7.2.5 Health and Safety

CENTRE HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT

Statement of organisation and arrangements for ensuring health, safety and welfare at the Children's Centre, including the day care facilities (Neighbourhood Nursery).

Introduction
Roles and Responsibilities
Safety/Security and Supervision of Children
First Aid and Health
General Hygiene Matters

1. Introduction

This is a statement of organisation and arrangements for the above named establishment. The statement does not replace the Wakefield MDC general statement of safety or the WMDC LEA Health and Safety Policy Statement, but is in addition to them for the benefit of all users of the premises.

This statement deals with those aspects over which the Head of Centre and Governing Body (HOC & GB) have control, and covers health and safety associated with Centre premises, plant and fixed equipment, which belong to the Centre. It describes how responsibilities for health and safety are discharged in respect of employees, children, visitors and other users of the premises. The Policy now incorporates day care policies.

The aim of the statement is to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to secure the health, safety and welfare of all employees and users of the Centre. In particular: -
To establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment throughout the Centre.
To establish and maintain safe working procedures.
To make arrangements for ensuring safety and avoiding risks to health, in connection with the use, handling, storage and transporting of articles and substances.
To ensure the provision of sufficient information, training, instruction and supervision to enable everyone to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety at work.
To ensure that fire evacuation and other emergency planning is formulated and understood by all.
To identify procedures to be followed in the case of accidents and illness.

2. Roles and Responsibilities

The Local Management of Schools (LMS) requires the Centre staff, GB and Local Education Authority to work together to ensure that their health, safety and welfare objectives are achieved.

The GB is expected to maintain an overview of the health, safety and welfare aspects of the Centre and that the Centre's Health and Safety responsibilities and obligations towards all employees and users are adhered to. (Neighbourhood Nursery is centrally managed, but Health and safety issues are common to all services, which operate from the Centre and are therefore included in this policy)

The GB should be aware and have oversight of the following: -

Ensuring that the Department and Centre H&S Policies are implemented and monitored;
Ensuring that the Centre has considered its Health and safety obligations and has made provision for meeting these obligations;
Receiving the health and safety guidance and information distributed by the Education Department and ensuring that proper arrangements are made within the Centre for complying with the guidance;
Ensuring that regular reports of accidents and dangerous occurrences are provided by the Head of Centre and that necessary alterations to agreed working practices and procedures are implemented;
Ensuring that health and safety issues concerning the Centre are identified, decisions are taken and that effective action is carried through.
Ensuring that appropriate facilities and opportunities are provided for delegated safety representatives to perform their duties;
Ensuring that all reasonable inspection facilities and information are provided on request to officers of the Education Department, Ofsted, Safety Officers of the Authority's Central Health and safety unit, Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and any other bona fide Health and Safety officials;
Ensuring that conformity to safety standards for goods purchased and equipment installed form part of the schools purchasing policy;
Ensuring that suitable health and safety provision is made for pupils with special needs and the staff involved;
Ensuring that induction training includes temporary, part-time and supply staff.

Ensuring that planning in relation to the following takes place: -

Identifying hazards, undertaking risk assessments and setting standards.
Clear plans for coping with sudden emergencies.
Developing a positive health and safety culture.

Head of Centre's Responsibilities

The day to day responsibility for all Centre health, safety and welfare organisation and activity rests with the Head of Centre, who will:

Be the focal point for reference on health, safety and welfare matters and give advice or indicate source of advice;
Co-ordinate the implementation of the LEA and Management Committee's health and safety and welfare procedures in the Centre.
Make clear any duties in respect of health and safety, which are delegated to members of staff.
Ensure that problems in implementing health and safety policy are reported to the LEA;
Make or arrange for risk assessments of the premises and working practices to be undertaken, recorded and reviewed on a regular basis, and ensure that information regarding hazardous situations and accidents are fed back immediately;

Review periodically:-

Emergency procedures
Provision of first aid in the Centre
Risk Assessments and controls
And make appropriate recommendations to the GB.
Report all known hazards immediately to the LEA and stop any practices, or the use of any plant, tools, equipment etc. which are considered to be unsafe, until satisfied that they are safe to use;
Make recommendations to the LEA for additions or improvements to plant, tools, equipment, machinery etc., which presents hazards;
Review the dissemination of health and safety information in the Centre, paying particular attention to newly appointed and temporary staff, volunteer helpers and other users of the premises;
Report to the GB on the health and safety performance of the Centre.

Obligations of all employees under the Health and safety at Work Act 1974.

All employees are expected:

To know the health and safety organisation and arrangements to be adopted in their own working areas and to ensure that they are applied;
To observe standards of dress consistent with and appropriate for safety and/or hygiene;
To exercise good standards of housekeeping and cleanliness;
To know and apply procedures in respect of fire, first aid and other emergencies;
To use and not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with things provided for his/her own health and safety and/or the health and safety of others;
To co-operate with other employees in promoting improved health and safety arrangements in the school;
To co-operate with the appointed trade unions health and safety representative and the officers of the Health and Safety Executives or the Local Authority;
To report all accidents, defects and dangerous occurrences to the Head of Centre.

Obligations of Nursery Teachers

Nursery teachers are expected to:

Check that the Nursery area and equipment is safe before use and findings recorded;
Ensure safe procedures are followed
Give clear instructions and warnings to children, as often as necessary;
Report defects to Head of Centre
Avoid introducing personal items of equipment (electrical/mechanical) into the Centre without authorisation from Head of Centre
Follow safe-working practices personally
Ensure health / first aid / safety and security policies are adhered to.

Day Care Managers Responsibilities

Ensure that department, Centre and nursery H&S policies are implemented and monitored
Ensure distribution of H&S information
Ensure the induction of new staff, volunteers and students
Have day to day responsibility for the nursery health safety and welfare (shared responsibility in 3 to 5s with Nursery Teacher)
Be the focal point for H&S issues
Delegate appropriately and ensure that H&S matters are understood
Ensure that any difficulties in implementing policy is reported to HOC & LEA
Ensure, with HOC that risk assessments of the Nursery premises and working practices are undertaken, recorded and reviewed
Ensure that information on hazardous situations or accidents are fed back to the appropriate bodies without delay
Ensure periodical review of first aid resources

Caretaker's Responsibilities

The Caretaker is expected: -

To have a general responsibility for the application of the Centre's Health and Safety Policy to their own area of work, and are directly responsible to the Head of Centre for the application of the health and safety procedures and arrangements.
To establish and maintain safe working procedures including (reference to relevant documents) arrangements for ensuring so far is reasonably practicable, the absence of risks to health and safety in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances (e.g. chemicals, boiling water and sharp instruments).
To carry out regular health and safety assessments of the activities for which he/she is responsible, and report to the Head of Centre (Thornes park cleaning manager where appropriate) any defects, which need attention.
To ensure as far as is practicable, the provision of sufficient information, instruction, training or supervision, to enable other employees or centre users to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety, as part of the Centre's health and safety requirements.
To, where appropriate, ensure that relevant advice and guidance on H&S matters is sought.
To advise the Head of Centre (DSO cleaning manager where appropriate) on requirements for H&S equipment and on additions or necessary improvement to plant, tools, equipment or machinery.

Centre H&S Representative

The Health and Safety Representative must be allowed: -

To investigate complaints by colleagues about matters relating to health, safety and welfare.
To make representation to the employer about matters arising from complaints, investigations and on general issues affecting health, safety and welfare in the workplace.
To represent colleagues in consultation with enforcement agencies.
To undertake relevant training and advise colleagues on H&S matters where appropriate.

Visitors and Other Users of the Centre

Visitors and other users of the premises will be required to observe health, safety and welfare rules of the Centre.
Students on long term placements will be required to read the H&S policy and other documents relating to H&S and welfare, e.g. Risk Control document, fire evacuation procedure.
New staff, students and any visitor who is likely to be on the premises for any length of time must be made aware of the fire evacuation procedures from their first day.

3. Safety/Security and Supervision of Children

Parents and children are welcome in the Nursery prior to the start of the session, however the child's parent is responsible for the child until the start of the Nursery session (9am and 12.45pm) up until being collected by a parent/carer, unless prior arrangement has been made with a member of Nursery staff or HOC/Deputy for alternative arrangements.

Children will only be allowed to leave the Centre with an adult who has been nominated to do so by the parent/carer.

Children who are playing outside will be supervised at all times and issues of safety will be paramount, however it must be acknowledged that no outdoor environment which stimulates children's learning can be completely without risk and children will sustain minor trip or fall type injuries. Teaching children how to use their environment safely is part of the curriculum.

All adults responsible for supervising the children will be expected to ensure that the equipment is being used properly and for its intended use and is safe and in good repair (see roles and responsibilities)

At no time should staff take hot drinks into children's areas.

Children will be supervised in washing their hands after they have been to the toilet and prior to lunch or any other time when food is served.

Staff members must use the provided gloves and aprons when changing children or when any risk of cross contamination could be present, e.g. dealing with cuts or vomit.

Security key pad locks are fitted to all nursery areas - these must be in use at all times apart from the period during which the sessional children are leaving with parents, however, a staff member must supervise this part of the day to ensure that children are not taken or do not exit the nursery unaccompanied.

Risk Control
Risk assessments will take place on a regular basis
All staff must become familiar with the Risk Control Document (kept with H&S file)

Manual Handling Tasks
Manual handling regulations are followed by the Caretaker in accordance with DSO regulations. All staff is aware of safe practices in manual handling techniques.

For transport safety - see Transporting Children Procedure.

Procedure for Uncollected or Missing Child

Uncollected Child

Where child is not attending on a sessional basis, all hours and days of attendance must be agreed with the Nursery Manager and detailed within the Nursery/Parent contract.

Flexibility in hours can be accommodated where needs are diverse, however all additional times must have prior consent.

Contact details of parents/carers and emergency contact person will be held on children's application records and changes must be regularly updated.

If a child is not collected, every effort will be made by the Manager or Deputy to contact the responsible parent/carer as soon as possible. Should the parent/carers not be contactable the named emergency person will be contacted.

If all attempts to contact a parent/designated person fail then the Manager/Deputy shall contact the Local Authority to inform them about the situation without delay.

A minimum of two members of staff must remain on the premises with the child at all times.

Accompanying forms must be completed and Ofsted informed of the events.

Social Care Direct

The duty social worker should then decide the next course of action and decide whether the police should be involved in helping to trace the parent/carer.
Should the parent/carer not be contacted, the duty social worker can arrange for the child to be temporally placed until the situation is resolved.

Missing/Lost Child

In the event of a child going missing from the setting or being lost on an outing from the provision, the Manager/Deputy should contact the police immediately for further advice.

Any relevant information surrounding the disappearance should be noted.

The police should advise about informing parents/carers of the child and the next steps.

Accompanying forms must be completed and Ofsted informed of the events.

Fire Evacuation and Emergency

The Fire and evacuation policy and procedures are detailed in: -

The staff and student information file
The Centre Policy File
All staff member's individual files.
Appended to this Policy
Action notices in English and Hirdu are displayed alongside alarm points.

The children will be given the opportunity to listen to the alarm bells every half term, when the procedures will be explained to them, giving staff the opportunity to assess which children may be afraid of the bell. A full evacuation drill will take place on the same day or a day shortly following the explanations and listening to the bell.

4. First Aid and Health

At all times it must be remembered that the health and well being of the child is paramount.

It is the Centre's aim to protect all the children who attend from unnecessary risk of accidents, sickness and ill health.

Administering and Managing Medications.

The Centre staff will ensure that the following procedures are adhered to:

A register of any allergies or illnesses of children will be accessible to all staff and retained in medical cupboard in nursery.

Key workers will be responsible for reporting any such illnesses /allergies either after home visit or as soon as information is received.

The person nominated by the Head of Centre shall be responsible for maintaining and updating this register.

Information relating to children's health problems will be maintained through close contact with parents / carers and relevant medical practitioner.

Parents will be asked to provide full information about their child's medical needs, including details on medicines their child needs.

Prescribed Medicines

Medicines should only be administered where it would be detrimental to a child's health if the medicine were not taken during the Centre 'day'.
Medicines should only be administered that have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse practioner or pharmacist prescriber.
Medicines should always be provided in the original container and include the prescribers instruction for administration.
The Centre will not accept medicines that have been taken out of the container as originally dispensed, nor make changes to dosages on parental instructions.

Non Prescribed Medicines

Staff must never give non-prescribed medicines to sessional children unless there is specific prior written permission from parents.

Children Having Full Day Care

Non-prescribed medication, such as Calpol or cough mixture can be administered at the Nursery manager's discretion. However, this will only apply when the child as been in the nursery's care for 4 or more hours and medication will not be given for more than 3 days

A form of authorisation from the parents / carers must be obtained when staff is asked to administer prescribed / non-prescribed medication.

Authorisation forms will be found in file in medical cupboard and must be filled in as indicated. Any person administering medication to a child must maintain a record of 'time administered' and 'dosage given' and this record will be kept in the medical cupboard.

2.	Any medication stored on the premises will be held securely in the medical cupboard in nursery and not readily accessible to the children. Each child's medication will be stored in an individual container clearly marked with the child's name and any information regarding the medication enclosed. Where a child may have more than one medication separate containers to be used.
3.	Where medicines require refrigeration they can be kept in refrigerator containing food but should be in an airtight container and clearly labelled. There should be restricted access to a refrigerator holding medicines.
4.	Staff should not dispose of medicines. Parents will be responsible for ensuring that date - expired medicines are returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal. They should also collect medicines held ay the end of each term. If parents do not collect all medicines they should be taken to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
5.	Where a child is able to administer the medication themselves an adult must always supervise them and a record kept.
6.	If a child refuses to take medicine, staff will not force them to do so, but should note this on the records and inform parents of the refusal as soon as possible.
7.	For a child with long term medical needs a health care plan will be drawn up by the child's parents, key worker and first aid Coordinator which will include instructions on how to manage a child in an emergency.
	The staff will be made aware of any instructions.
8.	For a child suffering from asthma a record card must be completed by the doctor stating the medication and dose and kept at all times with the inhaler. Procedures for the handling of a child with asthma can be found in the Centres health and medical file situated in the nursery office.
9.	For outside visits arrangements will need to be made for taking any necessary medicines. Staff supervising excursions should be made aware of any medical needs and relevant emergency procedures. A risk assessment will be taken prior to any visits. Staff will ensure that the necessary first aid equipment is taken and any medication which may be necessary for any child.

Provision of First Aid

First Aid boxes are situated in the Main Kitchen, Nursery changing area, Community room changing area and Annexe. There are separate boxes available to take on visits.

Each box contains the standard first aid requisites and it is the responsibility of the designated first aider to replenish and check contents of the boxes.

It is the Centre policy to ensure that there are an adequate number of first- aiders to meet H and S requirements.

All the staff has the opportunity to undertake emergency First Aid training.

Illness or Accident

If anyone should become ill or suffer injury as a result of an accident the following procedures should be adhered to:

Once the extent of the injury has been assessed the appropriate action can be taken.

Major Injuries must have hospital attention with the minimum of delay. The child's parent / carer and the H&S executive in Leeds should be informed by telephone in the first instance and appropriate documentation submitted as soon as possible following the incident ( see H&S file )

The facts must be reported immediately by telephone to each of the following:

The Health and Safety Executive (0113 2834200)
The Chief Education Officer (01924 305637 / 41)
The Council's Health and Safety Officer (01924 30671417)

Written reports of the accident on Form F2508 must be submitted within 7 days to:

The Health and Safety Executive
8 St Paul's Street
Leeds
LS1 2LE
The Children's Services Director
(Schools and Governors Support Group)
Room 226
County hall
Wakefield
WF1 2QL

Minor Injuries Should be treated appropriately and only as far as knowledge and skill admit, and wherever possible by a member of staff who has received first aid training. The parent / carer should be informed of the injury and treatment either in person or by writing if necessary.
All relevant documentation and forms relating to accident and injuries are kept in the H&S file in the main office. These must be completed in full following an incident.
All injuries requiring treatment should be recorded in an accident record book.
(All staff should be aware of the location - in nursery office and reception)
Gloves should always be used when contact with bodily fluids is likely.
Transport to hospital - if an ambulance is required the emergency (9) 999 should be used. Members of staff should not drive a child to hospital. Parents are notified immediately if this course of action is required in the absence of parent / carer a staff member will stay with the child in hospital until child's parent / carer arrives.

Communicable Diseases

If a child becomes ill whilst at the Centre the parent / carer should be contacted to take the child home and be encouraged to seek medical advice.

The parent / carer had a responsibility to let the Centre know if the child has a communicable disease, confirmed by the doctor, within 24 hours of the child's exposure. The Centre has responsibility to ensure that children who are suffering from an illness, which warrants exclusion, are not admitted to the Centre during that period.

The Centre must inform the CCDC at Wakefield Health Authority if any child is believed to be suffering from a serious infectious disease.

Management of Children with Asthma

The Centre:

Welcomes all children with Asthma
Will encourage and help the children with Asthma to participate fully with all aspects of centre life.
Recognises that immediate access to inhalers is vital.
Will do all it can to make sure the Centre environment is favourable to children with asthma.
Will work in partnership with parents, health professionals, Centre staff and child to ensure the successful implementation of a Centre asthma policy.

Guidelines:

Treatment for asthma must be stored in individual containers, in the nursery medical cupboard. Information regarding how often and when medication needs to be administered must be kept in the same place. A record of any treatment given must be kept.
Parents to be informed if and when treatment is given.
The child's Key worker or delegated staff member will supervise treatment.

How to help a child during an attack:

Remember the child may have had an attack before so listen and gauge the child's reaction and take the lead from them.
Make sure that any medicines are taken promptly and properly.
Stay calm and reassure the child.
Attacks of asthma can often cause panic. Stay calm, do not rush about needlessly and act quietly and efficiently.
Help the child to breathe slowly and deeply to relax. Some children are taught to adopt a particular posture which relaxes their chest and encourages them to breathe more slowly and deeply during an attack. If they have learnt such a technique encourage them to use it.
Do not lay the child down. This will restrict breathing effort.

When to Call for Medical Help

Call a doctor urgently if:

All recommendations for treatment have been carried out correctly and things are no better 15 minutes later.
The child is distressed and unable to talk. In very severe attacks the child may be unable to say a single word.
The child is getting exhausted
The child's lips turn blue
The child's pulse is faster than 120 beats per minute.

If a doctor cannot be reached quickly, call an ambulance.

Other procedures that can be followed:

If the room is warm, open the window and let in some fresh air.
However if it is very cold outside, a blast of cold air can be harmful.
Loosen tight clothing around the neck.
It is sometimes helpful to offer a drink of warm water. The mouth becomes very dry with rapid breathing.

5. General Hygiene Matters

Guidelines for changing children in nursery
General Hygiene
Food Hygiene

Guidelines for Changing Children in Nursery

At times, children may require changing at the Centre, due to them soiling, wetting or becoming wet or dirty through falling or being involved in messy play.

The following procedure should be followed:

Children should not be left unattended at any time on the changing station. In some instances, dependent on the individual needs two members of staff may be required.
Only staff employed at the Centre or parent and carers will carry out the task of changing children. (Students - volunteers will not change children).
Staff must wear gloves and aprons and cleaning wipes will be provided. A clean sheet of hygienic paper should be on the mat before starting.
Soiled nappies should be put in the disposal unit provided and all other waste materials e.g. gloves, wipes, paper will be put into the bin provided.
The child's own clothing will be put first into a plastic bag and then into a fabric bag hung onto the child's peg.
Clothes belonging to the Centre will be put in the laundry basket provided and this will be emptied daily.
Parents of any children requiring regular changing will be asked to provide their own nappies, wipes and change of clothes which will be kept in their own individual labelled bags.
These will not be used for any other purpose.
After changing a child, the hygienic paper on the changing station should be removed and disposed of and a clean sheet laid ready for the next person.
Wherever possible staff will promote independence and allow the children to change their own clothes with supervision.
Staff will complete the form in the changing area recording the task undertaken.

General Hygiene

To prevent the spread of infection adults at the Centre will ensure the following good practices are observed.

Hands to be washed after using the toilet.
Toilet areas to be regularly checked and flushed.
All spills to be cleaned up immediately
Tissue will be available and children will be encouraged to blow and wipe their own noses and dispose of soiled tissue hygienically.
Children will be encourage to shield their mouths when coughing
Individual paper towels and hand dryers are provided to dry hands.
Aprons, towels, dishcloths, tea towels etc are washed on a daily basis.
Dressing up and dolls clothes will be washed regularly.
Play equipment will be kept clean and washed regularly.
Rubber gloves and aprons will be worn when cleaning any bodily fluids and also when changing children or dealing with open wounds, bleeding.
Affected areas must be cleared and disinfected and clothing fabrics to be thoroughly washed in warm water.
Different coloured cloths will be used for different purposes e.g. washing up, toilets. Guidelines can be found around the Centre.

Food Hygiene

Whenever possible staff handling food will undertake a food hygiene course - facilitated by the local authority.

It is the responsibility of the Team Leaders (Nursery Teacher in Nursery and Senior in baby unit) to ensure that in high standards of cleanliness is observed and policy is adhered to.

All staff and children must wash their hands thoroughly before handling or preparing any food.
Food preparation areas must be kept clean and colour coded chopping boards must be used for fresh and cooked meat and other foods. Cloths used for cleaning food prep areas must not be used for any other purpose.
Snacks provided will be nutritious and pay attention to individual children's dietary requirements (in line with healthy eating policy)
When providing cooking / baking activities staff will promote healthy wholesome food and provide children with an understanding of a healthy diet and safe use of equipment.
The refrigerator and cupboards where food is kept must be kept clean and any 'out of date' food thrown away immediately.
Children should sit at the snack or dining tables when eating and be discouraged from eating at the same time as walking around and playing indoors.

End