All play workers must read as part of induction and familiarise themselves with these guidelines on a regular basis.
It is important that to promote good practice and avoid misunderstandings, the following guidelines for contact with children should be understood and followed: -
Avoid or minimise time when staff and volunteers are left alone with a child. If staff are alone with a child, the door of the room should be kept open and another member of staff should be informed.
If a child makes inappropriate physical contact with a member of staff or volunteer this should be reported to the play leader and recorded.
Staff should never carry out a personal task for children that they can do for themselves. Where this is essential, staff will help a child whilst being accompanied by a colleague, or have a colleague close at hand stood outside the door. Unless a child has a particular need, staff should not accompany children to the toilet. Staff should be aware that this and similar activities could be misconstrued.
Staff will be mindful of how and why they touch children, given their age and emotional understanding. Unnecessary touching or potentially inappropriate physical contact will be avoided at all times.
These guidelines are accompanied by the handout 'TAKING CARE OF TOUCHING'