How Practitioners Can Take Steps Essay Example for Free

How Practitioners Can Take Steps Essayh)Explain how practitioners can take steps to encourage themselves within their everyday practice in the work place setting and on off-site visits. A significant element of a practitioners role in protecting themselves would be to read policies and procedures that are rank in place to safeguard them and children or young people in their care. In a school setting a professional can protect themselves by. wholly faculty in schools should envision that their relationships with pupils are assign to the age, gender, disability and ethnic origin of the pupils, winning care that their conduct does not give cosmetic surgery to comment or speculation. Attitudes, demeanour and language all require care and thought, particularly when staff of either sex are dealing with adolescent boys and girls. correct and Appearance A someones dress and appearance are matters of personal choice and selfexpression.However it is necessary and wise for staff to consider the demeanor of dress and appearance appropriate to their professional role, as opposed to that which whitethorn be adopted in their personal life. Dress and Appearance A persons dress and appearance are matters of personal choice and selfexpression. However it is necessary and wise for staff to consider the manner of dress and appearance appropriate to their professional role, as opposed to that which may be adopted in their personal life.Physical ContactGratuitous physical contact with pupils A pupil, provoke or observer may misconstrue physical contact. Such contact can include well intentional informal and formal gestures such as putting a hand on the shoulder or arm, which if repeated with an individual pupil could lead to serious questions being raised. Therefore, as a habitual principle, employees must not make gratuitous physical contact with pupils and it is unwise to attribute touching to their style or as a way of relating to pupils. restate physical cont act with a pupil may be unprofessional and may lead to disciplinary procedures or an allegation of physical/sexual abuse. both form of physical punishment of pupils is unlawful, as is any form of physical response to misbehaviour unless it is by way of restraint. It is particularly important that staff tick off this, to protect their own position and the overall reputation of the school. Where physical contact may be acceptable There may be, especially with younger children, dowhere a distressed pupil needs comfort and reassurance, which may include physical comforting.Such reassurance could for example, involve an arm around the shoulder or a comforting hug. Employees should use their discretion in such cases to ensure that what is, and what is seen to be by others present, normal and natural does not become unnecessary contact, particularly with the alike pupil over a period of time. Where an employee has a particular concern about the need to bid this type of care and reass urance he/she should seek the advice of the Head. It is come about that those working with infants and young children have quite a different role to play from those involved with secondary school age or maturing children in primary winding/secondary/special schools.Some young children may need a great deal of comfort and support to help them deal with day-to-day experiences in school life. Caring for Pupils with Particular Problems All children have a right to safety, privacy and dignity when contact of an intimate nature is required (for example assisting with toileting or removing wet/soiled clothing). A care plan should be drawn up and agreed with parents for all children who require intimate care on a regular basis.Children should be encouraged to act as independently as possible and to undertake as much of their own personal care as is practicable. When assistance is required, staff should ensure that another appropriate adult is in the vicinity and is aware of the task to b e undertaken. low Aid and Administration of medicament When administering first aid, staff should ensure that another adult is present, or aware of the action being taken, whenever possible. Parents should always be informed when first aid has been administered.Pupils may need medication during school hours. In circumstances where children need medication regularly, a health care plan should be drawn up to ensure the safety and protection of pupils and staff. With the permission of parents, the children should be encouraged to administer the medication themselves. If a appendage of staff is concerned or un received about the heart or type of medication being given to a pupil, this should be discussed with the appropriate senior colleague at the earliest opportunity. See DOH/.DfES Guijdance First Aid for Schools Private meetings with pupils Teacher should be aware of the dangers that may arise from private interviews with individual pupils.It is recognised that there will be occasi ons when underground interviews must take place but, where possible, such interviewsshould be conducted in a manner with visual access, or with the door open, or in a room or area which is likely to be frequented by other people. In their dealings with pupils at school, staff need to be aware that their actions may be misinterpreted. Acts of favouritism should be guarded against, for instance, giving a pupil an unreasonable amount of private individual attention. Giving a pupil regular lifts base of operations is not a sensible course of action. Infatuation Staff need to be aware that pupils can be strongly attracted to a fraction of staff and may develop a heterosexual or homosexual infatuation. All situations should be responded to sensitively to maintain the dignity of all concerned.Staff should also be aware that such circumstances always carry a high risk of words or actions being misinterpreted and for allegations to be made against staff. A member of staff who becomes awa re that a pupil may have developed an infatuation (on themselves or a colleague), should discuss this at the earliest opportunity with a senior colleague so that appropriate action can be taken where necessary. In this way, steps can be taken to avoid psychic trauma and distress for all concerned. Staff need to be aware that it is not uncommon for a pupil to develop an infatuation on a member of staff. Curriculum The curriculum can sometimes include or lead to unplanned discussion about subject matter which is sexually explicit, or of an differently sensitive nature. Responding to pupils questions can require careful judgement and staff may wish to take guidance in these circumstances.Educational Visits and Extra Curricular ActivitiesAll staff should be particularly careful when supervising pupils in a residential setting such as a field study chemise or other extended visits away from home. Similarly the less formal approach perhaps adopted in extra curricular activities general ly faculty be open to misinterpretation. Although more informal relationships in such circumstances tend to be usual, the standard of behaviour expected of staff will be no different from the behaviour expected within schools. Young people are entitled to respect and privacy when changing clothes or taking a shower. However, there needs to be a required level of supervision to safeguard young people and satisfy health and safety considerations and to ensure that bullying or teasing does not occur. The supervision will need to be appropriate to the needs and age ofthe young people concerned.In certain situations staff or volunteers may be required to transport children. Given the potential risks, a designated member of staff should be appointed to plan and provide oversight of all transporting arrangements and respond to any difficulties that may arise. Wherever possible and practicable it is advisable that transport is undertaken other than in private vehicles, with at to the low est degree one adult acting as an escort. Staff should ensure that their behaviour is safe and that the transport arrangements and the vehicle meet all legal requirements. They should ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy and that the maximum capacity is not exceeded. http//www.merton.gov.uk/council/pdf-developingsafeworkingpractices.pdf