Mobile Phones & Camera Policy

The aim of the mobile phone policy is to promote safe and appropriate practice through acceptable guidelines.

This policy applies to all staff and individuals who have access to a mobile phone on site. This includes staff, volunteers, parents, young people and committee members.

Mobile phones can be a distraction during the working day and can be intrusive when used in the company of others.

Mobile phones can impact on individual’s privacy and their rights to confidentiality. Such concerns are not exclusive to children and young people; hence there is a duty to protect the needs and vulnerabilities of all.

Under no circumstances is any individual permitted to take images or recordings on a mobile phone.

Drivers

If any member of staff is doing escorting for After Schools their phone should is allowed to be on in case of needing children to be picked up due to late bookings.

Under no circumstances should Playcare staff drive whilst taking a phone call with or without having young people in their car. This also includes hands- free and wireless connections.

Mobile phones should not be used while working if anybody needs to contact staff then they should use the main phone line. Staffs phones should be in the office during work hours, this then safeguards all.

This also includes Smart Watches they are not allowed to be worn during work times.

If a young person brings a mobile phone into a session then it will be taken off them and given back at the end of the session, all the above applies to the young people as well as the staff of Southway Playcare.

Cameras should only be used for activities and to promote the setting. Also pictures can only be taken if you have permission from parent or carer. Cameras should not be removed from the main reception area unless used for outside activities. The camera should not be used by one person only in confined spaces. The camera also has to be signed for when in use this can be in the register.

Only  the After school camera can be used for taking photos, no personal devices or mobile phones for taking pictures of the children.

We make sure storage and use of images are used for only appropriate needs and always make sure images are disposed in the correct way.

Bullying Policy

Children’s safety and feeling of wellbeing is important, their learning capacity and happiness depend on it.

Bullying is the action in which anyone is oppressed, physically or emotionally by another. A person may feel bullied by another person, a group or a situation.  If their perception is that they have been bullied,  then this interpretation of events is treated as seriously as if actual bullying actions have taken place.

Bullying can take many forms including:-

  • Name calling
  • Picking on another
  • Using prejudicial remarks or actions
  • Cyber bullying
  • Physical actions such as hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting or purposefully driving a wheelchair into another person.

We aim to provide a supportive environment in which people are helped to deal with bullying or threatening behaviour, and to ensure individuals who bully understand the unacceptable nature of their actions.

Guidelines:

Bullying is unacceptable and not tolerated.
  • Children who feel they are being bullied, or get into situations in which they feel uncomfortable, should talk to an adult.
  • Children who are found to be bullying, will be supported to talk through their actions and feeling.
  • Parents and other adults will be informed as necessary.
  • All bullying must be reported to a Senior Manager and the appropriate incident forms filled in.
  • Staff will ensure children are able to access their everyday choices wherever appropriate.
  • All staff will follow the principles of the Race Equality Policy. Staff will address children’s needs with sensitivity and will seek advice as and when appropriate.
  • Staff will access children’s communication via speech, sign or symbols as approppiate.
  • Staff will endeavour to enhance a child’s independence at the approppiate level at all times
  • Staff should be aware of their limitations in handling problem situations and seek assistance and/or advice from colleagues.
  • Adults who feel they are being bullied, or get into situations in which they feel uncomfortable should talk to their line manager or a senior member of staff.
  • Bullying behaviour is not acceptable between adults and will not be tolerated at our setting. Staff who engage in bullying behaviour may face disciplinary procedures as a result of their actions.

Intimate Care Policy

Intimate care is the care given to children in order to meet their personal hygiene needs, which is carried out with sensitivity and discretion, preserving the children’s dignity at all times. Parents and children are consulted regarding the normal routines that are followed. Children will require different levels of care according to their needs.

AIMS
  • To ensure the privacy and dignity of individuals is maintained at all times.
  • To provide physical care to all children that complies with their wishes.
  • To ensure all adults providing intimate care are aware of children’s individual needs and routines.
  • To ensure all adults providing intimate care are protected by the knowledge that the parents and or children views have been sought.
  • To ensure that in and emergency, any available member of staff will carry out appropriate actions.
  • To provide the appropriate guidance/ information/ training for staff regarding the manual handling training of intimate care when needed.

 

GUIDELINES
  • A child’s privacy and dignity must be maintained at all times.
  • Intimate care should be undertaken with tact, sensitivity and in an unhurried manner, appropriate to individual needs.
  • An appropriately trained or knowledgeable carer should deliver the intimate care/ meet the children’s toileting needs.
  • Wherever possible children should be encouraged to perform their own intimate care, and given the necessary support and encouragement to enable them to do this.
  • Any special requirements or concerns relating to intimate care should be identified, documented and closely followed by staff.
  • Inform consent for a carer to deliver intimate care to deliver intimate care should be obtained from the children and /or the parent/carer.
  • The care to be delivered should be explained to the children in a manner appropriate to their age and level of understanding.
  • The carer should respond as soon as possible to meet the children’s needs with regards to personal hygiene
  • Due regard must be paid to the HIV/AIDS Policy.
  • The highest standards of hygiene should be maintained throughout the delivery of intimate care, and appropriate materials should be available and stored correctly in the bathroom areas.
  • The carer should document any adverse or unusual reactions exhibited by the child/adolescent during any intimate care procedures. These concerns should be reported as appropriate; the delivery of further intimate care should be reassessed if necessary.
  • Should the carer have cause for concern regarding the child protection issues, the Child Protection Policy procedure must be followed.
  • All intimate care must be carried out with due regard to the Manual Handling requirements and in such a way that the carers remain safe.
  • The main form if intimate care that we do is welfaring for young people.
  • The procedure we follow for doing welfare is there are two members of staff in the bathroom and never one member of staff.

Once welfare has been done we are then to record this in our welfare book  which is then signed by the two members of staff and when the parent comes in they then also have to sign.

  • We use the aids the children use at home to help them go to the bathroom this is keeping up with their independence and structure of their normal routine.
Menstruation
  • Children should be encouraged to change pads frequently and to dispose of them properly in the clinical waste bins.
  • Staff should use gloves and aprons to protect themselves and any materials used should be disposed of in the clinical waste bins.
  • Staff should recognise the signs of pain or discomfort. They should reasure the child and inform the manager who can with consent from parents/ Carers administer pain relief if necessary.
  • If children ask questions about why they are menstruating, staff should answer honestly, taking into account the level of understanding and subsequently inform teachers of their needs to discuss the subject.