The Independent Grammar School: Durham 

INTIMATE CARE POLICY 

This policy is designed to protect staff and those children who require intimate care.

 The key points of the policy are as follows:

 ·       Clear processes and guidance in intimate care will be highlighted to all staff, particularly during induction training. Intimate care arrangements will where possible be discussed and agreed by parents

·       New staff will be given every opportunity by their manager to discuss this policy and raise any concerns they might have

·       No student, visitor or work experience student will ever be responsible for the intimate care of any child

·       The disabled toilet will be the “hygiene room” for the purposes of this policy (or, if necessary, the nearest toilet). 

·       This policy will only be changed to meet the needs of individual pupils or of the staff as a whole and will not be adapted for any individual staff member

·       Each time a pupil receives intimate care, this must be documented and recorded and signed by the member of staff responsible.

·       Although there is no need to have more than one person carrying out intimate care, it is good practice to tell another member of staff that intimate care is taking place and the door to the hygiene room must be left unlocked.*

·       Staff must report, in confidence, to a senior member of staff if they have concerns about the way intimate care is being administered by another member of staff

·       This policy deals mainly with primary-age children.  IGS: Durham still has relatively few senior-age children – but, should the need arise and a senior pupil needs help he or she will be strongly advised to deal with themselves.  A member of staff of the same sex will be at hand if required (keeping a sensible distance).  Where intimate care is genuinely required, the above processes should be observed.  In the case of older children, staff of the same gender as the child should be deployed to help.

 * “All staff who work in school will have had the relevant pre-employment screening to prevent unsuitable people from working with children. Therefore, there are no regulations requiring more than one person employed by a school to be present to support a child with changing. Furthermore, having more than one person is unlikely to promote continuity, dignity or privacy for the child”. Bowel & Bladder UK

The Independent Grammar School: Durham

 Reviewed: May 2021, October 2022, March 2023, April 2023

Next review: March 2026