The purpose of this policy is to help staff understand what they should do if they make a mistake.
44.1 Staff are required to be familiar with their rights and obligations in this Staff Handbook and also the BCC procedures set out in the policies, Terms and Conditions, and for Managers, the Managers Handbook. Staff are expected to follow these rules at all times, referring to the policies when they are not sure what should be done.
44.2 It is accepted that mistakes can be made. What is important when mistakes are made is that procedures are followed afterwards so that everything possible is done to reduce the impact of the mistake.
44.3 If you see mistakes being made by others, or are asked to do something that is contrary to BCC policy, you must report this to your manager or Saffia Bullock in accordance with the Whistleblowing Policy. The Whistleblowing Policy protects you when you report such issues.
44.4 You will not get into trouble for admitting to a mistake, but failure to report a mistake and to follow these remedial procedures, could result in disciplinary action in accordance with Policy 18 of this Handbook.
Giving a child the wrong food
44.5 If a child is mistakenly given food they are allergic to, staff must:
- Inform the room leader or a senior member of staff.
- A senior member of staff will administer any prescribed medicine or take any medical action as required. This may be telephoning an ambulance.
- Working with the senior management team, telephone the parents to collect the child if necessary and/or apologise and explain what has happened. Make a note of this call on an Important Conversations Form.
- Continuously monitor the child for a reaction.
- Write up what happened on an Incident Form, go through it with the parent when they collect the child and ask them to sign it. File all paperwork together in the Accident/Incident folder.
- Report to Saffia Bullock by phone or email the day the incident happens as Ofsted may need to be informed.
- Discuss with the staff involved what was not done properly, what went wrong and what needs to be done to ensure it does not happen again.
Giving a child the wrong medicine or incorrect prescription
44.6 If a child is mistakenly given the wrong medicine, staff must:
- Inform the room leader or a senior member of staff.
- A senior member of staff will administer any prescribed medicine or take any medical action as required. This may be telephoning an ambulance.
- Working with the senior management team, telephone the parents to collect the child if necessary and/or apologise and explain what has happened. Make a note of this call on an Important Conversations Form.
- Continuously monitor the child for a reaction.
- Write up what happened on an Incident Form, go through it with the parent when they collect the child and ask them to sign it. File all paperwork in the Accident/Incident folder.
- Report to Saffia Bullock by phone or email the day the incident happens as Ofsted may need to be informed.
- Discuss with the staff involved what was not done properly, what went wrong and what needs to be done to ensure it does not happen again.
Breaking something
44.7 It is important that you follow instructions on how to use machinery or equipment. If you are not sure how to use something correctly you must ask for help.
44.8 If you fail to follow instructions or ask for help and this results in you breaking a piece of Company property you may be expected to replace this at your cost.
44.9 If you break an item of Company property you must not throw it away. The item must be returned to Head Office with the Damage Report Form filled in which explains how the breakage happened.
Failure to follow procedures
44.10 If you realise that you have not followed a company procedure you must immediately report it to your Manager who will advise on how best to rectify the mistake.