On entry to our school you will be asked to fill in a medical questionnaire which will allow us to ensure that the correct provision is in place for your child when the start at our school.

If your child needs medication you will need to sign a consent form so that we can supervise your child.  Please do not send your child into school with medicine without letting us know first, so that we can make sure it is administered correctly.

If your child has an on-going or serious medical condition that needs specific management in school, you may need to complete a Healthcare Plan to ensure that school has the correct information to meet your child's needs.  Our new policy for Managing Children with Medical Needs can be found on our Policies Page. If you need further information, please call into the school office or make an appointment with Mrs. Gillard, our Inclusion Manager.

Intimate and personal care

'Intimate Care' can be defined as care tasks of an intimate nature, associated with bodily functions, bodily products and personal hygiene, which demand direct or indirect contact with, or exposure of, the sexual parts of the body. The Intimate Care tasks specifically identified as relevant include:

• Dressing and undressing (underwear)
• Helping someone use the toilet
• Changing continence pads (faeces/urine)
• Bathing / showering
• Washing intimate parts of the body
• Changing sanitary wear
• Inserting suppositories
• Giving enemas
• Inserting and monitoring pessaries.

‘Personal Care’ involves touching another person, although the nature of this touching is more socially acceptable. These tasks do not invade conventional personal, private or social space to the same extent as Intimate Care.

Those Personal Care tasks specifically identified as relevant here include:

• Skin care/applying external medication
• Feeding
• Administering oral medication
• Hair care
• Dressing and undressing (clothing)
• Washing non-intimate body parts
• Prompting to go to the toilet.

Personal Care encompasses those areas of physical and medical care that most people carry out for themselves but which some are unable to do because of disability or medical need. Children and young people may require help with eating, drinking, washing, dressing and toileting.

Our approach to best practice

The management of all children with intimate care needs will be carefully planned.   The child who requires intimate care is treated with respect at all times; the child’s welfare and dignity is of paramount importance.

Staff who provide intimate care are trained to do so (including Child Protection and Health and Safety training in Moving and Handling) and are fully aware of best practice.   Apparatus will be provided to assist with children who need special arrangements following assessment from physiotherapist / occupational therapist as required.

The child will be supported to achieve the highest level of autonomy that is possible given their age and abilities. Staff will encourage each child to do as much for him/herself as he/she can. This may mean, for example, giving the child responsibility for washing themselves.  

Individual intimate care plans will be drawn up for particular children as appropriate to suit the circumstances of the child.

Each child’s right to privacy will be respected.   Careful consideration will be given to each child’s situation to determine how many carers might need to be present when a child is toileted.   Where possible, one child will be catered for by one adult, but a second adult should be made aware that intimate care is taking place.

Wherever possible the same child will not be cared for by the same adult on a long-term basis.   This will ensure, as far as possible, that over-familiar relationships are discouraged from developing, whilst at the same time guarding against the care being carried out by a succession of completely different carers.

Female pupils will only be cared for by female staff.   However, in certain circumstances this principle may need to be waived where failure to provide appropriate care would result in negligence.

Intimate care arrangements will be discussed with parents/carers and recorded in a care plan. The needs and wishes of children and parents will be taken into account wherever possible within the constraints of staff and equal opportunities legislation.

The Protection of Children

Safeguarding procedures will be adhered to.  In line with the school’s safeguarding policy, if a member of staff has any concerns about physical changes in a child’s presentation eg marks, bruises, soreness, etc s/he will immediately report concerns to the appropriate manager / Designated Safeguarding Lead for child protection.

Health and Safety

Health and safety advice will be sought through the Health and Safety SLA with the Local Authority provider and through the School Nurse Service.

Further Guidance

“Working Together To Safeguard Children”, Inter-Agency Child Protection Procedures. 2018.

Introduction

Intimate care is any care which involves washing, touching or carrying out an invasive procedure (such as cleaning up a pupil after they have soiled themselves) to intimate personal areas.   In most cases such care will involve cleaning for hygiene purposes as part of a staff member’s duty of care.   In the case of a specific procedure only a person suitably trained and assessed as competent should undertake the procedure (eg the administration of rectal diazepam).

The issue of intimate care is a sensitive one and will require staff to be respectful of the child’s needs. The child’s dignity should always be preserved with a high level of privacy, choice and control. There shall be a high awareness of child protection issues.   Staff behaviour must be open to scrutiny and staff must work in partnership with parents/carers to provide continuity of care to children/young people wherever possible.

Children Wearing Nappies

The parent should provide nappies and should be made aware of this responsibility.   Schools are responsible for providing gloves, plastic aprons, a bin and liners to dispose of any waste.

Health and Safety – changes in circumstances (Covid 19) – During this time it is imperative that any child needing intimate care continues to be safe and cared for.

Staff members will have access to:

• PPE (face mask, gloves and an apron) for use during intimate care
• Nappy/soiled underwear changing is undertaken in the appointed toilet on the changing mat.
• Parents/carers are informed of all nappy changes/soiling accidents.
• A new set of gloves, apron, mask and eye protection to be worn for every nappy/soiled underwear changing.
• The changing mat must be cleaned using anti-bacterial cleaner prior to any changing.
• Child to be placed on a mat during a nappy/underwear change.
• Soiled nappies to be placed in double polythene waste disposal bags which can be securely sealed. This bag should then be placed in a bin (complete with a liner) which is specifically designated for the disposal of such waste (located in the medical room). Staff should be aware of the school’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Any soiled clothes to be sent home in separate double polythene waste disposal bags.
• All cleaning wipes to be placed in double polythene waste bags for disposal.
• Before dressing the child dispose of all personal protective equipment in a double polythene waste disposal bag in the appropriate bin.
• Both staff member and the child must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds before returning to class.
• Changing area/mat should be thoroughly cleaned using anti-bacterial spray and cleaning cloths.

Care Plan

Where regular intimate care is required, for instance, in the case of a medical need, a care plan will be drawn up outlining the procedures to be used with the individual pupil.

Pupils in Distress

The school recognises that there may be times when a pupil is distressed and needs to be comforted and reassured and this might include physical touch such as a caring parent would give.   Staff must remain self-aware at all times to ensure that their contact is not threatening or intrusive and not subject to misinterpretation.

Judgment will need to take account of the circumstances of a pupil’s distress, their age, the extent and cause of the distress.   Unless the child needs an immediate response, staff should consider whether they are the most appropriate person to respond.

Particular care must be taken in instances which involve the same pupil over a period of time.

Where a member of staff has a particular concern about the need to provide this type of care and reassurance they should seek further advice from their line manager or other appropriate person.

Menstruation

Girls who are in the early stages of puberty may need support from a female member of staff.  Where such assistance is required girls will be provided with sanitary towels and treated sensitively.

Physical Education and Other Skills Coaching

Some staff are likely to come into physical contact with pupils from time to time in the course of their duties when participating in games, demonstrating an exercise or the use of equipment.

Staff should be aware of the limits within which such contact should properly take place and of the possibility of misinterpretation.

Where it is anticipated that a pupil might be prone to misinterpret any such contact, alternatives should be considered, perhaps involving another member of staff or a less vulnerable pupil in the demonstration.

Changing Clothes

Young people are entitled to respect and privacy when changing 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 or teasing does not occur.  When changing for physical activity pupils will be supervised.  Where pupils are separated by gender, either both groups of pupils will be supervised at the same time, or one adult will move between the two groups to ensure supervision.

Out of School Trips, Clubs etc

Employees should take particular care when supervising pupils on trips or a residential setting or after-school activity.  Although more informal relationships in such circumstances tend to be usual, the standard of behaviour expected of staff will be no different from the behaviour expected within school.  Staff involved in such activities should also be familiar with their school’s policy and  guidance regarding out of school activities.

To ensure pupils’ safety, increased vigilance may be required when monitoring the behaviour of pupils on trips or after school activities etc 

Meetings with pupils away from the school premises where a chaperone will not be present are not permitted unless specific approval is obtained from the head teacher or other senior colleague with delegated authority.   Staff should not place themselves in a position where they are in a vehicle, house or other venue alone with a child.

If staff come into contact with pupils whilst off duty, they must behave as though in their professional role and not give conflicting messages regarding their own conduct.