Holy Family N.S.
Rathmore
Roll No. 20111U
Intimate Care Policy
INTIMATE CARE POLICY
The pastoral care of our children is central to the aims, ethos and teaching programmes in Holy Family NS and we are committed to developing positive and caring attitudes in our children. It is our intention to develop independence in each child, however there
will be occasions when help is required. The principles and procedures apply to everyone involved in the intimate care of children.‘Intimate care may be defined as an activity required to meet the personal care needs of each individual child in partnership with the parent, carer and the child.’). In school this may occur on a regular basis or during a one-off incident.
Holy Family NS is committed to ensuring that all staff responsible for the
intimate care of children will undertake their duties in a professional manner at all times. We recognise that there is a need to treat all our children with respect when intimate care is given. No child should be attended to in a way that causes distress or pain and adults and staff must be sensitive to each child’s individual needs.
Intimate care is any care which involves one of the following:
1. Assisting a child to change his/her clothes
2. Changing or washing a child who has soiled him/herself
3. Assisting with toileting issues
4. Supervising a child involved in intimate self-care
5. Providing first aid assistance
6. Providing comfort to an upset or distressed child
7. Feeding a child
8. Providing oral care to a child
9. Assisting a child who requires a specific medical procedure and who is not able to carry this out unaided. *
* In the case of a specific procedure only a person suitably trained and assessed as competent should undertake the procedure, (e.g. the administration of insulin.) Parents have the responsibility to advise the school of any known intimate care needs relating to their child
Principles of Intimate Care
The following are the fundamental principles of intimate care upon which our policy guidelines
are based:
•Every child has a 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;
•All children have the right to be involved and consulted in their own intimate care to the
best of their abilities;
•All children have the right to express their views on their own intimate care and to have
their views taken into account; and
•Every child has the right to have levels of intimate care that are appropriate and
consistent.
Assisting a child to change his/her clothes
This is more common in our Junior room. On occasions an individual child may require someassistance with changing if, for example, he/she has an accident at the toilet, gets wet outside, or has vomit on his/her clothes etc.
Staff will always encourage children to attempt undressing and dressing unaided. However, ifassistance is required this will be given. Staff will always ensure that they have a colleague in attendance when supporting dressing/undressing and will always give the child the opportunity to change in private, unless the child is in such distress that it is not possible to do so. If staff are concerned in any way parents will be sent for and asked to assist their child and informed if the child becomes distressed.
Changing a child who has soiled him/herself
If a child soils him/herself in school a professional judgement has to be made whether it is appropriate to change the child in school, or request the parent/carer to collect the child for changing. In either circumstance the child’s needs are paramount and he/she should be comforted and reassured throughout. The following guidelines outline our procedures but we will also seek to make age appropriate responses.
•The child will be given the opportunity to change his / her underwear in private and carry out this process themselves.
•School will have a supply of wipes, clean underwear and spare uniform for this purpose. (A
supply of clean underwear and spare uniforms are available in the store room at the back of the learning support room.
•If a child is not able to complete this task unaided, school staff will attempt to contact the
emergency contact to inform them of the situation.
•If the emergency contact is able to come to school within an appropriate time frame, the child will be accompanied and supported by a staff member until they arrive. This avoids any further distress and preserves dignity.
•If the emergency contact cannot attend, school will seek verbal permission for staff to change the child. If none of the contacts can be reached the Principal is to be consulted and the decision taken on the basis of loco-parentis and our duty of care to meet the needs of the child.
•The member of Staff who has assisted a pupil with intimate care will complete the intimate care
form (attached to this policy).
Child Protection/Safeguarding Guidelines
•Ensure that the action you are taking is necessary. Get verbal agreement to proceed –
o CARE – CONCERN – COMMUNICATE.
Pastoral Care Procedures
•Ensure the child is happy with who is changing him/her.
•Be responsive to any distress shown.
Basic hygiene routines
•Always wear protective disposable gloves.
•Seal any soiled clothing in a plastic bag for return to parents.
In the case of Foundation Stage children, in order to avoid any unnecessary distress, a member of
staff may assist the child, with a colleague in attendance, unless a parent has requested otherwise or if the child is reluctant. Parents will be contacted as soon as it is practical to do so.
3. Providing comfort or support to a child:
There are situations and circumstances where children seek physical comfort from staff (particularly children in Early Years). Where this happens staff need to be aware that any physical contact must be kept to a minimum. When comforting a child or giving reassurance, staff must ensure that at no time can the act be considered intimate. If physical contact is deemed to be appropriate, staff must provide care which is professionally appropriate to the age and context.
If a child touches a member of staff in a way that makes him/her feel uncomfortable this can be gently but firmly discouraged in a way which communicates that the touch, rather than the child, is unacceptable. If a child touches a member of staff, as noted above, this should be discussed, in confidence with the Designated Teacher for Child Protection.
4. Assisting a child who requires a specific medical procedure and who is not able to carry this out
unaided.
Our Administration of Medications Policy outlines arrangements for the management of the
majority of medications in school.
Parental permission must be given before any medication is dispensed in school- this form is also available on our website.
A small number of children will have significant medical needs and in addition to the arrangements included in our Administration of Medications Policy will have an Individual ‘Care Plan’. This Care Plan will be formulated by the relevant medical body. If required, school staff will receive appropriate training.
Swimming
Our 2nd to 6th classes participate in a swimming programme in Aquilla Club Sports and Leisure Centre, Killarney. Children are entitled to respect and privacy when changing their clothes however, there must be the required level of supervision to safeguard young people with regard to health and safety considerations and to ensure that bullying, teasing or other unacceptable behaviour does not occur.
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Guidelines For Good Practice
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. Young children and children with special educational needs can be especially vulnerable. Staff involved with their intimate care need to be particularly sensitive to their individual needs.
1. Involve the child in the intimate care. Try to encourage a child’s independence as far aspossible in his or her intimate care. Where a situation renders a child fully dependent, talk about what is going to be done and, where possible, give choices. Check your practice by asking the child or parent about any preferences while carrying out the intimate care.
2. Treat every child with dignity and respect and ensure privacy appropriate to the child’s age and situation.
Care should not be carried out by a member of staff working alone with a child.
3. Make sure practice in intimate care is consistent.
As a child may have multiple carers a consistent approach to care is essential. Effective communication between all parties ensures that practice is consistent.
4. Be aware of your own limitations. Only carry out activities you understand and feel competent with. If in doubt, ask. Some procedures must only be carried out by members of staff who have been formally trained and assessed.
5. Promote positive self-esteem and body image. Confident, self-assured children who feel their bodies belong to them are less vulnerable to sexual abuse. The approach you take to intimate care can convey lots of messages to a child about their body worth. Your attitude to a child’s intimate care is important. Keeping in mind the child’s age, routine care can be both efficient and relaxed.
6. If you have any concerns you must report them. If you observe any unusual markingsdiscolouration or swelling report it immediately to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection.
If a child is accidentally hurt during intimate care or misunderstands or misinterprets something, reassure the child, ensure their safety and report the incident immediately to the designated teacher. Report and record any unusual emotional or behavioural response by the child. A written record of concerns must be made available to parents and kept in the child’s personal file.
Working with Children of the Opposite Sex
There is positive value in both male and female staff being involved with children. Ideally, every child should have the choice for intimate care but the current ratio of female to male staff means that assistance will more often be given by a woman. The intimate care of boys and girls can be carried out by a member of staff of the opposite sex with the following provisions:
•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 If the child appears distressed or uncomfortable when personal tasks are being carried out, the care should stop immediately. Try to ascertain why the child is distressed and provide reassurance;
•Report any concerns to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection and make a written
record;
•Parents must be informed about any concerns.
Communication With Children
It is the responsibility of all staff caring for a child to ensure that they are aware of the child’smethod and level of communication. Depending on their maturity and levels of stress children may communicate using different methods - words, signs, symbols, body movements, eye pointing, etc.
To ensure effective communication:
•Make eye contact at the child’s level;
•Use simple language and repeat if necessary;
•Wait for response;
•Continue to explain to the child what is happening even if there is no response; and
•Treat the child as an individual with dignity and respect.
PARENTS OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR INFANTS ARE ASKED TO BRING IN A CHANGE OF UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS IN A ZIPLOCK BAG,WITH THE CHILD’S NAME CLEARLY WRITTEN ON THE BAG IN CASE OF A TOILETING ACCIDENT.
Policy was formulated and ratified by the board of Management on March 12th 2018
Signed: ________________________ Signed: _______________________
Chairperson Principal
Board of Management
Date: ________________________ Date: _______________________
Date of next review: ____________________
Appendix 1
I HAVE READ THE ABOVE POLICY.PLEASE TICK
Holy Family NS
Parental Permission for Intimate Care
Should it be necessary, I give permission for ____________________________ to receive intimate care (e.g. help with changing or following toileting).
I understand that staff will endeavour to encourage my child to be independent.
I understand that I will be informed discretely should the occasion arise.
Signed: