Features

Positive relationships: Physical Contact - In touch

A new briefing paper from the NDNA outlines the challenges for practitioners considering what is appropriate contact and gives pointers for best practice

Children in a care setting need contact with familiar, consistent carers to ensure they can grow confidently and feel self-assured. At times children need to be cuddled, held and offered physical reassurance. Intimate care routines throughout the day are essential to children's basic needs. Yet NDNA members are increasingly expressing their concerns about the management of child/carer physical contact.

Issues

Potential issues providers face:

- Fear of risk of allegations against a member of staff

- Balancing the essential emotional needs of the child with messages received about touch and physical contact

- Using restraint with children when they are in danger, or risk putting others in danger

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