Intimate Care Policy

HOWARD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Intimate Care Policy

In line with Child Protection Procedures we would bring to your attention the Intimate Care Policy operating in this school.

 

DEFINITION

Intimate care may be defined as any activity required to meet the personal care needs of each individual child. Parents have a responsibility to advise staff of the intimate care needs of their child, and staff have a responsibility to work in partnership with children and parents.

Intimate care can include:

• Feeding
• Oral care
• Washing
• Dressing/undressing
• Toileting
• Supervision of a child involved in intimate self-care

 

PRINCIPLES OF INTIMATE CARE

The following are the fundamental principles upon which the

Policy and Guidelines are based:

• Every child has the right to be safe.
• Every child has the right to personal privacy.
• Every child has the right to be valued as an individual.
• Every child has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
• Every child has the right to be involved and consulted in their own intimate care to the best of their abilities.
• Every child has the right to express their views on their own intimate care and to have such views taken into account.
• Every child has the right to have levels of intimate care that are as consistent as possible.

An individual Care Plan will be agreed where a child has a disability or medical condition resulting in the child having ongoing intimate care needs)

An individual care plan will identify individual staff that must be trained in the specific types of intimate care.

• Intimate care arrangements must be agreed by the Principal, parents / carers and child (if appropriate).
• Intimate care arrangements must be recorded in the child’s personal file and consent forms signed by the parents / carers and child (if appropriate).
• Staff should not undertake any aspect of intimate care that has not been agreed between the principal, parents /carers and child (if appropriate).

Staff also need to be aware that some adults may use intimate care, as an opportunity to abuse children. It is important to bear in mind that some care tasks can be open to misinterpretation. Adhering to these guidelines of good practice should safeguard children and staff.

If a staff member has concerns about a colleague’s intimate care practice they must report this to their designated teacher. All children have the right to be safe and to be treated with dignity and respect. These guidelines are designed to safeguard children and staff. They apply to every member of staff involved with the intimate care of children. Disabled children can be especially vulnerable. Staff involved with their intimate care need to be sensitive to their individual needs.

Occasionally there is a need for teachers, classroom assistants, general assistants, or supervisors to change children following a toileting accident, illness, or when uniform has become soiled at play time.

GENERAL PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY STAFF UNDERTAKING THE INTIMATE CARE OF A CHILD

Staff will have obtained permission from parents to change children (see reply slip below)

• When intimate care is being carried out, all children have the right to dignity and privacy i.e. they should be appropriately covered.

• If the child appears distressed or uncomfortable when personal care tasks are being carried out, the care should stop immediately.

• Try to ascertain why the child is distressed and provide reassurance.

• Report concerns to your Designated Teacher and make a written record.

• Parents / carers must be informed about concerns

• Staff should not assist with any personal care task which a child or young person can undertake by themselves. Staff may talk a child or young person through the process of changing.

• Staff will ensure the door into the changing area remains open at all times and the member of staff is visible to others at all times, or is accompanied by another member of staff.

• The Parent will be notified if the child has been changed.

We would not wish any child to be in discomfort or distress due to a soiling accident, therefore parents/guardians who do not wish to give permission for staff in school to change children will be contacted, to attend to their child personally, should such an incident occur.

Howard Primary School Intimate Care Policy     

(Please return to class teacher ASAP)

I/We have read the above policy and

Give permission for a member of staff to change my/our child, as outlined in the above measures.

 

Do not give permission for a member of staff to change my/our child, as outlined. I understand I may be contacted if my child requires changing during school hours.

Signed: ________________________   Date ________________

Print Name _________________________________________

Parent(s)/ Guardian – delete as appropriate