Intimate Care & Toileting Policy

Introductory Statement

This policy was updated by school staff in October 2021

Background & Link to School Ethos

All pupils and staff members have the right to be safe and feel safe and to be treated with dignity and respect. Intimate Care is any caring procedure which involves the dressing and undressing, washing (including intimate parts), helping to use the toilet or carrying out a procedure that requires direct or indirect contact with an intimate area of a pupil, or any procedure carried out while the pupil is in a state of whole or partial undress.

This policy and related procedures have been developed bearing in mind that all physical contact between staff and pupils

• Should be aimed at meeting the needs of the pupil

• Should respect the dignity of the pupil

• Should be consistent with professional integrity of staff members

Rationale:

This policy sets out clear principles and guidelines on supporting intimate care with specific reference to toileting while meeting the needs of pupils who have toileting ‘accidents’, pupils who have special care needs requiring assistance during toileting. The policy is in response to ensuring good practices and procedures exist as required by ‘Children First’ Child Protection Guidelines.

Procedure

Toileting “accidents”

• Parents are informed of the following procedures in the Junior Infants induction meeting prior to their child starting school.

• Wetting Incidents:  The child is given wipes and new underwear so they can clean and change themselves. They are encouraged to do this as independently as possible.  Parents are notified via phone call or in person.  Wet/soiled clothes will be put in a plastic bag and sent home to  parents with request to wash & return to the school.

• Soiling Incidents: If the child has soiled him/herself the parents will be contacted in order to make arrangements to have the child collected and taken home. While waiting, the child will wait in the bathroom or other private area where staff will do all that is necessary to make the child comfortable.

• If assistance is required with either of the above two members of staff will be present.

• Staff are required to wear protective gloves while dealing with the situation.

• A record of such incidents will be kept on the child’s file.

Children with Specific Toileting/Intimate Care Needs

Parents have a responsibility to advise the school of the intimate care needs of their child.

• If a pupil is enrolled who will have an ongoing need for assistance with toileting/intimate care the following procedures apply:

• A meeting will be convened, after enrolment and before the child starts school, to draw up an initial care plan.  This meeting will be convened with Principal & Parents/Guardians. Other external therapists or school personnel may be required to attend as deemed necessary depending on the level of care needs involved.

• Those involved with the intimate care of the child will discuss specific care needs of the child and the school’s ability to cater for these needs, clarify and agree practices which are acceptable to the staff, the child and the parents.  These will be recorded as part of the pupil’s overall care plan.  Provision for occasions when staff are absent will be outlined ( e.g. substitute SNA’s will not generally be involved in intimate care.

• Prior to the child commencing school personnel involved in this care will be identified and provision for occasions when staff members may be absent will be outlined, (SNA, substitute SNA)

• Two members of staff will be present when dealing with intimate care needs.  Staff will wear PPE.

• Any minor change of personnel or procedures will be discussed with the pupil, if appropriate. 

• As far as possible the pupil will be involved in identification of his/her personal requirements, wishes, changes etc.

• There will be a record of all toileting/intimate care interactions kept in SNA daily log.

• These procedures will be reviewed annually with parents & any external therapists with an amended care plan agreed.  Should a review be required in between this will be done in a similar manner.

Roles and Responsibilities

Relevant staff, under the leadership of the Principal (or designated staff member) participates in and contributes to the implementation of an effective and equitable ‘Intimate Care and Toileting Policy’.

Success Criteria

The school evaluates the success of the policy through:

·       Participation of relevant staff in the policy

·       Safe and effective care of all pupils in our school

·       Feedback from  relevant staff

·       Feedback from relevant parents/guardians.

Ratification & Communication

This policy was ratified by the Board of Management at a meeting on 25 November 2021