Intimate Personal Care
Seven Steps Support Ltd is committed to delivering a high standard of support to meet the holistic needs of individuals. At Seven Steps, we strongly believe that each individual is entitled to be treated with respect, dignity and to promote the individual’s choice and independence.
Seven Steps Support Ltd aims to assist individuals to maximize their independence and opportunities to achieve a fulfilling and rewarding life. Personal Care means hands-on physical care in areas of hygiene, physical assistance or observation required during such activities.
Seven Steps Support Ltd must assess the individual needs of the clients in terms of personal care and record the needs and actions required in the client care plan. Personal care should not be used as an alternative if there is equipment that would allow the individual to undertake the task independently.
A risk assessment must be done for all cases of personal care in accordance with health and safety procedures and all measures must be taken to minimize risk to the client and support worker providing personal care. All employees and volunteers who provide personal care must be trained in the relevant procedure required before providing personal care.
We will endeavor to maintain consistency of care – where available, a consistent team of support workers will be on shift on a regular basis to build trust when delivering personal care to the individual. Personal care shall be carried out with regards to the client’s right to dignity and privacy.
Policy Statement
Where intimate personal care is delivered, this will always be done sensitively and appropriately. Support workers and volunteers will be aware of the need to maintain privacy and dignity when supporting with intimate personal care needs.
Gender issues are significant in determining the appropriateness of the support, and we will endeavor to ensure that the principle of the same-gender care is applied when meeting personal care needs of a client if specified in their care plan; this will be determined on initial assessments of support and detailed in person-centered care plans.
When intimate personal care is delivered, it should always be undertaken as the care plan of the individual.
Hands-on physical care in areas of personal hygiene and or physical presence or observation during such activities:
Intimate personal care includes:
- Body bathing
- Toileting, wiping and care in the genital and anal areas
- Incontinence care
- Placement, removal and changing of incontinence pads
- Menstrual hygiene
- Dressing and undressing
- Application of medical treatment, other than to arms, face and legs below the knee
Deciding the appropriate person to carry out the task
It is important that all clients’ needs, wishes, and preferences are considered when deciding on support workers to undertake intimate personal care.
Privacy
Privacy is a fundamental right and is of prime importance in the delivery of intimate personal care. Meeting the intimate personal care needs of a client carries a measure of risk to both the support worker and the client. The risks can include the following:
- Injury to the client or support worker due to accidents/poor work practices
- Hot water
- Epilepsy and bathing
- Moving and handling
- Infection from bodily fluids
It is therefore important that risk assessments are put in place to minimize the risk to clients and support workers, and risk assessments are reviewed regularly.
Health Care
If during the course of assisting a person with intimate personal care needs, there are any changes in an individual’s appearance that may require attention, these should be noted e.g., rashes, blisters, sores, lumps, and changes in color and size of skin blemishes.
These should be recorded and body maps completed; the client and family/carers should be informed.
Suspected Abuse
In the event that any bruises or skin damage is noted, this should be recorded and brought to the attention of a member of the management team. Any signs of suspected abuse will be recorded and reported immediately. We adhere to South Yorkshire Safeguarding policies and procedures.
Independence
It is emphasized that in this, as in all other areas of our work, a prime aim of carrying out intimate personal care will be to develop the skills and abilities of the individual to enable them to become as independent in the task as possible.
All employees and volunteers support Seven Steps Support Intimate Personal Care Policy and will have the opportunity to say if they are uncomfortable with a particular area of the practice or if they feel vulnerable in carrying out the task.
All staff have attended all relevant training to enable them to carry out all personal care tasks to a high standard. All relevant personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons are provided by Seven Steps Support; extra supplies will be kept in the main office.