Reviewed by: Pupils, Parents and the Community Committee 10th March 2025
Next Review: Spring 2027
Aims
This policy aims to ensure that:
- Intimate care is carried out properly by staff, in line with any agreed plans
- The dignity, rights and wellbeing of children are safeguarded
- Pupils with intimate care difficulties are not discriminated against, in line with the Equalities Act 2010
- Parents are assured that staff are knowledgeable about intimate care and that the needs of their children are taken into account
- Staff carrying out intimate care work do so within guidelines (i.e. health and safety, manual handling, safeguarding protocols awareness) that protect themselves and the pupils involved
Intimate care refers to any care which involves toileting, washing, changing, touching or carrying out an invasive procedure to children’s intimate personal areas.
Legislation and statutory guidance
This policy complies with Keeping Children Safe in Education, statutory guidance.
Role of parents
For children who need routine or occasional intimate care (e.g. for toileting or toileting accidents), parents will be asked to inform the SENCO and provide nappies, wipes etc.
The school will work with parents and take their preferences on board to make the process of intimate care as comfortable as possible, dealing with needs sensitively and appropriately.
Subject to their age and understanding, the preferences of the child will also be taken into account. If there’s doubt whether the child is able to make an informed choice, their parents will be consulted.
Sharing information
The school will share information with parents as needed to ensure a consistent approach. It will expect parents to also share relevant information regarding any intimate matters as needed.
Role of staff
Which staff will be responsible
SEND teachers and teaching assistants are responsible for intimate care. Where a mainstream child needs support the teaching assistant will be responsible.
No other staff members can be required to provide intimate care.
All staff at the school who carry out intimate care will have been subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a barred list check before appointment, as well as other checks on their employment history.
How staff will be trained
Staff will receive the following procedure to support then with nappy or underwear changing,
They will also be encouraged to seek further advice as needed from the SENCO.
Procedure for changing a Nappy/Soiled or Wet Pants (as followed by staff)
- Consider where to change the child
- Wash your hands
- Gather all the necessary items needed before each nappy change, for example, nappy, wipes, nappy sack, cream if necessary (each child should have their own named cream and written permission obtained from the parent via the Parental agreement to administer medicine form ).
- Put on gloves and apron. A new set of gloves and disposable apron is used for each nappy change.
- Place the child on a nappy changing table if required, being careful to bend the knees to protect the back.
- Remove the child’s clothing to necessary to access the nappy/soiled or wet pants. Remove them and place them inside the nappy sack.
- If the child’s clothes are soiled, you should bag them separately and send them home. You should not rinse them hand.
- Using the wipes, clean the child from front to back and place the used wipes in the nappy sack. Tie the nappy sack and put it in a pedal operated bin.
- Put on a clean nappy and apply cream if necessary (see above).
- Take off the gloves and apron and place them in a pedal operated bin.
- Dress the child.
- Help the child to wash their hands if necessary using liquid soap, warm water and paper towels.
- Wash your hands using liquid soap, warm water and paper towels.
- Take the child back to the room.
- Return to the nappy changing area and using anti bacterial spray and paper towels clean the changing mat, surrounding area and underneath the mat before leaving to dry and then wash and dry your hands.
Resources
At Kelvin Grove the following resources will be available:
- Hot running water
- Paper towels
- Aprons and gloves
- Nappy bags
- Cleaning equipment
- Bin
- Changing table
Concerns about safeguarding
If a member of staff carrying out intimate care has concerns about physical changes in a child’s appearance (e.g. marks, bruises, soreness), they will report this using the school’s safeguarding procedures.
If a child is hurt accidentally or there is an issue when carrying out the procedure, the staff member will report the incident immediately to SENCO or member of senior management.
If a child makes an allegation against a member of staff, the responsibility for intimate care of that child will be given to another member of staff as quickly as possible and the allegation will be investigated according to the school’s safeguarding procedures.
Monitoring arrangements
This policy will be reviewed by the PP&C Committee, at least every two years. At every review, the policy will be approved by the chair of the PP&C committee and the headteacher.
There are no requirements about how you approve this policy, or how often you review it (though it should be revisited twice a year), so choose what works best for your school.
Links with other policies
This policy links to the following policies and procedures: