Help to keep children safe
Overview
Who is this unit for?
This unit is for those who work in a setting or service whose main purpose is to support the care, learning and development of children and/or young people. The unit is suitable for you if you assist in a setting, but do not normally have the final responsibility. You will have day- to-day responsibility for maintaining a safe environment, contributing to the safety, safeguarding and protection of children/young people and ensuring risks and hazards are dealt with and reported promptly according to procedures.
What is this unit about?
This unit is about keeping children and young people safe during day-to-day work activities. The unit covers responding to accidents, emergencies and illness, and requires familiarity with and the ability to set in motion safety, safeguarding and welfare procedures, according to the policies and procedures of the setting.
This unit contains four elements:
1. Prepare and maintain a safe environment
2. Deal with accidents, emergencies and illness
3. Support the safeguarding of children from abuse
4. Encourage children's positive behaviour
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Prepare and maintain a safe environment
P1 use equipment, furniture and materials safely, conforming to the manufacturers' instructions and setting requirements
P2 check the environment, materials and equipment to ensure hygiene and safety at the start of, during and at the end of the session, reporting faults promptly
P3 recognise potential hazards in the setting and deal with these promptly, according to procedures
P4 deal with waste safely, according to the procedures of the setting
P5 supervise children/young people's safety appropriately and consistently, according to their age, needs and abilities
P6 encourage children/young people to be aware of personal safety and the safety of others
P7 encourage children/young people to develop good personal hygiene practices
P8 implement safety and security procedures at the start of the day/session and when children/young people leave
Deal with accidents, emergencies and illness
P9 remain calm and follow your organisation's procedures for accidents and emergencies, according to your role and responsibility
P10 call for qualified assistance as appropriate to the incident
P11 maintain the safety of the people involved
P12 provide reassurance and comfort to the people involved
P13 recognise when children/young people are ill and follow procedures
P14 follow reporting and recording procedures
Support the safeguarding of children from abuse
P15 at all times follow the policies and procedures of your setting with regard to safeguarding and protecting children/young people
P16 report any signs and indicators of possible abuse, being sensitive to the child/young person and circumstances
P17 identify, report and record changes in behaviour and physical signs
P18 respond calmly and promptly to a child/young person's disclosure of abuse in a reassuring and supportive manner and according to the policies and procedures of the setting
P19 make clear to the child/young person that other people appropriate to the situation will have to be made aware of their disclosure
P20 encourage children/young people to be aware of their bodies and to protect themselves
Encourage children's positive behaviour
P21 support and encourage children/young people's positive behaviour, according to the policies and procedures of the setting
P22 praise and encourage children/young people
P23 allow children/young people to make choices
P24 work with children/young people to apply rules and boundaries consistently, appropriately and fairly, according to their age, needs and abilities
P25 deal sensitively with behaviour that challenges, according to the policies and procedures of the setting
P26 make sure your behaviour with children/young people is appropriate and respectful at all times
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 setting's safety, safeguarding and protection and emergency procedures, what these are and why they must be followed, including controls on substances harmful to health and other key aspects of health and safety
K2 the laws governing safety in your home country, including the general responsibility for health and safety that applies to all colleagues and to employers
K3 the duty of all within the sector to safeguard children, including the difficulties in situations where your concerns may not be seen to be taken seriously or followed through when following normal procedures
K4 regulations covering manual handling and the risks associated with lifting and carrying children
K5 safety factors and recognised standards of equipment and materials for children. Importance of using equipment that is appropriate for the age, needs and abilities of the child. The importance of following manufacturers' guidelines
K6 routine safety checking and maintenance of equipment. Safe storage of hazardous materials and disposal of waste
K7 safe layout and organisation of rooms, equipment, materials and outdoor spaces
K8 how to adapt the environment to ensure safety for children and young people, according to their age, needs and abilities and taking into account disabilities or special educational needs, eg. keeping the floor tidy to limit hazards for children/young people with visual difficulties
K9 when and how to use safety equipment such as safety gates, socket covers, window and drawer catches, cooker guards, safety harnesses. Safety in respect of animals, plants, sand pits and outdoor spaces
K10 good hygiene practice: avoiding of cross infection, disposal of waste, food handling, handling body fluids. Issues concerning spread of HIV and AIDS virus and hepatitis
K11 familiarity with adult/child ratio requirements, according to regulatory and setting
K12 how to supervise children/young people safely, modifying your approach according to their age, needs and abilities. The balances between safety and risk, and challenge and protection for children and young people
K13 policies and procedures of setting for responding to and recording accidents and emergencies. Basic first aid required in an emergency and how to apply it, recognition of and response to choking,
unconsciousness, breathing difficulties, bleeding, anaphylactic shock, burns. Awareness of location and contents of first aid box. How to treat common minor injuries that may be dealt with on site, such as minor skin abrasions, cuts, bumps
K14 the importance of following instructions about children's diets carefully to avoid known allergic reactions, how you would recognise allergic reactions
K15 policies and procedures of setting to deal with children/young people's illness. How to recognise when children/young people are ill, including when they cannot communicate, e.g. fever, rashes, headache, crying and breathlessness
K16 the emergency procedures within settings and the types of possible emergency. This must include: K16.1 procedures for fires
K16.2 security incidents
K16.3 missing children or persons
K17 types and possible signs and indicators of child abuse: physical, emotional, sexual abuse, bullying and harassment, neglect and failure to thrive not based on illness. This must include:
K17.1 behavioural changes such as regression, withdrawal, excessive attention seeking, aggression and negative behaviour
K17.2 physical indicators such as unlikely bruising, burns, marks, genital irritation or damage, hunger, being dirty, lack of health care
K18 recognition that social factors, e.g. substance abuse, may increase a child's vulnerability to abuse
K19 safe working practices that protect children/young people and adults who work with them
K20 ways to encourage children/young people to be aware of their own bodies and understand their right not to be abused, according to their age, needs and abilities. These may include: K20.1 use of appropriate descriptive language
K20.2 activities involving discussion about their own bodies
K21 the importance of consistently and fairly applied boundaries and rules for children/young people's behaviour, according to their age, needs and abilities, and the avoidance of stereotyping
K22 how to respond to children/young people's challenging behaviour, according to their age, needs and abilities and in line with the policies and procedures of the setting
K23 the importance of encouraging and rewarding positive behaviour
K24 safety issues and concerns when taking children/young people out of the setting
K25 the legislation, guidelines and policies which form the basis for action to safeguard children and young people
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Accidents
unforeseen events without apparent cause
Boundaries
limits
Children and young people
children and young people who you work with, except where otherwise stated
Environment
the place, setting or service where you work with children (can be outside the premises, if part of your work)
Hazards
something likely to cause harm
Manufacturer's instructions
information or instructions for use
Outings
visits outside the setting
Personal hygiene practices
keeping clean, e.g. hand washing after using toilet, before food or cooking activity, cleaning teeth after meals
Procedures of setting
steps your setting says you must follow
Positive behaviour
behaviour that is welcomed and supports and affirms children
Qualified assistance
designated first aid officer or other designated person with responsibility for health and safety according to the circumstances
Risk
the seriousness of a hazard and its likelihood to cause harm
Safeguarding
includes protecting children from abuse and neglect alongside supporting their welfare
Waste
unwanted materials, soiled clothing, body fluids, dressings, cleaning cloths
Links To Other NOS
TDASTL31 Prepare and maintain the learning environment
NOS TDASTL46 Work with young people to safeguard their welfare
TDASTL59 Escort and supervise pupils on educational visits and out-of-school activities
Origin of this unit
This unit is taken from the National Occupational Standards in Children’s Care, Learning and Development where it appears as unit CCLD 202.
This unit is underpinned by the principles and values for the National Occupational Standards in Children's Care Learning and Development.