Intimate Care Policy

 

Principles:

At Chingford House Nursery we very much believe in the importance of physical closeness, affection and providing cuddles which is especially important in meeting children’s emotional wellbeing.

 

We expect the staff to be especially respectful and mindful when supporting the children’s intimate care needs.

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Staff understand the importance of having a positive and effective relationship in order for the children to feel comfortable when they need their nappies changed or when they need support using the toilet. Our Key Person system enables children to feel safe and secure with their Key Person and other familiar adults. Children can become distressed or distrustful if this is not the case and we want nappy changing and toileting to be an enjoyable experience for all concerned.

 

Nappy changing is seen as quality 1-1 time throughout the day; this is where the child and Key Person have time to bond, interact and engage through songs, telling stories or having a chat. We want parents to have every confidence in the staff that are assigned to be their child’s Key Person, and all staff who carry out intimate care routines have an enhanced DBS and have undergone other checks to ensure their suitability.

 

Safeguarding and child protection is crucial in ensuring that children are kept safe from harm. Staff new to Chingford House Nursery discuss this as part of their induction process, so that they understand their responsibility in keeping children safe. To ensure that we are promoting the children’s welfare, staff must (where possible) change children’s nappies or toilet the children in the presence of another member of staff; this ensures safety of the child as well as eliminating the risk of an allegation made against a member of staff.

 

Supporting nappy changing:

We expect children to arrive at nursery in a clean nappy, although we appreciate that they may soil it on the way; parents therefore must inform a member of staff on arrival so that children can be changed immediately.

 

Children need to bring sufficient nappies for the day (at least 3) and barrier cream if appropriate; staff will not use another child’s cream, which limits the risk of cross-contamination. There are set times throughout the day when children’s nappies are changed, but we recognise that children will soil their nappies outside these times; therefore regular checks take place throughout the day to ensure that children are not left in a soiled nappy.

 

Staff record the times that children are changed as well as whether they are ‘dry’, ‘wet’, ‘soiled’ or whether the child is ‘sore’. If staff have any child protection concerns when changing a child, this must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Yolande Farrell)

 

Staff must wear gloves and aprons when changing children’s nappies; after changing each child staff must wipe down the changing mat with antibacterial spray, remove their gloves and apron and put them in a nappy sack. Staff must put on new gloves and an apron before changing the next child (this reduces the risk of cross-contamination). 

 

Staff must keep a log of the nappies brought in by the parents and ensure that they give them enough notice to provide more nappies (and barrier cream) before they run out.

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Where appropriate, children should be allowed to use a small step to help them climb onto the changing table (this promotes independence and a ‘can do’ attitude for the children as well as minimising the risk of a back injury for staff). Children must not be left unattended on the changing table. If staff are in a room where there is no outside bin, they must put the soiled nappy in a nappy sack as usual and put the nappy in an outside bin, as soon as practicably possible.

 

Supporting potty training/toileting:

A Key Person and parent will discuss and agree when potty training/toileting should take place; this will enable us to work in partnership and ensure consistency for the children.

 

We generally wait until children know or can tell us that they have done a ‘wee’ or a ‘poo’ as an indicator that children may be ready to come out of nappies.

 

Some children feel more comfortable using their potty from home, so we are happy for parents to bring it in. 

• Some children will start their training using the toilet straight away, instead of a potty.

• Children will be afforded some privacy whilst using a potty (which might be in the bathroom or a secluded area in the room)

• After using the potty, the waste must be disposed of in the toilet and washed out using antibacterial spray.

• Staff must ask the children and take them to the toilet/potty regularly; children must be encouraged to flush the toilet themselves after use.

• Children should be encouraged to pull down their clothes and sit on the potty/toilet and pull their clothes up after use. Children must be prompted to wash and dry their hands after using the potty/toilet.

• As the children get older and become more confident, we encourage them to ask for the potty/toilet independently.

• As the children approach 3.5yrs old, we encourage them to try to wipe themselves after a bowel movement; staff will also wipe the child to ensure that they are fully clean. By the time children go to school, we hope that they will be able to wipe themselves independently as part of ‘school readiness’.

 

Staff should ask parents to provide at least three sets of bottoms (preferably jogging bottoms that can be removed quickly) and lots of underwear as we anticipate lots of accidents when children first begin training!

 

Wet or soiled clothes will be put in a nappy sack and left on the child’s peg; we do not have the facilities to wash soiled clothing so staff must remember to give it to the parent at the end of the day.

 

As in all matters relating to children, each child is unique and therefore the experience of nappy changing and toileting is unique to them. Staff will ensure that children are supported according to their needs during this important milestone in their development.

 

If parents have any concerns in relation to intimate care needs, or how their children are being supported through nappy changing or toileting, they can raise it with the Key Person or the Manager.

 

Policy created by: Yolande Farrell Manager

Signed off by: Zarkar Akhtar Owner

Date: June 2023