Health, Safety & Risk

First Aid and Medical Needs

All staff and volunteers are encouraged to maintain appropriate first aid knowledge, make use of relevant first aid guidance and training resources, and ensure they have the British Red Cross First Aid for Babies and Children app available on the device they have with them during sessions.

Venues will have appropriately stocked first aid kits maintained on site and checked regularly.

At Springstead, the First Aid box is located in a labelled cupboard above the fridge.

At the Meadows, venue staff are generally first aid trained and the first aid box is available from the front desk.

All accidents, incidents and relevant near misses will be recorded and reviewed. Parents/carers will be informed where appropriate.

Parents/carers must provide accurate and up-to-date information about relevant medical needs, conditions, allergies, medication or other information that may affect a young person's safe participation.

Waymakers will consider what support can reasonably be provided for medication and medical needs on an individual basis. Where medication may be needed during a session, families should discuss this with us in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be agreed.

We will not make assumptions about a young person's ability to manage their own medication. Where medication is required, arrangements will take account of the young person's age, needs, capacity, the nature of the medication and the training and responsibilities of the adults involved.

Illness and Hygiene

Any participant showing signs of a contagious illness should not attend sessions until they are well. This includes allowing 48 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea for stomach bugs.

This is particularly important to protect people in our community who may be more vulnerable to infection.

Handwashing facilities or hand sanitiser will be available at sessions.

Surfaces and shared resources will be cleaned regularly in line with our hygiene procedures, with additional cleaning where there is a particular risk of contamination.

In the case of a medical emergency or contagious outbreak, appropriate procedures will be followed, including parent/carer notification and liaison with health services where required.

Emergency Procedures

Emergency exits and relevant procedures will be explained to participants as appropriate for the venue and activity.

In an emergency, facilitators will guide participants to safety and contact the emergency services where required.

Contact details for participants' parents/carers will be kept securely and will be accessible to appropriate trained adults and facilitators who may need them in an emergency.

Facilitators will be aware of relevant emergency arrangements for the venue, including fire exits, assembly points and first aid provision.

Safeguarding

Health, safety and safeguarding are closely linked.

All staff and volunteers will follow Waymakers CIC's Safeguarding Policy and report any concerns about a child's wellbeing or safety to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Health or medical information may also be relevant to safeguarding where a failure to meet a child's health needs could place them at risk.

Environment and Equipment

The physical environment will be checked before each session to ensure it is safe, accessible and appropriate for the activities planned.

All equipment and materials used will be age-appropriate, safe and maintained in good condition.

Participants will be given appropriate guidance on the safe use of tools and materials, particularly during practical and project-based activities.

Wherever possible, we will use venues with access to quiet spaces and outside areas to support self-regulation.

At Springstead, there is a park opposite the venue, which we encourage participants to visit before and after sessions. We may also, from time to time, take children to the park, walk around the local area or visit local shops as part of activities or in response to needs and preferences arising during sessions.

Such activities will be subject to appropriate dynamic risk assessment, with appropriately trained facilitators or volunteers providing supervision. The usual risks associated with playground use and being in public spaces will apply.

If you do not wish your child to participate in activities outside the venue during sessions, please advise us in writing.

Use of Park Facilities

At some venues, such as Springstead and the Meadows, we may make use of onsite or nearby parks and playgrounds.

We also encourage participants and their families to make use of these facilities before and after sessions.

During sessions, facilitators or volunteers may take participants to the park as part of planned activities or in response to needs arising during the session.

When visiting a park during sessions:

• Appropriate trained adult supervision will be provided according to the activity, group and circumstances.

• The usual risks associated with playground play and public spaces will apply.

• Staff will exercise reasonable care and supervision in line with our safeguarding and health and safety procedures.

• Dynamic risk assessment will be used where circumstances change.

If you do not wish your child to attend the park during sessions, please inform us in writing so that alternative arrangements can be considered.

Allergy Awareness and Management

Waymakers CIC is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for children and young people with allergies.

We recognise that allergies can range from mild reactions to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis and that effective allergy management involves both individual planning and awareness across the wider community.

Parents/carers must provide accurate and up-to-date information about any known allergies when registering and should tell us promptly if this information changes.

Waymakers maintains a centralised health and medical needs record which includes relevant allergy information. This record is designed to be readily accessible to staff and facilitators who need the information to support young people safely during sessions, while respecting the confidentiality of personal information.

Where relevant, the record may include:

• the allergy or allergies identified;

• known triggers;

• symptoms or signs of a reaction;

• agreed emergency arrangements;

• medication or emergency medication that may be required;

• where medication is kept;

• relevant parent/carer contact information; and

• any other information needed to support the young person safely.

Staff will familiarise themselves with relevant allergy information where this is necessary for the safe supervision of participants.

All staff will also have access to relevant allergy guidance and training information, including guidance on recognising and responding to an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis.

We will take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of exposure to known allergens. However, Waymakers cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment, particularly in shared community venues or where food is brought in by families or other organisations.

Food should not normally be shared between participants unless this has been specifically agreed as part of the activity and appropriate allergy information has been considered.

Where food preparation or food-related activities form part of a session, facilitators will consider known allergies in advance and check ingredient and allergen information where relevant.

Where Waymakers provides or prepares food that is subject to specific food allergen information requirements, we will comply with the applicable requirements.

Waymakers will not routinely describe a venue or session as "nut-free" or free from another particular allergen unless this is genuinely achievable and has been specifically established for that setting. Different venues and activities may have different arrangements, and families should not assume that the absence of an allergen can be guaranteed.

Known allergens will be considered and reasonable steps taken to reduce exposure. Families will be informed where venue or activity arrangements mean that particular allergens cannot be excluded.

Where a young person has an allergy requiring emergency medication, families should provide the agreed medication and ensure that it is in date, clearly labelled and accessible.

Where Waymakers staff or volunteers are expected to support a young person in responding to an allergic reaction, appropriate information and training will be provided.

Staff will follow the young person's agreed emergency arrangements and seek emergency medical assistance where required. In the event of suspected anaphylaxis, emergency services should be contacted without delay.

All staff and facilitators will have access to information and training about allergy awareness, including how to talk appropriately with children and young people about allergies.

As part of creating an inclusive and informed community, facilitators may talk with young people about allergies in an age-appropriate way. This may include explaining that:

• allergies can affect people differently;

• some people can become very unwell after exposure to an allergen;

• we should not share food or drinks without checking;

• we should respect other people's health needs without making them feel different or excluded; and

• if someone appears to be having an allergic reaction, an adult should be told immediately.

We will aim to build allergy awareness without placing responsibility for another person's medical safety onto children and young people.

Surfaces will be cleaned before and after eating or food-related activities, and handwashing will be encouraged before and after eating and after activities involving potential allergens.

Any allergy-related incident, including a significant reaction or relevant near miss, will be recorded and reviewed so that we can learn from it and improve our arrangements.

Online Safety

Where sessions are held online, Waymakers' Safeguarding Policy will also apply.

Facilitators will supervise online platforms appropriately and ensure that respectful, inclusive and safe behaviour is maintained.

Use of Children's Internet-Enabled Devices

Waymakers CIC recognises that some participants may want to use internet-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets or laptops, during sessions as part of their learning, communication or self-regulation strategies.

While we support autonomy and digital exploration, we also prioritise safeguarding and respectful use of technology.

Use of internet-enabled devices must align with Waymakers' values of curiosity, kindness and safety.

Facilitators will work with families to agree in advance how and when a young person may use their device where this is necessary.

Young people will not be permitted to access inappropriate content, including violent, explicit or discriminatory material.

Filming or photographing others is not permitted without their explicit and informed consent, or that of a parent/carer where appropriate.

Any agreed stored images will only be kept on Waymakers devices or in approved storage systems.

Facilitators may supervise or limit device use where it is disrupting others or poses a safeguarding concern.

Waymakers does not accept responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged personal devices, although we will support children in caring for their belongings.

Internet access provided by Waymakers, if any, will be appropriately managed and filtered where possible and monitored in line with our safeguarding arrangements.

Review and Updates

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where there are significant incidents, changes to our activities, changes in relevant legislation or guidance, or other circumstances that indicate a review is needed.

The centralised health and medical needs record, allergy information and associated guidance will also be kept under review so that staff have access to current information.

Risk assessments will be reviewed following significant incidents, near misses, changes to activities or environments, or where dynamic risk assessment identifies that existing controls may need to change.

Feedback from staff, families and young people will be welcomed and considered as part of our ongoing review of health, safety and risk arrangements.

Contact

For questions or to share relevant medical or allergy information before attending, please add the information to your booking form or contact us by email.

Families should tell Waymakers promptly if any relevant health, medical or allergy information changes.