HSCS 4.11, 4.27, 5.17, 5.22
Policy Statement
At Willow Den we recognize our ‘duty of care’ and requirement to provide a safe environment for the children in our care. We ensure our staff are fully trained to enable our settings to follow the national guidance Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings by Health Protection Scotland1 , including the exclusion criteria timescales.
Our Infection Control procedures outline the steps staff will take to manage the risk of infection within our settings.
At Willow Den, we promote the good health and wellbeing of all children who attend our settings. We strive to maintain a high standard of hygiene ensuring a low risk of infection being spread.
Infection Control Procedure
Viruses and infections can be spread easily from person to person by breathing in air that contains a virus (e.g. coughing/sneezing). It can also be spread through direct contact from a person or surface contaminated by the virus.
To lower the risk of infection spreading staff will:
- Develop children’s understanding of the need for good hygiene procedures in helping them to stay healthy with visual guides, modelling behaviour by adults and supporting children with their daily routines
- Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when changing nappies, toileting children and dealing with any other bodily fluids. PPE is accessible in every toilet.
- Dispose of PPE in the appropriate manner and wash hands immediately
- Follow checklists as appropriate for cleaning high risk areas
- Clean all toys, equipment and resources on a regular basis by following a comprehensive cleaning rota and using antibacterial cleanser, or through washing in the washing machine
- Bedding is allocated to a named child for their time at nursery and is washed weekly
- Dispose of greywater appropriately following the relevant procedure for each setting
- Stay at home if they are contagious
- Follow the government guidance when displaying signs of Covid19
- All other relevant procedures set out in the related policies listed or as instructed by a Manager
- A Manager will carry out routine audits to check policies and procedures are followed appropriately and any remedial actions identified embedded
Early warning signs of infection
Staff will inform the Nursery Manager if a child has any of the following symptoms:
- Appears unwell (feels hot or looks flushed);
- Complains of feeling ill for example cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches and headaches;
- Diarrhoea and vomiting;
- Blood in their faeces;
- Or unexplained rash
