When providing initmate care we will ensure that the child's safety, dignity and privacy are maintained at all times.
'Intimate care' covers any task that involves the washing, touching or carrying out a procedure to intimate personal areas and is assoicated with bodily functions and personal hygiene, including, toileting, washing, dressing, and menstrual care.
For children who have an identified key worker, it is usual for the key worker to support initmate care of the child that they have a key working relationship with.
Staff at Clubland who provide initimate care will do so in a professional manner. Staff are aware of safeguarding issues and will have relevant training (eg: health & safety, child protection, manual handling where appropriate) before providing initmate care. No child should suffer distress or pain as a result of receiving intimate care.
Staff will work in partnership with parents or carers and the child, where appropriate, to provide care appropriate to the needs of the individual child and together will produce a care plan. The care plan will set out:
- What care is required
- which staff will carry out intimate care tasks
- Number of staff needed to carry out the task (if more than one person is required, reasons to be documented)
- Additional equipment required
- Child's preferred means of communication (eg verbal, visual)
- Child's level of ability - what tasks they are able to carry out by themselves
Best Practice
When intimate care is given, the member of staff will explain to the child each task that is carried out, and the reason for it. Staff will encourage children to do as much for themselves as they can.
When initimate care is performed the staff member will record this action as an incident on our booking system with Magicbooking, the details of which will be immedialtey emailed to the parent.
If a child requires intimate care on a regular basis, it may be necessary for two members to share the care between them. In this way the child is less likely to become distressed of their usual carer is occassionaly unavailable. However, parents views on the number of staff providing personal care to their child must also be taken into consideration-some children may simply be unable to cope with more than one carer.
We have policies in place that promote safe recruitment, as well as having sound staff supervision, safeguarding and initimate care procedures: together these ensure that, should a child need consistent care from one member of staff, the child's safety and well-being will not be compromised.
Protecting children
Staff are familiar with guidacne from the local Safeguarding Partnership (formely the LSCB). The Club's procedures reflect the guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and staff are familiar with What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused flowcart from this document.
If a member of staff is concerned about any physical changes in a child, such as marks, bruises, soreness etc, they will inform the club's Designated Safeguarding lead (DSL) immediately. The procedures set out in the Safeguarding Children policy will be implemented.
Should a child become unhappy about being cared for by a particular member of staff, the mananger will investigate and record findings. These will be discussed with the child's parents or carers in order to resolve the issue. If necessary, the manager will seek advice from outside agencies.
If a child makes an allegation against a member of staff, the procedure set out in the Safeguarding Children policy will be followed.
Dealing with blood and body fluids
Blood, vomit, urine and faeces will be cleaned up immediatley and disposed of safely by double bagging the waste and removing it from the premises.When are dealing with body fluids, staff wear personal protective clothing (disposable plastic gloves and aprons) and will wash themsleves thoroughly afterwards. Solied children's clothing will be bagged to go home- staff will not rinse it. Children will be kept away for the affected area until the incident has been dealt with fully.
Staff at Clubland will maintain high standards of personal hygeine, and will take all practicable steps to prevent and control the spread of infection.
