Foundry Road Pre-School

Intimate Care Policy

Policy statement

No child is excluded from participating in our setting who may, for any reason, not yet be toilet trained and who may still be wearing nappies or equivalent. We work with parents towards toilet training, unless there are medical or other developmental reasons why this may not be appropriate at the time.

We provide nappy changing facilities and exercise good hygiene practices in order to accommodate children who are not yet toilet trained.

We see toilet training as a self-care skill that children have the opportunity to learn with the full support and non-judgemental concern of adults.

Foundry Road Pre-School accepts there may be times when staff will need to provide intimate care for a child: This may include bottom wiping, nappy changing, removing clothes due to soiling or vomiting. 1 member of staff will follow the procedure below:

• Explain to the child that you need to help them to get changed or cleaned up. Staff dealing with personal care must inform other staff members of this, so staff aware of their whereabouts.
• Disposable gloves and apron will be worn and soiled clothing / items will be double wrapped and either disposed of or handed back to parent / carer.
• All efforts will be made to provide a private space and dignity for the child to be changed in, within sight of other staff. This area may change depending on session time and the needs of the child. If changing takes place on the floor a changing mat will be used.
• Staff and child's hands will be washed using anti bac soap and water and all surfaces and changing mat will be disinfected to avoid cross contamination.
• Only staff employed by Foundry Road, who has been checked by the DBS, will be allowed to provide intimate care. Students, and volunteers are NOT permitted to do this.
• If a child objects to a member of staff providing intimate care parents will be contacted to come to Foundry Road and provide the care themselves if necessary.
• Children in nappies or pull ups will each have a Personal Care plan in place completed by parent/carer, showing consent and  indicates how often they would like personal care to be offered, how a child is usually changed, whether cream is required to intimate areas, if so parents are to supply this. This si to ensure the needs of the child are met.
• Children are encouraged to take an interest in using the toilet; they may just want to sit on it and talk to a friend who is also using the toilet.
• Staff are gentle when changing; they avoid pulling faces and making negative comments about ‘nappy contents’.
• We have a ‘duty of care’ towards children’s personal needs. If children are left in wet or soiled nappies/pull ups in the setting this may constitute neglect and will be a disciplinary matter.
• All staff are familiar with the hygiene procedures and carry these out when changing nappies.
• Older children access the toilet when they have the need to and are encouraged to be independent.
• Nappies and pull ups are disposed of hygienically. Any soil (faeces) in nappies or pull ups is flushed down the toilet and the nappy or pull up is bagged and put in the bin. Cloth nappies, trainer pants and ordinary pants that have been wet or soiled are rinsed and bagged for the parent to take home.
• Staff are up to date with all safeguarding issues including FGM and will immediately report should any concerns arise.