Perplexing Presentations and Fabricated and Induced Illness in children and adults

Webinar | Thursday 4 July 2024 | 12:30 - 13:30 | 1 Hour

Join us for this webinar with Katie Phillips and Dr Sheila Fish.

When a child or young person is presented by their parents/caregivers with a condition which cannot be medically explained, it is deemed as a Perplexing Presentations (PP). PP is an alerting sign to possible Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII), where professionals suspect a parent is creating or exaggerating their child’s difficulties, with consequent physical, emotional, social or educational harm to the child. 

The prevalence of FII continues to be extremely rare, therefore care must be taken to balance desire to find true positive cases, against the risk of high numbers of false positive cases, and the damage that false FII accusations bring to families. This is especially so as published evidence on prevalence and management of FII is limited.
  
Katie Phillips will give a legal overview on the main features of Fabricated and Induced Illness; the RCPCH guidance on this and the practical aspects of the safeguarding response where Fabricated and Induced Illness is suspected.

Dr Sheila Fish will explore operational challenges with reference to the BASW practice guidance for social workers on FII and other perplexing presentations, as well as findings from a recent Safeguarding Adult Review she conducted.

Katie Phillips is a family law specialist barrister from 42BR chambers who practises across all areas of children and the full range of injunctive work. 

Dr Sheila Fish is an independent reviewer for statutory child safeguarding practice reviews and safeguarding adults reviews, including a recent SAR featuring FII concerns related to a young adult.