Supervision and Toileting Policies

Supervision Policy

Children who attend our services will predominately attend sessions one on one with a therapist in a therapeutic playroom, unless the child requires support from their parent/caregiver during the formation of safety and comfort within the playroom or upon the instance family therapy. When parents/caregivers are not required in session, they are required to remain onsite for the duration of the child’s session. This is to maintain safety for the child and our practitioners, and to ensure:

• Children can be immediately received by their parent/caregiver at the end of the session, when they might be feeling heightened or vulnerable due to working through difficult content such as traumatic experiences.

• If children need a break during the session to be reassured by their caregiver or reaffirm attachment, parents/caregivers are readily available to support them.

• Children who need assistance with nappy changing, toileting or have a toileting-related accident can be supported by their parents (see below toileting policy).

• In the event of a session needing to be finished early due to a child struggling with safety or limitations within the therapy, a parent/caregiver can readily receive and support their transition from the site.

If a parent/guardian’s ability to stay on site is compromised, this must only be in the instance of exceptional circumstances and must be discussed and agreed upon before the commencement of a session, with the following conditions:

• The parent/caregiver must keep their phone on at all times, set to ‘loud’

• They must not travel further than a 5-minute radius, so they can return quickly should their child need them or the session end early.

• Parents/caregivers must return 5 minutes before the session is due to cease. 

Duty of Care

During their attendance on site, children are to be supervised by a parent/caregiver until a therapist collects them to commence their session. The therapist will supervise the child at all times during their session, unless the child is using the toilet or requires parental/caregiver assistance to use the toilet. When this occurs, supervision responsibility will be resumed by the parent/caregiver until the child is ready to recommence the session. Once a session has finished, supervision responsibilities are returned to the parent/guardian.

Absconding

Historical incidences of children absconding are to be disclosed during intake. Where instances of absconding are disclosed, the following protocol will be instated to keep children safe:

·      Front and side gates to be locked with padlocks

·      Front door to be closed

·      Rear glass door to be locked

For more information on absconding, please see our Safe Touch Policy.

Toileting Assistance Policy

We understand that our clients may be at varying levels of independence when it comes to toileting. Our policy is to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for all. In the instance of toileting, therapists will:

• Discuss any toileting issues with parents/caregivers during intake

• Encourage parents/carers to remind their child to use the toilet before the beginning of sessions

As part of the therapeutic process, parents/caregivers are asked to remain close-by whilst their child is in therapy. Where required, parents/caregivers will be responsible for supporting their child’s use of the bathroom. It is parents/caregivers’ responsibility to assist a child physically if required e.g. wiping themselves, re-dressing themselves.

• In the unusual instance of parents/caregivers being unavailable, the therapist will remain outside of the bathroom with the door closed and provide verbal prompts to the child until they are fully dressed again. In the instance of a child needing physical support to re-dress themselves, the therapist will ask another staff member to be present to ensure both parties remain safe and protected.

• It is the responsibility of the parents/caregivers to supply nappies, wipes and other aids where required.

• Staff will ask parents/caregivers to change soiled nappies immediately to uphold the safety and wellbeing of the child.