Intimate care is defined as ‘any care which involves washing, touching or carrying out an invasive procedure that most children and young people carry out for themselves’. Some children may need support in the short term, for others this will be an ongoing issue.
Some children will have additional toileting needs requiring intimate care during the day. This is a sensitive issue and needs to be managed with care to ensure dignity, privacy and avoid embarrassment.
Continence issues should not be an obstacle to a child accessing their education. Parents & carers cannot be expected to provide intimate care during the hours they are at the setting.
There is an expectation that all settings make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to meet their pupil’s needs, allowing them to reach their full potential.
In Professional Settings
If this is the first time your setting has been expected to provide intimate care for a pupil it may feel daunting. There is advice and support available to settings to ensure they are able to meet the care needs of children.
Norfolk County Council has a sample policy and guidance which explains the response expected from settings. There are also useful documents to use below;
Professionals should communicate with the child in whatever ways are available to them. Children and young people should be encouraged to be as independent as they are able.
Meeting the needs of these children is best achieved by;
Resources
Bladder and Bowel UK
ERIC
E-Learning
'All Our Health' offer free, bite-sized e-learning sessions - to improve the knowledge, confidence and skills of health and care professionals in preventing illness, protecting health and promoting wellbeing. The sessions cover some of the biggest issues in public health including;
They contain signposting to trusted sources of helpful evidence, guidance and support to help professionals embed prevention in their everyday practice.
