Nursery adults protection policy

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and self-isolation, some people will be at greater risk of harm. The University of Dundee Day Nursery Ltd have a legal and moral duty to make sure that all staff who work with us are safe and protected. Adult protection is everyone’s responsibility.

Adult support and protection

People in Scotland, no matter what their age, gender or ethnicity have the right to be safe and protected from the risk of harm.

The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 aims to protect adults who are unable to safeguard their own wellbeing, property, rights or other interests and who are at risk of harm because they are affected by disability, mental disorder, illness, physical or mental infirmity. Harm means all harm including self-harm and neglect.

The potential signs

It's more important than ever that we are alert and looking for potential signs and indicators of harm because of the pandemic.

The main categories of harm are:

• financial like theft, fraud, scams, exploitation and misuse of benefits or property
• physical like hitting, force-feeding, burning or the misuse of medication or inappropriate use of restraints
• neglect or acts of omission like ignoring or withholding medical or physical care
• psychological or emotional like humiliation, verbal abuse, coercion such as persuading or manipulating someone to do something by use of force or threats, keeping people away from friends and family
• sexual like rape, sexual assault, and grooming
• discriminatory abuse like bullying or making offensive remarks against a person’s race, disability etc
• self-harm like injuring or poisoning self
• self-neglect like hoarding, or neglecting personal or medical care
• organisational/institutional like removing a person’s individuality by adhering to strict regimes such as lack of choice over clothes or food.

It's not possible to include all types of harm and it's important to remember that harm can be anything that has a detrimental effect on the wellbeing of a person. Many forms of harm are also criminal offences.

In the course of your work, if you think a person may be at risk of any type of harm, you must report this to Senior Nursery Manager Jacky Jones or Junior Nursery Manager Malgorzata Mazanka

What do to if you identify a concern

It's important to report any concerns you have including the following.

• General concerns about someone’s wellbeing.
• You see or hear about something which could be harmful.
• You feel someone has done something to an individual which makes you uncomfortable.
• Someone tells you that something harmful has happened or is happening to them.

The University of Dundee Day Nursery Ltd. have procedures to support adults. All staff have access to Occupational Therapy from the University of Dundee and an “Open Door Policy” – which means that all staff are welcome to talk to the Management Team if they feel they need it. You have a responsibility to make sure you are familiar with them and know who you should contact about such concerns. This will be Senior Nursery Manager Jacky Jones or Junior Nursery Manager or the nurseries Senior People Partner.

You should report any concerns without delay.

Your role when you have a concern

If someone is in imminent danger you may need to call 999.

Although you may be facing a stressful situation, it's important you act calmly. This will help to reassure the person and can give you more confidence to deal with the situation appropriately.

Reporting a concern

Adult support and protection legislation allow for ‘potential’ harm as well as ‘actual’ harm, so you do not have to provide evidence for your concerns to be taken seriously. If you believe an adult is at risk of harm your professional judgment based on your knowledge and understanding of the person’s situation is enough to report your concern.

If it turns out the person is not experiencing any harm, it's better for you to have had this checked than not report your concerns.

If you feel that the person continues to be at risk of harm, you have a responsibility to report this to the appropriate person (your Senior Nursery Manager or Junior Nursery Manager

At The University of Dundee Nursery Ltd we believe that all children need to feel safe, secure and happy. This involves nursery staff being responsive to children’s needs, whilst remaining professional. This includes giving children cuddles and changing children’s nappies or clothes.

To promote good practice and to minimise the risk of allegations we have the following guidelines:

• Although we recognise it is appropriate to cuddle children, we give cuddles only when sought by children needing comfort to support their emotional development. Staff are advised to do this in view of other children and early learning and childcare practitioners whenever possible. We recognise that there may be occasions where it is appropriate for this to happen away from others, such as when a child is ill. In these circumstances, staff are advised to leave the door open. It is the duty of all staff and the manager to ensure that comforting children is appropriate and to monitor practice
• When changing children’s nappies or soiled/wet clothing, the doors remain open, where appropriate. We discourage inappropriate behaviour such as over tickling, over boisterousness or inappropriate questions such as asking children to tell them they love them, and we advise staff to report such observed practice
• Staff are respectful of each other and the children and families in the nursery and do not use inappropriate language or behaviour, including during breaks
• All staff are aware of the whistle-blowing procedures and the manager carries out random checks throughout the day to ensure safe practices.

If a parent or member of staff has concerns or questions about safe care and practice, procedures, or behaviour they consider as inappropriate, including between staff members, they are urged to see the manager at the earliest opportunity. Management will challenge inappropriate behaviour in line with the supervision/ disciplinary or whistle-blowing procedures. If the concern relates to the manager then members of staff or parents should contact Graham Nicholson - Nursery Director 07720166675. If not happy with response, then contact the Care Inspectorate 03456009527 or the Local Authority Child Protection Team 01382307999.