Has your organisation developed a ‘safe touch’ policy that is reviewed annually as part of your suite of child protection related policies? It may also be aligned to, or include your, ‘use of reasonable force (or positive handling) procedures’.
Safe touch is defined as physical contact that, if otherwise avoided, would be inhumane, unkind and potentially emotionally or physically damaging for the pupil. It should never be invasive, humiliating or flirtatious and always be reasonable, proportionate and necessary.
Consider inclusion of any relevant legal framework, a description of the types of safe touch, examples of unsafe touch and describe the potential link to the use of reasonable force or positive handling interventions.
chris gould: 112 safeguarding 