Exam Pass Notes

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Core Points

• FGM is illegal throughout the UK and is a serious safeguarding concern.
• Dental nurses may spot risk during routine dental contact, at reception, from records, in travel conversations, or via patient disclosure.
• Level 3 safeguarding requires professional curiosity, proportionate action, working with other agencies, accurate record-keeping, and appropriate professional challenge.
• Do not assume risk from ethnicity, religion, nationality, language, or dress alone.
• Cultural sensitivity must not prevent safeguarding action when a child may be at risk.
• Use professional interpreters for safeguarding concerns; do not rely on family members to interpret.
• Dental nurses must not investigate FGM, perform intimate examinations, or attempt to prove a concern.
• In England and Wales, GDC-registered dental nurses are regulated health professionals for the FGM mandatory reporting duty.
• The mandatory reporting duty in England and Wales applies to known cases of FGM in girls under 18 discovered during professional duties.
• Where mandatory reporting does not apply, suspected risk still requires action under local safeguarding procedures.
• Immediate danger requires urgent action, including calling 999 if necessary.
• Treat adult survivors with dignity, offer support, and consider any linked child safeguarding concerns.
• Records should state facts, record exact words where possible, note who was present, and document advice sought, actions taken, and the reasons for those actions.
• Confidentiality matters, but relevant safeguarding information must be shared lawfully and proportionately.
• If a concern is dismissed, raise a respectful professional challenge and escalate if necessary.

Useful Speaking-Up Phrases

• "I am worried this may be an FGM safeguarding concern. Can we check the pathway before deciding?"
• "I cannot promise to keep this secret, but I will only share it with people who need to help keep you safe."
• "Can we record the child's exact words and who was present?"
• "This may meet the mandatory reporting duty, so we need to act today."
• "I am concerned we may be minimising the risk because the conversation feels uncomfortable."