Intimate Care Policy Amended September 2015

Limavady Central Primary School

Policy for Intimate Care and Guidelines Regarding Children

The Intimate Care Policy and Guidelines Regarding children have been developed to safeguard children and staff. They apply to everyone involved in 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. The intimate Care policy and guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Regional Policy and procedures April 2005.

Definition

Intimate care may be defined as any activity required to meet the personal care needs of each individual child (in partnership with the parents/guardians and child.)

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.

Parents/ guardians have a responsibility to advise the school of the intimate care needs of their child.

Principles of Intimate Care

  • 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.

Responsibilities of Staff involved with intimate care

  • All staff working with children must be vetted through Access NI. This includes students on work placements and volunteers.
  • Only named identified staff should undertake the intimate care of children.
  • The Principal and the Designated Teacher for Child Protection must ensure that all staff undertaking the intimate care of children are familiar with, and understand the Policy for Intimate Care and the Guidelines together with associated Policy and procedures. ACPC Regional Policy and Procedures 2005, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (N. Ireland) order 2007.)
  • All staff must be trained in the specific types of intimate care that they carry out and fully understand the Policy for Intimate Care and Guidelines within the context of their work.
  • Intimate care arrangements must be agreed by the school, parents / guardians and child (if appropriate).
  • Intimate care arrangements must be recorded in the child’s personal file and consent forms signed by the parents/ guardians and child (if appropriate.)
  • Staff should not undertake any aspect of intimate care that has not been agreed between the school, parents/ guardians and child (if appropriate.)
  • Additional trained staff will be available to undertake specific intimate care tasks.
  • If, on the odd occasion, all those trained in specific care tasks are not available, arrangements will be made with the parents/guardians for them to come into school to carry out the intimate care needed.
  • Intimate care arrangements will be reviewed regularly. 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 Child Protection who in this instance is the Vice-Principal, Miss M Richardson.

Guidelines for Good Practice

All children have the right to be safe and to be treated with dignity and respect.

These guidelines are designated to safe guard children and those 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.

Involve the children in their intimate care.

Try to encourage a child’s independence as far as possible in his/her intimate care.

Talk about what is going to be done and give them choice where possible.

Treat every child with dignity and respect and ensure privacy appropriate to the child’s age and situation.

As a child can have more than one dedicated classroom assistant, a consistent approach to care is essential. Effective communication between parents/ guardians, outside agencies and staff ensures practice is consistent.

Be aware of personal limitations.

Only carry out care activities you understand and feel competent and confident to carry out

Promote positive self-esteem and body image.

Confident, self-assured children who feel their body belongs to them are less vulnerable to sexual abuse

The approach taken to intimate care can convey lots of messages to a child about their body worth.

Attitude towards a child’s intimate care is important

Reporting concerns

If any unusual markings, discolourations or swelling including the genital area are observed, this must be reported immediately to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection, in this instance the vice – principal (Miss Richardson), or in her absence the Principal.

If during the intimate care of a child you accidentally hurt them, or the child misunderstands or misinterprets something, reassure the child, ensure their safety and report the incident immediately to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection.

Report and record any unusual emotional or behavioural response made by the child.

A written record of concerns must be made and kept in the child’s file.

It is important to follow the schools reporting and recording procedures.

Parents/ guardians must be informed about concerns.

Please refer to Appendix 1 for further guidance.

Working with children of the opposite sex

The individual child’s safety, dignity and privacy are of paramount importance.

Whilst ideally we recognise that every child should have the choice of carer for all their intimate needs, the reality is, that in schools the ratio of female to male staff means that this is highly unlikely.

Intimate Care

The intimate care of boys/ girls can be carried out by a member of staff of the opposite sex with the following guidelines:

  • The delivery of intimate care by professionally qualified staff will be governed by Limavady Central Primary School Staff Code of Conduct in conjunction with the school’s policy and procedures and in agreement with the principal.
  • When intimate care is being carried out, all children have the right to dignity and privacy i.e. they should be appropriately covered, the door closed or screens / curtains put in place.
  • If the child appears distressed or uncomfortable when personal care tasks are being carried out, the care should stop immediately. Ascertain why the child is distressed and provide reassurance.
  • Report concerns to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection and make a written record.
  • Parents/ guardians must be informed.

Communication with Children

It is the responsibility of all staff caring for a child to ensure that they are aware of the child’s method and level of communication.

Children communicate using different methods e.g. words, signs, symbols, body movements, eye pointing.

To ensure effective communication:

  • Ascertain how the child communicates e.g. consult with the child, parent / guardian and, if appropriate, communication needs must be recorded.

(Appendix 2) If further communication is required please consult with the child’s Speech and Language Therapist.

  • Make eye contact at the child’s level.
  • Use simple language and repeat if necessary.
  • Wait for a response.
  • Continue to explain to the child what is happening even if there is no response.
  • Treat the child as an individual with dignity and respect.

In Service training

Training by the relevant agencies will be arranged by the school for those staff involved in the intimate care of children.

This will be updated regularly.

Monitoring and Evaluating

The Principal and the Designated Teacher will review the policy and guidelines annually and will update as required when revised guidelines and procedures are introduced.

The Principal and the Designated teacher, and SENCo will liaise with the relevant staff and ensure that they feel comfortable and confident to continue the intimate care programme.

The Principal and SENCo will liaise will all outside agencies involved with the child and the child’s parents/ guardians to ensure that consistent practices are followed and concerns are discussed.

______Chairperson of Board of Governors ______Date

______Principal ______Date

Appendix 1

Relevant circulars and documentation.

Regional area Child Protection Committee Child Protection Procedures – April 2005

DENI child Protection & Pastoral Care Guidance 1999/ 10

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (N. Ireland ) Order 2007.

Child Protection Support service for Schools – Governor’s Handbook- January 2007

Circular 03/13 Guidance for schools on the Welfare and Protection of pupils – Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003.

Circular 06/06 Guidance on safer recruitment practices for education authorities

(Access NI)

Circular 06/07 Guidance for schools on the employment of substitute teachers

(NISTR)

Circular 06/08 Strand 3 Guidance for schools on the requirements for child protection training in relation to interviewing and selection panels.

Circular 06/09 Guidance on the vetting of paid and unpaid staff (Access NI)

Circular 0 /09 Guidance on the requirement for vetting of school governors

(Access NI)

Appendix 2

Communication Proforma for Intimate Care

How I communicate

Name:______

Date ;______

I communicate using words / signs/ communication book / communication aid/ body movements.

I indicate my likes / preferences by______

I indicate my dislikes by ______

I show I am happy by ______

and unhappy______

If appropriate please complete the following:

When I need to go to the toilet I______

When I need changed I______

Additional Information ______

Speech and Language Therapist :______

Occupational Therapist:______

Paediatric Nurse:______

Incontinence Nurse : ______

Social Worker : ______

Other Professional: ______

Classroom Assistants:______

Contact numbers : ______

Parent / Guardian Signature: ______

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