V.I.M Camps  

Intimate Care  

When providing intimate care, we will ensure that the child’s safety, dignity and privacy are maintained at all times.  

‘Intimate care’ covers any task that involves the washing, touching or carrying out a procedure to intimate personal areas and is associated with bodily functions and personal hygiene, including, toileting, washing, dressing, and menstrual care.  

For children who have an identified key worker, it is usual for the key worker to support intimate care of the child that they have a key working relationship with.  

Staff at V.I.M who provide intimate care will do so in a professional manner. Staff are aware of safeguarding issues and will have relevant training (eg: health and safety, child protection, manual handling) before providing intimate care. No child should suffer distress or pain as a result of receiving intimate care.  

Staff will work in partnership with parents or carers and the child, where appropriate, to provide care appropriate to the needs of the individual child and together will produce a care plan. The care plan will set out:  

  • What care is required  
  • Which staff will carry out intimate care tasks  
  • Number of staff needed to carry out the task (if more than one person is required, reasons will be documented)  
  • Additional equipment required  
  • Child’s preferred means of communication (eg verbal, visual)  
  • Child’s level of ability – what tasks they are able to carry out by themselves  

Toileting  

V.I.M Camps ensures: 

  • There is an adequate number of toilets and hand basins available, usually providing separate toilet facilities for adults and children. 
  • There are suitable hygienic changing facilities for changing any children who are in nappies or are not yet continent.  
  • Children’s privacy is considered and balanced with safeguarding and support needs when changing nappies and toileting. 
  • That in making decisions about supporting children’s toileting, dignity and respect for the child is balanced against the need for appropriate supervision and safety for the whole setting. 
  • That nappy changing and toileting areas are safe, hygienic, and appropriately supervised  

Best practice  

When intimate care is given, the member of staff will explain to the child each task that is carried out, and the reasons for it. Staff will encourage children to do as much for themselves as they can.  

If a child requires intimate care on a regular basis, it may be necessary for two members of staff to share the care between them. In this way the child is less likely to become overly dependent on a single member of staff, and to become distressed if their usual  

carer is occasionally unavailable. However, parents’ views on the number of staff providing personal care to their child must also be taken into consideration – some children may simply be unable to cope with more than one carer or it may not be appropriate.  

We have policies in place that promote safe recruitment, as well as having sound staff supervision, safeguarding and intimate care procedures; together these ensure that, should a child need consistent care from one member of staff, the child’s safety and well- being will not be compromised.  

Protecting children  

Staff are familiar with guidance from the local Safeguarding Partnership (formerly the LSCB). The Club’s procedures reflect the guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and staff are familiar with the What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused (2015) flowchart from this guidance.  

If a member of staff is concerned about any physical changes to a child, such as marks, bruises, soreness etc, they will inform the manager or the Club’s designated child protection officer immediately. The procedures set out in the Safeguarding Children policy will be implemented.  

Should a child become unhappy about being cared for by a particular member of staff, the manager will investigate and record any findings. These will be discussed with the child’s parents or carers in order to resolve the issue. If necessary, the manager will seek advice from outside agencies.  

If a child makes an allegation against a member of staff, the procedure set out in the Safeguarding Children policy will be followed.  

Dealing with blood and body fluids  

Blood, vomit, urine and faeces will be cleaned up immediately and disposed of safely by double bagging the waste and removing it from the premises. When they are dealing with body fluids, staff will wear personal protective clothing (disposable plastic gloves and aprons) and will wash themselves thoroughly afterwards. Soiled children’s clothing will be bagged to go home – staff will not rinse it. Children will be kept away from the affected area until the incident has been dealt with fully. Staff at V.I.M will maintain high standards of personal hygiene, and will take all all practicable steps to prevent and control the spread of infection.  

This policy was adopted by: V.I.M Camps Ltd                                                              Date: 09/09/25 
To be reviewed: 09/09/26 

 Signed: Sarah Sims-Fielding 

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2025): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Concerns about children’s safety and welfare [3.9] and Toilets and intimate hygiene [3.86].