Health and Safety Policies

Kirkliston After School Club views the health and safety of its users as of paramount importance. To this end, we will strive to ensure that:

·         The club provides a safe environment, suitable for our purpose, in line with all relevant legislation.

·         The Club premises are hygienic and smoke free.

·         The adult/child ratios and the space standards in the National Care Standards are met.

·         Furniture, equipment, utensils and toys are clean and well maintained.

·         Staff take measures to control the spread of infection.

·         Regular risk assessments of premises, equipment and activities are carried out.

·         The Club Management Committee and Play Leader are aware of their responsibilities under relevant Health and Safety legislation.

·         All required Reporting Procedures are in place.

·         The Club has a Child Protection Policy and an Accidents and Incidents Policy.

·         The Club has clear guidelines on the use, storage and administration of medication.

·         All food is properly prepared and stored. We aim to encourage a well-balanced and healthy diet.

·         Children will learn about healthy lifestyles, relationships, hygiene, diet and personal safety.

·         Children will enjoy safety but will not be over-protected.

·         Children will have regular access to fresh air and energetic physical play.

·         Staff are trained in emergency procedures.

Child Protection Policy

Kirkliston After School Club will promote the safety of users and to ensure that they feel safe and secure and that they are free from exploitation and abuse. This will be achieved by:

·         The club promoting programmes on healthy lifestyles and relationships, hygiene, diet and personal safety in partnership with parents.

·         Staff having a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from harm, abuse, bullying and neglect.

·         Staff receiving training in the recognition of harm, abuse, bullying and neglect.

·         Staff receiving training in the recognition of harm, abuse, neglect, bullying and discrimination and will follow the club’s procedures in addressing these issues.

·         The club’s child protection procedures meeting Edinburgh Care Commission guidance on child protection.

·         Staff being carefully vetted in line with the National Care Standards prior to appointment.

·         The club meeting the recommended adult: child ratios at all times.

·         Regular risk assessments being carried out.

·         All child protection matters complying with the club’s confidentiality and Record Keeping Policies.

Child Participation Policy

Kirkliston After School Club supports the view that children should be treated with dignity and respect at all times, and that they should be enabled to realise their potential. We will achieve this by:

·         Providing opportunities for children to express their views, exercise choice and, where possible influence the activities of the club.

·         Actively consulting children and valuing their views.

·         Enabling children to make informed choices.

·         Providing opportunities for children to learn about healthy lifestyles and relationships, hygiene, diet and personal safety.

·         Treating everyone equally and fairly.

·         Providing opportunities to be involved in the evaluation of the club’s activities.

Partnership with Parents Policy

Kirkliston After School Club values and encourages the involvement of parents and carers in the life of the club. We will promote partnership with parents and carers by:

• Providing information on our aims and objectives, policies and procedures.

• Encouraging Pre Admission visits.
• Ensuring that staff have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities in protecting children from harm, abuse, bullying and neglect.
• Ensuring that staff work effectively with parents to support each child’s individual needs.
• Regularly sharing information with parents/cares about their child.
• Creating an environment where mutual respect, trust and open communication are promoted.
• Working with parents to promote positive behaviour and to deal with difficult behaviour.
• Staff valuing and taking account of patent’s views.
• Treating all parents equally and fairly.
• Ensuring that parents/carers can complain without the fear of victimisation.
• Providing a private area to have discussions with staff.
• Ensuring that parents/carers contribute to the evaluation of the club’ work.
• By maintaining information confidentially while providing access to the record of your own child.

Staff Recruitment and Selection Policy

Users of Kirkliston After School Club can be confident that the club recruits staff and volunteers through a process that takes account of equal opportunities and safe recruitment practices. This will include:

·         All applicants for staff and volunteers positions will be treated equally and fairly, and valued for their ethnic background, language, culture and faith.

·         Ethnic monitoring of applications. 

·         The person in charge being assessed as a fit person by the Care Commission.

·         All staff and volunteers will be subject to an enhanced criminal records check from Disclosure Scotland, checks with previous employers, the taking up of references and cross referencing with the register of the Scottish Social Services Council or other professional organisation.

·         Staff and volunteers will be selected with a range of qualifications, skills and experiences relevant to the club’s aims and objectives.

·         All staff will be prepared to undertake training towards professional qualifications relevant to their role.

·         All posts are subject to six monthly probationary period.

Equal Opportunities Policy

Kirkliston After School Club believes in the dignity, privacy, choice safety, potential equality and diversity of its users. We will actively promote these principles by:

·         Having policies and procedures and promotional material that reflect those principles in practice.

·         Treating everyone with dignity and respect, and valuing different ethnic backgrounds, language, culture and faiths.

·         Treating everyone equally and fairly and establishing an environment that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination.

·         Consulting with users and valuing the opinions expressed.

·         Train staff in recognising harm, abuse, neglect, bullying and discrimination and in challenging such behaviour.

·         Ethnic monitoring of admissions, waiting list and recruitment.

·         Adhering to all relevant legislation.

Whistle Blowing Policy

Kirkliston After School Club will not accept or condone any behaviour by Staff or other adults associated with the Club that is contrary to our Aims and Objectives, Policies and Procedures. We will actively encourage and fully support the reporting of such behaviour. We will do this by:

• Promoting an environment of mutual respect, trust and open communication.
• Promoting an environment that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination.
• Treating everyone equally and fairly, with dignity and respect and by valuing individual differences.
• Ensuring that the quality of the work of each staff member/volunteer is effectively monitored as well as the work of the club as a whole.
• Ensure that procedures are in place for reporting unacceptable behaviours/practices.
• Actively supporting staff/volunteers that ‘blow the whistle’ both during the investigation and after, and in line with the relevant legislation.

Record Keeping Policy

Kirkliston After School Club will maintain records that are required for the efficient and safe management of the club and to promote the welfare, care and learning of the children and young people.

·         Records will be kept in accordance with national and local guidance.

·         Parent/carers can access their child’s own records.

·         Records will be confidential and will be securely stored.

·         Records will be made available to Care Commission Officers on request.