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Polices & Procedures

​"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". Nelson Mandela

CHILD PROTECTION

As a registered childminder who is PVG Scotland checked, my priority is the children in my care. I aim to provide an environment where children are safe from abuse and to report any suspicions I may have about a child. I follow the ‘Getting It Right for Every Child’ (GIRFEC) document regarding the promotion and protection of each individual child’s well-being.

Every child will be encouraged to develop a sense of autonomy and independence through making their own choices and finding names for their own feelings and acceptable ways to express themselves. This will enable the child to have the self-confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches.

In the case of an extreme emergency, I will leave your child with a responsible adult, myself or this nominated adult will phone you to come and collect your child immediately. In most cases this will be the registered assistant who you would already know.
If your child has had an accident out of their childminder hours, resulting in bad bruising/cuts, I would ask that you inform myself when you drop your child off, so I am aware of this and can record it. This is so I know how and where the injury happened and will protect us all.

Whenever worrying changes are noticed in a child's behaviour, physical condition or appearance, a confidential record will be set up separate from the typical child records. This record will include timed/dated observations, describing the child's behaviour/appearance, exact words spoken by the child, the name & signature of the person recording this information (myself). This information will be kept confidential and only shared with professionals such as Social Services, etc for investigation of any suspicions.

Contact numbers:

Social care direct

0131 200 2324 (landline) or 0800 731 6969 (mobile)

Cf.socialcaredirect@edinburgh.gov.uk

Scottish Social Services Council

0345 603 0891

In an emergency; Police Scotland 999

ACCIDENTS & INCIDENTS

The safety of your child is paramount, and I will take every measure I can to protect your child from hurting themselves. However sometimes accidents do happen, and I sometimes need to allow them to assess their own risks. I have written the following procedure on how I will deal with such a situation:

  •         I will comfort the child and reassure them

  •         I will assess the extent of their injuries and if necessary, call for medical support/ambulance

  •         I will carry out any first aid procedures that are necessary and that I have been trained to do

  •         Once the child is more settled, I will contact you as soon as possible to inform you of the accident and if necessary, to ask you to return to care for your child/ meet me at the hospital

 After every accident requiring first aid, however minor I will:

  •         complete a report on an accident form and ask you to sign on collection

 If the incident requires any medical treatment, then I will:

  •         Inform the Care Inspectorate (and of any severe accidents)

  •         Inform my Insurance Company

  •         Contact SCMA or Care Inspectorate for additional advice/support

 It is important that you keep me informed regarding your child’s condition following an accident and if you have sought medical advice.

I ALSO ASK THAT IF YOUR CHILD HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT AT HOME THAT YOU DO LET ME KNOW IN THE MORNING AT DROP OFF OF MESSAGE ME BEFORE ARRIVAL.

This is to ensure I don’t come across any bumps or bruises and wonder if it happened in my setting. Also, in the case that I would need to keep an eye on a child’s bump to the head or open wounds etc.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Any information regarding your child or your family, given to me either verbally or in writing, will be treated as confidential in line with the Data protection Act 1998 and current GDPR guidelines.

Parents will have access to their own child’s records but not to others. All documentation relating to your child is stored in a file, which is not accessible to any other party.

​

I will not discuss your child with others unless I have permission from you. I will however divulge confidential information to Social Services and to the Care Inspectorate if I have any concerns that your child is being abused. Please see my Child Protection Policy.

You will also find out confidential information about my family and myself during the course of our working relationship and I would be grateful if you too would respect my family’s confidentiality and not repeat what you may have been told to other parties. No one likes to be gossiped about.

MEDICATION

**  I encourage you not to give your child Calpol/ Paracetamol before they arrive as this can mask any temperature that may arise. (if a childs needs calpol other than for pain, they are too unwell to attend) **

I am following government guidelines and I ask that you respect this. I also want to protect my family and others attending the setting.

If your child needs to take medication prescribed by a doctor, please discuss this with me. I will need you to sign an additional permission form and take details of the medication and why your child needs it. In some cases, a child on antibiotics may be asked not to attend for 1-2 days in case they react to the medication and to prevent the spread of an infection to others.

All medicine given to me to administer must be in its original bottle/container and not decanted. It must have the manufacturers guidelines on it and if a prescription medication the details from the Doctor/pharmacy. The first dose must be given by the parent/carer.

I am happy to give your child non-prescribed medication, such as Calpol or Nurofen for teething etc, provided by you but only if you have signed a parental permission form for me to do so. This will only be used if I find it necessary for teething or joint pain.

IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS CALPOL TO GET THEM THROUGH THE DAY THEY ARE TOO UNWELL TO ATTEND.

Even though you may have signed a form, I will still contact you by telephone to check that I can administer this medication. This is to protect your child, you and myself.

It is vital that you inform me of any medication you may have given your child before they arrive in my care. I need to know what medicine they have had, the dose and time given. I will ensure that all medication given to me will be stored correctly.

If your child has a self-held medication, please obtain an additional one for myself to be kept in the setting. Older children can easily forget to bring an inhaler. If your child has acute allergies and carries/needs an epi-pen, please discuss the matter with me. I may need additional refresher training to administer these forms of medication.

Please DO NOT put any medicines into your child’s bag and not tell me it is in there, other children can access the bags and may ingest medicines that should be kept out of reach and stored correctly/recorded.

If you have any concerns regarding medication, please do not hesitate to discuss them with me.

PROMOTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR

Promoting positive behaviour is very important and I do this by:

  • Giving lots of praise for good behaviour

  • Giving the children individual attention so they feel valued

  • Setting a good example, being a good role model

  • Listening to what the children have to say

  • Rewarding good behaviour (choosing next activity etc).

It is important to help the children understand the house rules, which are realistic and achievable by all of the children. I am consistent in the enforcing the rules and do not give out confusing signals.

I am aware of the different reasons why children misbehave and will endeavour to keep to routines so that your child feels safe and is not tired or hungry.

I have developed strategies that I use to calm situations, which depend on the child’s age and ability. These include:

  • Distraction – Remove the child from the situation and give them an alternative activity.

  • Discussion – If the child is able to understand I will discuss their behaviour and try and get them to appreciate the consequences of their actions on others. I will make sure that they understand that it is their behaviour I am unhappy with, not them.

  • Calm & Reflect – Removing the child from the activity and sitting them in a safe and quiet space for a few minutes to reflect on their behaviour and be allowed to calm down before discussing positive behaviour.

If occasionally a child misbehaves, I will let you know verbally on collection. Some children can become upset if the incident is retold in front of them, so when possible I will take you to one side to let you know what has happened.

I will also inform you of how the matter was dealt with, which in most cases the matter will not require any further action.

If you have any concerns regarding the management of your child’s behaviour, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is important that we work together on managing behaviour in order not to confuse your child.

SICKNESS/ILLNESS

If your child tests positive their will be a 3 days isolation period. Your child may only return when their high temperature and barking cough has gone.

I appreciate that as a working parent you need to be able to go to work, however if your child is unwell then they will be better cared for in their own home with a parent/carer. I am happy to care for children with minor coughs and colds but will not for children who are unwell, infectious, or running a high temperature (38 or above and I will call and ask you to collect your child). I need to consider the welfare of all the children in my care.

Please be aware that I exclude children who test positive for covid, has chicken pox/hand, foot and mouth until blisters are dried up. Any child with head lice will be sent home until treatment is given. Any child with conjunctivitis will be excluded until treatment has started.

If your child has had sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours please do not bring them into the setting, but please do call and let me know.

If your child becomes ill whilst in my care, I will make them as comfortable as possible, isolate them from the other children if necessary and reassure them. I will contact you immediately and continue to care for your child until you arrive.

I am happy to administer medication - please see my Medication policy.

I will contact you if my own child is not well and inform you of the illness/symptoms and if I am able to work. This then allows you to make an informed decision as to whether to bring your child or not.

If you have any concerns regarding this policy, please contact me.

I have a range of other polices and procedures which you will have access too on a visit or when starting.

 

Risk assessment, Infection control, Sick child, Complaints, Visitors to my home, Inclusion, Food and nutrition, Sun protection, Personal possessions, Settling in, Drop off and collection.

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