Health and safety policy and procedures
Waymakers CIC is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all children, young people, staff, volunteers, visitors, and partners involved in our activities. We recognise our responsibility to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone who participates in or is affected by our provision.
This policy outlines our approach to managing health and safety across all Waymakers CIC activities, both in-person and online, with particular attention to the needs of neurodivergent learners and those with additional access requirements.
1. Responsibilities
2. Risk Assessment
3. First Aid
4. Illness and hygiene
5. Emergency Procedures
6. Safeguarding
7. Environment and Equipment
At some venues (e.g. at Springstead, there is a public park located directly opposite the venue and at the Meadows there are two onsite playgrounds) we may make use of onsite or nearby parks. We also encourage participants and their families to make use of the park before and after sessions. During sessions, facilitators or volunteers may also take participants to the park as part of planned activities.
When visiting the park during sessions:
8. Online Safety
9. Review and Updates
10. Use of Children’s Internet-Enabled Devices
Waymakers CIC recognises that some participants may want to use internet-enabled devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, laptops) to sessions as part of their learning or self-regulation strategies. While we support autonomy and digital exploration, we also prioritise safeguarding and respectful use of technology.
11. Allergy Awareness and Management
Waymakers CIC is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all learners, including those with allergies and intolerances.
Contact
For any questions or to share relevant medical information before attending, please do get in touch.
This policy outlines our approach to managing health and safety across all Waymakers CIC activities, both in-person and online, with particular attention to the needs of neurodivergent learners and those with additional access requirements.
1. Responsibilities
- Directors and Leads are responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented and reviewed annually.
- All staff and volunteers must be familiar with this policy, attend relevant training, and report any concerns or incidents immediately.
- Parents/carers and participants are expected to follow guidance, inform us of any relevant health needs, and work with us to ensure a safe environment.
2. Risk Assessment
- See our risk assessment document.
- Our risk assessment considers physical, emotional, and sensory safety and will be reviewed regularly or in response to incidents or environmental changes.
- Where needed, individual risk assessments will be developed for participants with specific needs.
3. First Aid
- Wherever possible a qualified first aider will be present at in-person sessions and all staff and volunteers attention is drawn to these useful step-by-step guides and videos and recommend that all facilitators download this app.
- Venues will have fully 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 and at the Meadows, their staff are nearly all first aid trained and the first aid box is available from the front desk.
- All incidents, accidents, or near misses will be recorded and reviewed and parents will be informed.
- Parents/carers must inform us of any medical needs or conditions at the time of booking to allow appropriate planning and support.
- We cannot be responsible for administering medication. We advise that medicines are only brought in if absolutely necessary and that children/young people are prepared and able to self-administer, under supervision if needed.
4. Illness and hygiene
- Any participant showing signs of contagious illness should not attend sessions until they are well (including allowing 48 hours since last vomiting episode for stomach bugs) - this is especially important to protect those in the community who may be immune-compromised.
- Handwashing facilities or hand sanitiser will be available at all sessions.
- Surfaces and shared resources will be cleaned regularly in line with our hygiene procedures.
- In the case of a medical emergency or contagious outbreak, appropriate procedures will be followed, including parent/carer notification and liaison with health services if required.
5. Emergency Procedures
- Emergency exits and procedures will be clearly explained to all participants at the start of each session.
- In the event of an emergency, facilitators will guide participants to safety and adult helpers will assist them in contacting emergency services where required.
- Contact details for all participants' parents will be kept securely and be available to trained adult helpers and facilitators in case of emergencies.
6. Safeguarding
- Health and safety is closely linked to safeguarding. 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.
7. 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 guided on 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 help with self-regulation. At Springstead, there is a park opposite the venue which we encourage participants to visit before and after sessions and which we may take them to visit during sessions with appropriately trained facilitators/volunteers always present - the usual risks of playground play will apply. If you are not happy for your child to go to the park, please advise.
- Participants may bring in devices to sessions where appropriate and agreed with facilitators running the sessions for their own personal use and must have parental controls enabled.
At some venues (e.g. at Springstead, there is a public park located directly opposite the venue and at the Meadows there are two onsite playgrounds) we may make use of onsite or nearby parks. We also encourage participants and their families to make use of the park before and after sessions. During sessions, facilitators or volunteers may also take participants to the park as part of planned activities.
When visiting the park during sessions:
- A minimum of one appropriately trained facilitator/volunteer will always be present.
- Usual risks associated with playground play will apply.
- Staff will exercise reasonable care and supervision, in line with our safeguarding and health and safety procedures.
8. Online Safety
- Where sessions are held online, our safeguarding policy will also apply.
- Facilitators will supervise online platforms and ensure respectful, inclusive behaviour is maintained at all times.
9. Review and Updates
- This policy will be reviewed annually or in response to significant incidents or changes in legislation.
- Feedback from staff, families, and young people will be welcomed to help us improve our practices.
10. Use of Children’s Internet-Enabled Devices
Waymakers CIC recognises that some participants may want to use internet-enabled devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, laptops) to sessions as part of their learning 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.
- 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) - any agreed stored images will only be kept on Waymakers devices.
- 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, though we will support children in caring for their belongings.
- Internet access provided by Waymakers (if any) will be filtered where possible and monitored in line with our safeguarding policy.
11. Allergy Awareness and Management
Waymakers CIC is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all learners, including those with allergies and intolerances.
- Parents/carers must inform Waymakers of any known allergies or intolerances during registration.
- Facilitators will maintain a confidential but accessible record of children’s medical and allergy needs.
- A no-sharing food policy will be in place unless agreed otherwise by all families involved.
- Where food preparation is part of a session, all ingredients will be reviewed in advance, and allergen information clearly communicated.
- Nuts and other common allergens may be restricted from sessions depending on the needs of the group and avoiding nuts and dairy in lunches is encouraged but parents must be aware that different venues have different rules so absence of allergens may not be possible in all venues.
- Any medication such as antihistamines or EpiPens must be clearly labelled and accessible. Facilitators will be trained in emergency response as needed.
- Surfaces will be cleaned before and after eating or messy activities, and handwashing encouraged before snacks and meals.
Contact
For any questions or to share relevant medical information before attending, please do get in touch.