plan in place. Many groups were interested in helping to support address the issue however, nobody had picked it up and taken responsibility for Governance.

The Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) were keen to contribute to areas of work however, because of a significant implementation plan as a result of a recent Ofsted inspection, it did not have the capacity to provide a leading roll on FGM.

Reading did a lot of cross boundary work and had a higher prevalence of FGM. Therefore it had been asked to be the lead authority on the issue for the West of Berkshire. Fran Gosling-Thomas stressed that areas needed to pull together with strong support from their LSCBs. Fran Gosling-Thomas asked the Board if it would be willing to take the strategic lead for West Berkshire or jointly take on this role with the LSCB.

Cathy Winfield felt that the task and finish group needed to carry on its work and the Health and Wellbeing Board should oversee this. Fran Gosling-Thomas confirmed that this group had diminished around April 2015 however, the group lead would be happy to re-convene. There was a need however, for clarity around governance.

Rachael Wardell reported that the issue had been raised at the Safeguarding Adult’s Board.

Fran Gosling-Thomas reported that she had written a letter to the Chairman of the Reading Health and Wellbeing Board and was awaiting a response. Meanwhile it was felt that  West Berkshire needed to build its own framework for the issue, to highlight its intentions and governance including a small number of action.

Rachael Wardell noted that the appendices to the report highlighted the need for information sharing and communication on the issue. It was felt that these areas had not yet been achieved. Fran Gosling-Thomas added that public awareness in health settings needed improving.

Cathy Winfield stressed that somebody needed to pull the task and finish group back together, which would then report to all three Health and Wellbeing Boards. There had been an issue in the Chairman of the group had possessed no authority to ensure authority to ensure agencies were doing their part to tackle the problem. Reporting up to the Health and Wellbeing Board could help this issue.

Fran Gosling-Thomas stated that the task and finish group had been a small group and the membership would need revisiting if it was to reconvene. Clarity was needed from Reading on if it was happy to lead on the issue. The bottom line was that areas could not tackle the issue in isolation.

Councillor Graham Jones queried whether the issue could be picked up at the next Board meeting by which time Reading might have responded. Rachael Wardell highlighted that even if Reading led the area of work, local work still need to be underway. Fran Gosling-Thomas stated that West Berkshire required a basic strategy on the issue.

Rachael Wardell stated that the issue of FGM should also be being picked up by the Personal Social Health and Economic curriculum.  Schools where this was required would need to be identified.

Dr Bal Bahia stated that as a GP he thought hid role was to inform the police if a case of FGM was suspected. Rachael Wardell explained that the issue caused a number of dilemmas. Cases were most likely to be identified within delivery suites at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. If the person in question was to have a daughter then there would be a safeguarding response would be prompted however, there might be no risk to the child depending on how the mothers circumstances might of changed.

Councillor Graham Jones proposed that the Board approved the recommendation within the appendix to the report and this was seconded by Councillor Hilary Cole. This notion was carried at the vote.

RESOLVED that the recommended action outlined in the appendix one for a quarterly FGM delivery and safeguarding partnership meeting to be initiated that include developing policy and practice, awareness raising, intelligence gathering and sharing and data monitoring, was approved by the Board.