The Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine

A huge thank you to Stacey Day and everyone who joined today’s webinar! It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout as we explored how the FHP role has evolved over the past five years.

Missed it? Don’t worry — the webinar will be available on catch up soon! #FHPWeek

FFLM Quality Standards - FFLM

We’ve developed Quality Standards for FHPs working in sexual assault services and custodial settings. These standards support high-quality forensic care through clear guidance on training, supervision, and professional development

Available here: https://tinyurl.com/4my837ra #FHPWeek

People attending sexual assault services and custodial settings often have complex medical needs and multiple vulnerabilities. A ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work — care must be tailored and delivered by skilled multidisciplinary FHP teams #FHPWeek

It’s not just #FHPweek — it’s also #TrusteesWeek 🎉

We’d like to take this opportunity to celebrate and thank our incredible Trustees (old and new!) for the time, dedication, and expertise they bring to the FFLM.

We’re truly grateful for everything they do — thank you to our wonderful Trustees!

The FFLM is actively working and advocating to change this. Achieving formal specialty status would ensure consistent, high-quality care and strengthen the profession’s vital role in both healthcare and the justice system #FHPWeek

At the crossroads of healthcare and justice, forensic and legal medicine remains unrecognised as a medical specialty in the UK

This lack of recognition limits training, career progression, and the delivery of consistent, high-quality care for FHPs and their patients

A Day In The Life Of - FFLM Our members hold a variety of roles across the field of forensic and legal medicine. We've collated a series of accounts from our members to give a flavour of what it’s like to work in this field.

Want to know what a typical day looks like for a FHP?

Explore our Day in the Life series here: fflm.ac.uk/resources/a-...

Ever wondered what an FHP actually does?

The answer: far more than you might think. Here are just a few of their responsibilities:

▪️Assessing individuals in police custody
▪️Examining victims of sexual assault
▪️Documenting injuries
▪️Writing statements for court
▪️Providing expert medical evidence

Safe, high-quality care in police custody and sexual assault services relies on skilled, multidisciplinary teams working together.

Healthcare in these environments should be of an equivalent standard to that provided in the wider community #FHPweek

🎉 As part of our #FHPWeek celebrations, we’re delighted to host The Role of the Forensic HCP in Custody – a webinar led by Stacey Day, our Vice-President for Allied Healthcare Professionals

📅 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/494f5wej

Working independently of the police, FHPs provide medical care and conduct forensic assessments for individuals in police custody and at Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs)

Explore The Role of the HCP, a guide outlining the key responsibilities of FHPs: https://tinyurl.com/3ucu28fc

#FHPWeek

Who are Forensic Healthcare Practitioners (FHPs)?

FHPs are doctors, nurses, midwives, and paramedics who form highly skilled multidisciplinary teams delivering forensic healthcare across the UK

Happy #FHPWeek!

This week, we’re shining a spotlight on the dedication and expertise of Forensic Healthcare Practitioners, and the vital role they play in supporting sexual assault services and custodial healthcare settings and the criminal justice system

Why not join us for our upcoming Virtual Child Safeguarding Day?

This year’s programme will cover key topics such as:

▪️Female Genital Mutilation
▪️Neurodiversity and Abuse
▪️Navigating the 'Manosphere' and its Impact

📅 Reserve your place today: fflm.ac.uk/event/fflm-virtual-child-safeguarding-2025

We're pleased to announce that applications for the Part 2 Licentiate and Membership Examinations in April 2026 are now open!

🗓️ Deadline: 17:00 (GMT) on Fri 28 Nov

Please submit your application before the deadline, as late applications cannot be accepted

🔗 Apply now: https://fflm.ac.uk/exams

🔔 Reminder: Register for Next Week’s Free Webinar!

Join Stacey Day, our Vice-President for Allied Healthcare Professionals, as she explores the vital role of the Forensic Healthcare Professional (HCP) in custody

🗓️ Don’t miss out - register today: https://tinyurl.com/494f5wej

🚨 Just one week to go! A quick reminder that our popular course, Forensic Aspects of Adult Safeguarding—facilitated by Prof Margaret Stark and Dr Elisabeth Alton—is nearly here!

View the full programme and register here: https://fflm.ac.uk/event/forensic-aspects-of-adult-safeguarding-2025

Key issues include:

▪️These kits do not allow for a holistic psychosocial, medical, and forensic assessment of the individual.
▪️Samples collected may not be admissible in court proceedings.

Read our full letter to the universities here: tinyurl.com/367x46yf

On 24 Oct 2025, we wrote to all universities in England & Wales to express our concerns about the promotion and distribution of self-swab ‘rape kits’ to university students by external companies.

This remains an area of concern for us, as outlined in our position statement: tinyurl.com/4jf5xbca

📢 FFLM Publication Alert

We’ve published the following documents:

▪️Recommendations for Intimate Sampling in Pregnancy
▪️Updated Recommendations on the Order of Ano-Genital Sampling for Forensic Specimens from Complainants and Suspects of Sexual Offences

Available here: fflm.ac.uk/resources/pu...

We’re looking forward to our upcoming Virtual Child Safeguarding Day — and we’d love for you to join us! This year’s programme will explore key topics such as:

▪️Female Genital Mutilation
▪️Neurodiversity and Abuse
▪️Navigating the 'Manosphere' and its Impact

📅 Book here: https://tinyurl.com/32mshpyt

Yes, it's being recorded, so you'll be able to catch up afterwards🙂

Blue Guidelines Feedback - FFLM Please complete this form to share your feedback on the current Blue Guidelines (March 2020 edition).

The Blue Guidelines are due for an update — last published in March 2020. To support safe and effective care, we're forming a working group to lead the revision process.

If you have feedback on the current edition you'd like the group to consider, please share it here: https://tinyurl.com/dx6y3kxp

🚨 Just two weeks to go! Our popular course, Forensic Aspects of Adult Safeguarding, returns this November with a two-part programme delivered over two half-day sessions

View the full programme and register here: https://fflm.ac.uk/event/forensic-aspects-of-adult-safeguarding-2025

🎓 Part 2 Membership & Licentiate Exams – Applications Opening Soon!

Thinking of sitting the 2026 Part 2 exams in General Forensic Medicine or Sexual Offence Medicine? Applications are open from 09:00 on 31 Oct to 17:00 on 28 Nov 2025

🗓️ Check the Part 2 exam dates here: https://fflm.ac.uk/exams

📢 Free Webinar Alert – Wednesday 05 November at 13:00

Join Stacey Day as she explores the vital role of the Forensic HCP and how it supports individuals in custody, and why it’s so essential within the justice system.

Register now: https://tinyurl.com/494f5wej

The Forensic Science Subcommittee will convene in November 2025 to review the current Recommendations for the Collection of Forensic Specimens from Complainants and Suspects

If you have questions or feedback, please share them by Monday 27 October: https://tinyurl.com/3x92bpkp

📢 Don’t miss our Virtual Child Safeguarding Day — we’d love to have you with us! We'll be covering key topics such as:

▪️ Female Genital Mutilation
▪️ Neurodiversity and Abuse
▪️Navigating the 'Manosphere' and its Impact

Reserve your place today: https://tinyurl.com/mrxjb6tn

Their contributions not only enhance patient-centred care but also strengthen the effectiveness of multi-disciplinary teams working across these settings.

On AHP Day, we’d like to thank all Allied Health Professionals who make a real difference in forensic and custodial care

Today is Allied Health Professions (AHP) Day — a chance to celebrate the vital role AHPs play in forensic and custodial care

From delivering expert clinical care to safeguarding vulnerable individuals, AHPs are central to providing high-quality services in some of the most complex environments