Intimate Care Policy

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This procedure is reviewed annually to ensure compliance with current regulations

Approved/reviewed by

Head of Safeguarding

Date of review August 2021

Date of next review August 2022

Intimate Care Policy

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Introduction

1.1Staffwhoworkwithyoungchildrenoryoungpeoplewillrealizethattheissueofintimatecareisadifficult

oneandwillrequirestafftoberespectfulofchildren'sneeds.

1.2Intimatecarecanbedefinedascaretasksofanintimatenature,associatedwithbodilyfunctions,body

productsandpersonalhygienewhichdemanddirectorindirectcontactwithorexposureofthegenitals.

Examplesincludecareassociatedwithcontinenceandmenstrualmanagementaswellasmoreordinarytasks

suchashelpwithwashingorshowering.

1.3Student’sdignitywillbepreserved,andahighlevelofprivacy,choiceandcontrolwillbeprovidedto

them.Staffthatprovideintimatecaretochildren/youngpeoplehaveahighawarenessofchildprotection

issues. Staff behavior is open toscrutiny andstaff workin partnership with parents/guardianto provide

continuityofcaretochildren/youngpeoplewhereverpossible.

1.4Staffdeliver afull personalsafetycurriculum,aspartofPersonal,Social andHealthEducation,to all

studentsasappropriatetotheirdevelopmentallevelanddegreeofunderstanding.Thisworkissharedwith

parentswhoareencouragedtoreinforcethepersonalsafetymessageswithinthehome.

1.5 Taaleem Schools are committed to ensuring that all staff responsible for the intimate care of

children/youngpeoplewillundertaketheirdutiesinaprofessionalmanneratalltimes.Taaleemrecognizes

thatthereisaneedtotreat allstudentswithrespectwhenintimatecareisgiven.Nostudentshouldbe

attendedtoinawaythatcausesdistressorpain.

PolicyStatement

2.1Allstudentswhorequireintimatecarearetreatedrespectfullyatalltimes;thestudents’welfareand

dignityareofparamountimportance.

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2.2Staffwhoprovideintimatecarearetrainedtodoso(includingChildProtectionandHealthandSafety

traininginmovingandhandlingwhenappropriate)andarefullyawareofbestpractice.Equipmentwillbe

providedtoassistwithstudentswhoneedspecialarrangementsfollowingassessmentfromphysiotherapist/

occupationaltherapistasrequired.

2.3Staffwillbesupportedtoadapttheirpracticeinrelationtotheneedsofindividualstudentstakinginto

accountdevelopmental changessuchas theonsetofpubertyandmenstruation. Whereverpossiblestaff

whoareinvolvedintheintimatecareofchildren/youngpeoplewillnotusuallybeinvolvedwiththedelivery

ofsexandrelationshipeducationtotheirchildren/youngpeopleasanadditionalsafeguardtobothstaffand

children/youngpeopleinvolved.

2.4 There is careful communicationwith each child who needs helpwith intimatecare inline with their

preferredmeansofcommunication(verbal,symbolic,etc.)todiscussthestudent’sneedsandpreferences.

Thestudentisawareofeachprocedurethatiscarriedoutandthereasonsforit.

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Intimate Care Policy

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2.5Asabasicprinciplestudentswillbesupportedtoachievethehighestlevelofautonomythatispossible

giventheirageandabilities.Staffwillencourageeachstudenttodoasmuchforthemselvesastheycan.This

maymean,forexample,givingthestudentresponsibilityforwashingthemselves.Individualintimatecare

planswillbedrawnupforparticularstudentsasappropriatetosuittheircircumstances.Theseplansinclude

afullriskassessmenttoaddressissuessuchasmovingandhandling,personalsafetyofthestudentandthe

staff.

2.6Eachstudent'srighttoprivacywillberespected.Carefulconsiderationwillbegiventoeachstudent's

situationtodeterminehowmanystaffmightneedtobepresentwhenastudentneedshelpwithintimate

care.Wherepossibleonestudentwillbecaredforbytwoadults.

2.7Whereverpossiblethesamestudentwillnotbecaredforbythesameadultonaregularbasis;therewill

benamedstaffmembersknowntothestudentwhowilltaketurnsinprovidingcare.Thiswillensure,asfar

as possible, that over‐familiar relationships are discouraged from developing, while at the same time

guardingagainstthecarebeingcarriedoutbyasuccessionofcompletelydifferentstaff.

2.8Parents/staffwillbeinvolvedwiththeirchild'sintimatecarearrangementsonaregularbasis;aclear

account ofthe agreed arrangements will berecorded onthe child'scare plan. The needsand wishes of

studentsandparentswillbecarefullyconsideredalongsideanypossibleconstraints,e.g.staffingandequal

opportunitieslegislation.

2.9Eachchild/youngpersonwillhaveanassignedmemberofstafftoactasanadvocatetowhomtheywill

beabletocommunicateanyissuesorconcernsthattheymayhaveaboutthequalityofcaretheyreceive.

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THEPROTECTIONOFCHILDREN

3.1EducationChildProtectionProceduresandInter‐AgencyChildProtectionprocedureswillbeaccessible

tostaffandadheredto.

3.2Whereappropriate,allstudentswillbetaughtpersonalsafetyskillscarefullymatchedtotheirlevelof

developmentandunderstanding.

3.3Ifamemberofstaffhasanyconcernsaboutphysicalchangesinastudent'spresentation,e.g.marks,

bruises,sorenessetc.he/shewillimmediatelyreportconcernstotheappropriatedesignatedsafeguarding

lead. Aclear recordof the concern will becompleted and referred tothe safeguarding lead at Taaleem

CentralOfficeandrelevantauthorityifnecessary.Parentswillbeaskedfortheirconsentorinformedthata

referralisnecessarypriortoitbeingmadeunlessdoingsoislikelytoplacethechildatgreaterriskofharm.

SeeschoolChildProtectionpolicy.

3.4Ifastudentbecomesdistressedorunhappyaboutbeingcaredforbyaparticularmemberofstafforan

ILSA (Independent Learning Support Assistant) the matter will be looked into and outcomes recorded.

Parents/guardianswillbecontactedattheearliestopportunityaspartofthisprocessinordertoreacha

resolution.Staffingscheduleswillbealtereduntiltheissue(s)areresolvedsothatthestudentneedsremain

paramount.Furtheradvicewillbetakenfromoutsideagenciesifnecessary.

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Intimate Care Policy

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3.5Ifastudentmakesanallegationagainstamemberofstaff,allnecessaryprocedureswillbefollowed‐

seeChildProtectionPolicy.

3.6Everychildhastherighttobetreatedwithdignityandrespect(e.g.ifastudentrequeststogothetoilet

duringclass,irrespectiveofage,theywillbeallowedtodoso).

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Definitionoftoilettrained

Thechildshouldbeabletocarryoutthefollowingindependentlybeforestartingschool:

1.Tellanadultwhentheyrequirethetoilet.

2.Pulldown/pullupclothinginordertogotothetoilet.

3.Wipe/cleanthemselvesaftertoileting.

4.Whereapplicable,makeuseofthehand‐heldtoilethose.

5.Washanddryhandsthoroughly.

6.Pull‐uppants/nappiesarenotallowed.

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*Whereachildhasspecificdevelopmentalormedicalneedswhichimpactontheirintimatecareneeds,a

Senior Leader must be informed when the child registers. Entry of the student will be reviewed by the

Principal.

*OnPrincipalapprovalandinthisinstance,theschoolwillworkcloselywiththefamilytodeviseaplanwhich

isreflectiveofthechild’sneeds.Whenachildhasaspecificmedicalordevelopmentalconditionwhichcould

impact on toileting management, then advice from the pediatrician should be sought either by the

parent/guardianorwithpermission,thedesignatedadulte.g.teacher,InclusionteamorPrincipal.Inthis

instanceorifrequiredtomaintaintheyoungperson’sdignity,appropriatefacilitieswillbeusede.g.nurse's

toiletratherthanstudenttoilet.

Monitoringoftoilettraining

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Whereitbecomesapparentthatachildisnottoilettrained,thefollowingguidelinescanbeapplied:

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Parentsofchildrenthatappearnottobetoilettrainedwillbeinvitedintomeetthe

child’steacherandamemberoftheSeniorLeadershipteam(SLT).

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SLTwillreportincidencesofarepetitivenaturetothePrincipalandappropriateactionsasagreed

withtheschoolandparent/guardianwillbetaken.

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HygienePractices

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Allstaffshouldfollowgoodhygienepractices,whichinclude:

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Disposableglovesshouldbeworn.

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Disposableplasticapronshouldbewornwhererequired.

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Systemsshouldbeinplacetodealwithspillagesappropriatelyandsafely.

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Spillagesmustbecleanedaccordingtoschoolpolicy.HotwaterandsoapORantibacterialspray

orwipesareappropriate.

Intimate Care Policy

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*Soiled disposable nappy to be placed in plastic nappy bag and disposed of according to school

arrangements.Reusablenappytobeplacedindoubleplasticnappybagandreturnedtoparent(thisonly

applieswhere astudenthas specificdevelopmentalormedicalneedandhasbeenapprovedbythe

Principal).

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Soiledclothingtobeplacedindoubleplasticbagsandreturnedtoparent/guardian.

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Correcthandwashingtechniquesshouldbefollowed.

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a) Foradults,usehotwaterandsoap.Dryhandswithdisposablepapertowels.

Antibacterial

gelcanthenalsobeused.

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b) For child, hand washing to be initially modelled by, and where required,supervisedby

anadult.

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ChangingPolicy:

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Intheeventofanaccident,thefollowingwilloccur:

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Childwillbebroughttotheschoolnurseforchanging.

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Intheunlikelyeventtheschoolnurseisnotavailable,responsibleadultwillbringthe

childtothenurses’

roomandchangethemthereinthepresenceofanotheradult.

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In the eventthat soiling occurs,the childwillbe changed by the nurse or classteacher or Learning

Assistant(LA).

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Ifasecondsoilingaccidentoccursonthesameday,thechildwillbechangedatschoolandsenthome

withparents/caregivers.

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Spareclotheswill be storedatalltimes atschoolinthedesignatedarea(e.g.intheclassroomorin

thechild’scubby).Theparent,ifneededshouldregularlyreplacetheseclothes.

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SampleToiletingPlanforusewithSENDStudents

ToiletingPlanfor:.......................................................Date:.............

Due to developmental needs, (Child’s name) is currently in nappies/pull ups andis not yet showingany

awarenessofbeingwet/soiledORiscurrentlyinnappies/pullupsandisshowingsomeawarenessby(e.g.

goingtochangingarea/verballysaying)

(Keyperson’sname)willmainlyberesponsibleforchanging(child’sname)whilstat(Setting/schoolname)

toensurecontinuityofcare.However(namedotherstaff)willalsobeawareofhis/herneedsandwillbe

availabletochangehim/herwhenrequired.

(Setting/schoolname)willprovideglovesanddisposableaprons.Parent/guardianwillprovideconsumables

whichcouldincludechangingmat,nappies/pullups,wipes,nappysacksandspareclothes.

(Child’sname)willbechanged(specificlocationandarrangements)(Forexample:Onachangingmatonthe

floorinthechildren’stoiletareaoronachangingtableinthedisabledtoiletarea).

Otherarrangementsspecifictothatindividualchildcanalsobeincluded.(Thiscouldincludewhetherchild

needsassistanceinlayingthemselvesdownorgettinguportimesthatchildwillbecheckedorchanged.See

guidanceforChildrenandYoungPeoplewithASDifappropriate).

Tocomplywithourchildprotectionprocedures(Insert localarrangements.Forexample,thiscouldbe,2

membersofstaffwillbepresent/thedoorwillbekeptajaretc).

Used disposable nappies willbe(placedin anappy sackand disposed of(in anappy bin/dueto lack of

disposablefacilities,nappies/usedwipeswillbestoredindoublenappysackstobegiventoparentatthe

endofthesession/day)andreusablenappieswillbedoubledbaggedforreturntotheparent/guardian.

Staffwillrecorddateandtimeofchangingandwhetherchildwaswet/dry/soiled.Thisinformationwillbe

sharedwithparent/guardian.

Thisplanwillbereviewedasthechild’sneedschange.

