First Aid

Wilderness Way is committed to protecting and promoting children’s health, wellbeing and safety. This policy aims to ensure that:

• All children at Wilderness Way have timely and appropriate access to first aid when required;
• Staff are trained and confident in administering first aid to promote children’s health and wellbeing;
• Electronic records and reports are appropriately and accurately kept of all accidents and incidents that occur;
• The physical and emotional wellbeing of children and staff is promoted.

All staff and managers will be familiar with the location and content of first aid boxes and additional first aid equipment. The registered service manager and those with delegated management responsibilities will ensure that:

• First aid boxes are held in each home and carried in each of the vehicles used for the transportation of children and for off-site activities and outings;
• All first aid boxes (white cross on a green background) and other supportive equipment can be easily identified and located by all staff at the home;
• All kits are stocked in line with HSE recommendations and checked monthly;
• Each box has an inventory that will include the full quantity of each item stipulated in the box. When an item has been used, it should be replaced as soon as possible;
• All staff working in the home are familiar with the use and location of ligature cutters. These should be easily accessible and checked as necessary.

Staff are required to follow these immediate steps as they can make a critical difference when providing immediate care to a child or adult who is injured or has suddenly taken ill.

• In any emergency, staff will remain calm, assess the situation promptly, ensure the safety of all involved, and provide immediate care;
• Call 999 without delay for serious or life-threatening injuries;
• Contact the on-call manager and, if necessary, the child’s social worker or parent/carer, to advise them of the situation and any further advice or support required;
• After administering first aid, record the incident and monitor the child’s wellbeing. This may require the child to be monitored at regular intervals during the day and/or night. These monitoring checks will be diligently recorded and the child’s wellbeing commented on. Should staff have any further need of advice or have concerns, NHS 111 should be contacted, or 999 in the case of greater emergency;
• Any injury to the head, or requiring hospital treatment, will be reported to the Registered Manager immediately, or the Responsible Individual or another senior manager in their absence;
• The administration of first aid will be recorded on the child’s electronic accident record, individual child’s daily record and the medication administration record (MAR)

Maintaining high standards of hygiene and infection control is a fundamental part of delivering safe and effective first aid in any residential care home. At Wilderness Way we will ensure high standards are maintained to minimise health risks and uphold the wellbeing of everyone in the home. This will include:

• Good hand hygiene will be routinely practised by all staff in our homes with thorough washing with soap and water before administering first aid;
• Staff will wear disposable gloves and aprons when dealing with bodily fluids;
• First aid areas and equipment will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected immediately after use;
• First aid equipment will be restocked after each use and checked to ensure all items are in date, sterile, and stored hygienically;
• Clinical waste will be disposed of in accordance with infection control procedures.

All staff working within the children’s home will receive appropriate first aid training to ensure they can respond effectively and confidently to medical emergencies. This is a regulatory requirement and ensures that staff can safely deliver immediate support.

• All staff are required to complete a recognised Emergency First Aid at Work course delivered by a qualified and accredited provider;
• Training will be refreshed every three years, or sooner if required by regulation or identified need;
• A qualified first aider will always be present when children are in the home or off-site on activities;
• Where children have specific medical conditions (e.g., epilepsy, diabetes, severe allergies), staff will receive additional, child-specific training and be signed off as competent.

• This policy works alongside the home’s Medication and Homely Remedies Policy;
• Each child should have permission for staff to administer first aid and non-prescription medication from a person with parental responsibility for them recorded in the relevant plan. Permission should be sought and arranged with the child’s social worker;
• Verbal consent from children will also be sought, where it is reasonable to do so, to ensure that children understand that the immediate intervention of first aid is being given to help and support them;
• For injuries requiring treatment beyond first aid, medical assistance will be sought.

A comprehensive written record will be completed after every first aid intervention. Accurate documentation ensures that each child’s health needs are properly addressed and monitored, supports continuity of care, and provides a clear account of how incidents were managed. It also helps identify patterns or recurring issues that may require further intervention, inform care planning, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards. Such records will at a minimum include:

• Date, time, and nature of the incident;
• Action taken;
• Name of person(s) administering first aid

Use of a ligature cutter is a serious incident and must be reported to the appropriate regulator. In England, to Ofsted under regulation 40, and in Scotland, to the Care Inspectorate.

Injuries requiring hospital treatment or resulting in absence from school will be reported to the child’s placing authority and regulator as applicable.

Wilderness Way offers a wide range of off-site activities generally led by care staff and specialist adventurous outdoor activities led by qualified outdoor instructors. There are more specific procedures and guidance which promote children’s safety and wellbeing. For all off-site activities, the following will be observed:

• A designated first aider will accompany all off-site visits;
• A mobile first aid kit will be carried, and emergency procedures reviewed prior to the trip;
• Offsite activities risk assessments will include first aid considerations;
• For Wilderness Way outdoor activities care staff should be familiar with the “WW Outdoor Activities – Outdoor Kit and First Aid Guidance.”

Monitoring incidents that require first aid for children at Wilderness Way is a vital aspect of safeguarding and promoting their overall wellbeing. Systematic monitoring by managers helps identify recurring issues, assess potential risks, and ensure that care plans are appropriately tailored to each child’s needs. It also supports accountability, informs our staff training, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

Ultimately, this practice contributes to creating a safe, nurturing environment where children’s physical and emotional health is protected and prioritised. This commitment from Wilderness Way will ensure that:

• All incidents are monitored for patterns or recurring risks and themes;
• The policy is reviewed annually or following a significant incident;
• Lessons learned are fed back into staff training and risk assessment processes.

• Health and Safety Policy;
• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy;
• Medication Policy;
• Risk Assessment Policy;
• Behaviour Management Policy.