Touch Policy

Statement of Intent

Kids Inspire recognises that often the children and young people the organisation works with present with a number of issues around touch and physical contact. Kids Inspire has a touch policy which recommends a sensitive and appropriate response to young children’s need for physical contact.

For the purposes of this policy ‘Kids Inspire staff’ also includes our volunteers who are subject to the same pre-employment checks, DBS and safeguarding training as all other staff.

Policy

Physical contact for the purpose of maintaining safety – Non-procedural contact:

Kids Inspire recognises that occasionally, for reasons of safety, non-procedural contact may occur, for example if a child or young person steps off the pavement into the path of on-coming traffic and a staff member puts an arm out or grabs the child or young person to prevent them from being harmed.

Whenever possible and practicable Kids Inspire staff will shout a warning to the child or young person and then offer an explanation following any non-procedural contact as to why this has taken place.

Kids Inspire does not condone non-procedural contact for any reason other than ensuring the immediate safety of the child or young person.

All incidents will be recorded on an Incident Form and a copy given to the Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Physical contact as a communication of comfort or reassurance

Children or young people will often seek or need physical contact in order to be reassured or to help them calm down. Kids Inspire staff will, where possible, wait until the child initiates contact and respond only if the child or young person feels it to be appropriate.

Kids Inspire staff will explain as a ground rule, that neither the child or young person nor the staff member will touch each other in any part of the body which would normally be covered by a swimming costume i.e. breasts, genital areas and bottom.

Kids Inspire staff will always endeavour to be sensitive to children and young people who might find any form of touching frightening.

Kids Inspire staff will not try and hug children unless they initiate it. Kids Inspire staff will discuss all these issues with their supervisors as they emerge in sessions. The key task is to understand what the need for physical contact means for the particular child or young person and therefore respond appropriately. The aim is not to be cruel or rejecting but to be disciplined and ensure that any physical contact is not about fulfilling your need but meeting the young person’s need in the context of a therapeutic encounter.

Kids Inspire staff will always take into account the Child Safeguarding Policy.