Harmful practices are ‘persistent practices and behaviours that are grounded on discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, age and other grounds as well as multiple and/or intersecting forms of discrimination that often involve violence and can cause physical and/or psychological harm or suffering’ (National FGM Centre, 2022).
Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) are hosting a range of training on harmful practices in March 2023 to support professionals in their response to disclosures or concerns of abuse linked to harmful practices. These fully funded multi-agency events are available for all professionals working with children and families who live in the Hampshire Local Authority area.
Please see information below regarding upcoming training and how to book your place. Places are available on a first come, first served basis, so be quick to secure your free place.
HSCP has also recently launched a Harmful Practices toolkit, to provide practical tools and resources to support Hampshire professionals identify and respond to children who have experienced, or are at risk of, harm related to a harmful practice. The toolkit includes a range of resources to support professionals such as useful professional guides, leaflets that can be shared with families (in a range of languages) and signposting to further training and information.
| Date | Course Information | How to book: |
| Virtual HSCP – An Introduction to Breast Ironing
1 March 2023 09:30 – 11.00 |
This course explains what breast flattening/ironing is and who might carry it out, what makes a girl at risk of this practice, what the law says about it, how professionals can identify it is happening and how to respond if it is suspected. | Book now |
| Virtual HSCP – An Introduction to Female Genital Mutilation
1 March 2023 13.30 – 15.00 |
This training will discuss the different types of female genital mutilation, who might perform it and how girls are subjected to it. Professionals will develop their understanding of how to identify those that may be at risk, the warning signs and what to do if they are worried about a child or young person. | Book now |
| Virtual HSCP – An Introduction to Child Abuse Linked to Faith and Belief
8 March 2023 09.30 – 11.00 |
This training will help professionals to recognise and respond to situations where abuse linked to faith and belief is suspected. As well as discussing the types of abuses that can occur and the indicators of these abuses, professionals will explore the resources that are available to support them if they suspect that a child or young person might be at risk of experiencing child abuse linked to faith and belief. | Book now |
| Virtual HSCP – An Introduction to ‘Honour’ Based Abuse, Forced Marriage and Dowry Abuse
8 March 2023 13.30 – 15.00 |
This introductory course will help develop professional knowledge and seek to answer questions about what constitutes ‘honour’ based abuse, the difference between arranged and forced marriage, the prevalence of this type of abuse, the communities it can affect, early signs and indicators and available support. | Book now |