Relationships and Physical Contact with Children

Contents

1. General
2. Physical Contact
3. One to one Time Alone With Children
4. Intimate Care
5. Menstruation
6. Enuresis and Encopresis

1. General

The home should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive and provides appropriate boundaries. This environment should support a child’s physical, mental and emotional health, in line with the approach set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose.

Homes must also meet children’s basic day to day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where their needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual.

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.

Professional Behaviour and Conduct

• The relationship that each member of staff has with the individuals they are working with is a professional and not a personal one. Staff must always be aware of the power and influence of their position, and the vulnerability of the young people they are in contact with;
• Whilst warm and friendly relations are important, overly familiar relationships can be misconstrued and lead to difficulties. If any staff member has concerns about these matters they must be raised with their supervisor or with one of the managers so that the appropriate support and guidance can be received;
• All staff need to be aware that inappropriate relationships or behaviour with young people/vulnerable adults are unacceptable, may be unlawful, and will lead to disciplinary proceedings;
• Staff are expected to demonstrate the highest possible standards of personal and professional conduct and behaviour and consistently act with honesty and integrity. Staff are expected to treat each other, young people, parents and the wider community with dignity and respect at all times;
• Staff should show fairness in their treatment of young people and avoid behaviours that could embarrass or humiliating young people. This includes making jokes at their expense, discriminating against or favouring young people and sarcasm.

2. Physical Contact

Staff must provide a level of care, including physical contact, which is designed to demonstrate warmth, respect, and positive regard for children. It is a misconception that touching an adult or young person is unlawful. Touch may be necessary, for example, if a young person is in immediate danger, is in need of medical attention and during some practical tasks. Touch may be appropriate at times when reassuring or comforting others, however it must always be acceptable to the other person and never carried out in a way, or on part of the body, where it could be construed as indecent, sexual or over familiar. Staff need to take account of the young person’s or adult’s own signals and factors such as cultural difference, age, gender, and maturity, so that the touch is not unwelcome or misunderstood.

Physical contact should be given in a manner that is safe and protective and promotes positive relationships with adults and the following points may be helpful:

• Staff should be respectful of any individual or cultural sensitivities to touch
• If at any time a child demonstrates verbally or otherwise that he, or she, is not comfortable with physical contact, staff should seek to respect this and respond accordingly
• Physical contact should never be secretive, or conducted in any way that may be considered indecent, or represent a misuse of authority
• A high proportion of children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties may have experienced sexual and/or physical abuse. Staff need to ensure that any physical contact is not open to misinterpretation
• Age and maturity should be considered in deciding appropriate physical contact
• Children and young people should be given advice and guidance with regard to socially appropriate/inappropriate situations to seek physical comfort
• Where a member of staff feels that it would be inappropriate to respond to a child or young person who is seeking physical comfort, the reasons should be explained to the child. This avoids unintended feelings of rejection. The child should then be supported in the appropriate way.
• A duty of care to children and young people may require the use of restrictive physical intervention as a last resort to prevent harm to themselves or others. This needs to be used in such a way that is not punitive, is the least restrictive option, is safe, and does not cause pain
• Staff should always be prepared to explain actions and accept that all physical contact be open to scrutiny.
• Staff must not engage in rough play, tickling or fun fights with young people.

3. One to One Time Alone With Children

Also see Lone Working Procedure.

Where a staff member's 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 Referring Safeguarding Concerns Procedure.

4. Personal Care

Children must be supported and encouraged to undertake bathing, showers and other intimate personal care of themselves wherever possible without relying on staff.

If a child need helps with intimate personal care, arrangements must emphasise the child’s dignity and be completed in a respectful way. Where necessary staff will be provided with specialist training and support. How to support children with personal care will be outlined in their placement plan or specific guidelines.

5. Menstruation

Young women should be supported and encouraged to keep their own supply of sanitary protection without having to request it from staff. Staff should be prepared and able to have supportive conversations with children about how to care for their needs during menstruation.

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

6. Enuresis and Encopresis

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.