VICTORIA PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL

  

Intimate Care Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Victoria Park Primary School’s Intimate Care Policy has been developed to safeguard children and adults. They apply to everyone involved in the intimate care of our pupils.

 

The school takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children in our care.

 

 

DEFINITION OF INTIMATE CARE

 

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 the school of the intimate care needs of their child, and school has a responsibility to work in partnership with children and parents.

 

Intimate care can include:

• feeding
• oral care
• washing
• dressing/undressing
• toileting
• menstrual care
• photographs
• treatments such as enemas, suppositories, enteral feeds
• catheter and stoma care
• supervision of a child involved in intimate self-care

 

 

 

PRINCIPLES OF INTIMATE CARE

 

The following are the principles upon which our policy is 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.

 

 

 

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• The school will ensure that all members of staff undertaking the intimate care of children are familiar with and understand the Intimate Care Policy.

 

• All members of staff will be trained in the specific types of intimate care that they carry out and fully understand the policy within the context of their work.

 

• Intimate care arrangements will be agreed by the school, parents/carers and child (if appropriate) and staff will not undertake any aspect of intimate care that has not been agreed.

 

• Intimate care arrangements will be recorded in the child’s personal file and a consent form signed by the parents/carers and child (if appropriate).

 

• The school will make provisions for emergencies, e.g. a member of staff on sick leave, and ensure that another trained member of staff will be available to undertake specific intimate care tasks where possible. If this is not possible, the parents/carers will be informed.

 

• Intimate care arrangements will be reviewed at the end of every term. The views of all relevant parties, including the child (if appropriate), will be sought and considered to inform future arrangements.

 

• If a member of staff has concerns about a colleague’s intimate care practice they must report this to the Designated teacher for Safeguarding and Child Protection, Mrs McDougall, in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

 

 

 

INTIMATE CARE PROCEDURES

 

 

All children have the right to be safe and to be treated with dignity and respect. Our procedures are designed to safeguard children and members of staff.

 

• We will encourage a child’s independence as far as possible in his/her intimate care. Where the child is fully dependent we will talk to them about what is going to be done and give them choice where possible. We will check out our practice by asking the parents/carers any likes and/or dislikes while carrying out intimate care and obtain consent.

 

• We will treat every child with dignity and respect and ensure privacy appropriate to the child’s age and situation. Careful consideration will be given to individual situations to determine how many members of staff should be present during intimate care procedures. Generally, one pupil will be cared for by one member of staff unless there is a sound reason for having more adults present, for example, the activity requires two persons for the greater comfort or safety of the child or the child prefers two adults.

 

• We will make sure our practice in intimate care is consistent. As a child can have different carers, a consistent approach to care is essential and we will work closely with parents/carers and outside agencies to ensure this is the case.

 

• Members of staff will only carry out care activities they understand and feel competent and confident to carry out. Certain procedures will only be carried out by staff who have been formally trained and assessed.

 

• Individual care plans will be drawn up for any pupil requiring regular intimate care.

 

• Where a care plan is not in place and a child has needed help with intimate care (in the case of a toilet ‘accident’) then parents/carers will be informed the same day. This information will be treated as confidential and communicated in person, via telephone or by sealed letter. A consent form asking for permission to assist in changing a child in such instances is sent home at the start of the school year (see Appendix 1).

 

• If a member of staff observes any unusual markings, discolourations or swelling on the child’s body, including the genital area, they will report this immediately to the Designated Teacher for Safeguarding and Child Protection in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

 

• If a child becomes distressed or unhappy during intimate care, the member of staff will reassure the child, ensure their safety and report the incident immediately to the Designated Teacher for Safeguarding and Child Protection. Parents/carers will be informed about any concerns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 1

 

 

 

Principal: A. GOURLEY Bmus (Hons) PGCE DASE PQH (NI)

182A Connsbrook Avenue, Belfast BT4 1JY Telephone: 02890 471274

 

Date

 

Toileting Policy and Procedures

 

Occasionally, pupils accidentally wet and/or soil themselves at school and require assistance changing. This is dealt with discreetly and in accordance with the school’s broader Intimate Care Policy. Spare clothing is kept in school for use in such instances and to ensure the child’s dignity is maintained. If a child has to be changed, the school will immediately contact the parent/carer.  If the parent/carer cannot be contacted, he/she will be informed upon collecting the child from the school. Please can you return the tear-off slip below if you give permission for school staff to assist your child in the event of a toileting accident. Feel free to contact me at school if you have any questions about our policy and procedures.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs G McDougall

 

Designated Teacher for Safeguarding and Pastoral Care

………………………………………………………………………………

 

I give permission for the school to assist my child _____________________ changing if he/she accidentally wets and/or soils themselves.

 

Signed …………………………… (Parent/Carer)