Understanding FGM and Level 3 Safeguarding

Female genital mutilation (FGM) means any procedure that deliberately cuts, injures, removes, or alters female genital tissue for non-medical reasons. It has no health benefit, is illegal in the UK, and is treated as abuse and a human rights violation.

Dental nurses are not expected to examine or investigate FGM. Your role is to recognise possible risk, respond safely, and follow the practice's safeguarding procedures. Level 3 safeguarding involves using professional judgement, contributing relevant information to multi-agency processes, making clear records, and challenging delay or minimisation when necessary.

Families may use local or traditional words instead of the term FGM, or avoid the term entirely. That is why calm, respectful language matters. A dental nurse might hear about travel, family expectations, pain, urinary problems, anxiety, or previous trauma before FGM is mentioned.

• FGM can affect children, young people, and adult survivors.
• Risk cannot be assumed from ethnicity, nationality, religion, dress, or language alone.
• A single comment may form part of a wider safeguarding picture.
• Immediate danger always requires urgent action.

Level 3 practice means being curious, proportionate, and active: notice, record, seek advice, escalate, and keep the patient or child at the centre.

What Level 3 Means Here