Relationships and Physical Contact with Children

The home should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive. It should be an environment that supports a child’s physical, mental and emotional health, in line with the approach set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose.

Suitable arrangements should be in place in all homes for matters relating to physical contact, intimate care, menstruation, enuresis, encopresis and other aspects of children's personal care. These arrangements should take into account the child’s gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans e.g. Placement Plan and Care Plan.

Staff must provide a level of care, including physical contact, which is designed to demonstrate warmth, respect, and positive regard for children.

Staff should feel able to express “parental” affection towards children in their care, and to provide comfort to ease a child’s distress. This could include giving a hug, provided that this was done in a way that was parental and not sexual;

Staff should be aware that a high proportion of children in residential care have experienced some form of sexual and physical abuse, so need to ensure that any physical contact is not misinterpreted.

Also see Lone Working Procedure.

Where a staff members daily work brings them into a one to one situation they should inform other staff why this is necessary and where this will be taking place.

Where one to one work is delivered as part of a specialist service or direct work programme this should be identified in the Placement Plan.

Managers will, where it is deemed necessary, ensure a risk assessment is carried out for the delivery of any piece of work that is consistent with the Placement Plan.

Staff should always try to keep doors open unless this constitutes a breach of privacy for the child. In these instances it may be necessary to undertake a risk assessment of the situation.

No volunteer working in the home should ever be in a one to one situation with a child.

If an accident happens whilst in this situation as with any other situation make sure an accident report form is filled in and signed by all parties.

Giving first aid or personal care (where deemed necessary on the Placement Plan), should be recorded on the relevant format.

If any member of staff is uneasy about the behaviour of others who are putting himself or herself or the child at risk they must inform the manager of the home.

Where a member of staff feels that the unease is centred on the registered manager they must report this to a manager outside of the line management of the home, or to the child's social worker.

Any allegations, suspicions and/or disclosures of abuse should be reported as per Safeguarding Children and Young People and Referring Safeguarding Concerns Procedure.

Children must be supported and encouraged to undertake bathing, showers and other intimate care of themselves without relying on staff. Staff should not be involved in providing intimate and personal care to children of the opposite sex.

If a child need helps with intimate care, arrangements must emphasise the child’s dignity. Where necessary staff will be provided with specialist training and support.

Young women should be supported and encouraged to keep their own supply of sanitary protection without having to request it from staff.

There should also be adequate provision for the private disposal of used sanitary protection.

If it is known or suspected that a child is likely to experience enuresis (involuntary urination) and/or, encopresis (soiling) or may be prone to smearing it should be discussed openly, with the child if possible, and strategies adopted for managing it. These strategies should be outlined in the child's Placement Plan.

It may be appropriate to consult a Continence Nurse or other specialist, who will provide advice on the most appropriate strategy to adopt. In the absence of such advice, the following should be adopted:

1. Talk to the child in private, openly but sympathetically;
2. Do not treat it as the fault of the child, or apply any form of sanction;
3. Do not require the child to clear up; arrange for the child to be cleaned and remove then wash any soiled bedding and clothes;
4. Keep a record, either on a dedicated form or in the child's Daily Record;
5. Consider making arrangements for the child to have any supper in good time before retiring, and arranging for the child to use the toilet before retiring; also consider arranging for the child to be woken to use the toilet during the night;
6. Consider using mattresses or bedding that can withstand being soiled or wet.