There must be an understanding of the professional boundaries which childcare workers should adhere to in order to develop a positive relationship with children and their families/carers, colleagues and professionals. Adults working with children and young people should not have social contact with them or their families/carers. If a child or parent/carer tries to contact a childcare worker socially, either face to face, on the phone or via social media, the childcare worker should always discuss the situation with their manager or the parent/carer of the child or young person. Adults should be aware that social contact in some situations can be misinterpreted as developing inappropriate relationships.
Sometimes, childcare workers may support parents/carers or carers who may be experiencing difficulties. Care should be taken in those situations where a parent/carer is dependent on an adult for support outside of their professional capacity. Childcare workers must understand the limitations of their role and personal abilities, and when to refer cases to other professionals or seek further support and advice. In order to avoid developing inappropriate relationships, childcare workers must understand the difference between professional and personal relationships and ensure that they always behave within professional boundaries. Professional relationships have a specific role and purpose which means that childcare workers will have some power as part of their role. Childcare workers need to be aware of this power and use it sensitively.
Intimate or sexual relationships between children/young people and adults working with them are taken very seriously. Any sexual activity between an adult and a child/young person with whom they work is considered an offence and will always lead to disciplinary action.
Every child and young person has the right to be treated with respect and dignity even in circumstances where they behave in an inappropriate or challenging manner. Adults should not belittle a child nor make derogatory or insensitive comments as punishment. Any punishments or rewards used should be part of the setting's behaviour management policy. When children behave in an inappropriate or challenging manner, childcare workers must follow the behaviour policy and use strategies which are appropriate to the circumstances and situation. Physical interventions should only be used in exceptional circumstances and as a last resort when other behaviour management strategies have been exhausted.
The role of early years and childcare childcare workers carries an element of power, therefore they need to understand what practices or behaviours are unacceptable, e.g.:
Rhaid deall y ffiniau proffesiynol y dylai gweithwyr gofal plant gadw atyn nhw er mwyn datblygu perthynas gadarnhaol gyda phlant a’u teuluoedd/gofalwyr, cydweithwyr a gweithwyr proffesiynol. Ni ddylai oedolion sy'n gweithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc gael cyswllt cymdeithasol â nhw na'u teuluoedd/gofalwyr. Os yw plentyn neu riant/gofalwr yn ceisio cysylltu a gweithiwr gofal plant yn gymdeithasol, naill ai wyneb yn wyneb, ar y ffôn neu drwy gyfryngau cymdeithasol, dylai'r gweithiwr gofal plant bob amser drafod y sefyllfa gyda'u rheolwr neu gyda rhiant/gofalwr y plentyn neu berson ifanc. Dylai oedolion fod yn ymwybodol y gall cyswllt cymdeithasol mewn rhai sefyllfaoedd gael ei gamddehongli fel meithrin perthynas amhriodol.
Ar adegau, gall gweithwyr gofal plant gefnogi rhieni/gofalwyr neu ofalwyr a allai fod yn mynd drwy gyfnod anodd. Mae angen bod yn ofalus yn y sefyllfaoedd hynny lle mae'r rhiant/gofalwr yn dibynnu ar yr oedolyn am gymorth y tu allan i'w rôl broffesiynol. Rhaid i gweithwyr gofal plant ddeall cyfyngiadau eu rôl a'u galluoedd personol, a phryd i gyfeirio achosion at weithwyr proffesiynol eraill neu geisio cymorth a chyngor pellach. Er mwyn osgoi meithrin perthnasau amhriodol, mae angen i gweithwyr gofal plant ddeall y gwahaniaeth rhwng perthynas broffesiynol a phersonol a sicrhau bod eu hymddygiad bob amser o fewn terfynau proffesiynol. Mae gan berthynas broffesiynol rôl a phwrpas penodol, sy'n golygu y bydd gan gweithwyr gofal plant rywfaint o bŵer fel rhan o'u rôl. Mae angen i gweithwyr gofal plant fod yn ymwybodol o'r pŵer hwn, a'i ddefnyddio mewn ffordd sensitif.
Ystyrir perthynas agos neu rywiol rhwng plant/pobl ifanc a'r oedolion sy'n gweithio gyda nhw yn fater difrifol. Gall unrhyw weithgaredd rhywiol rhwng oedolyn a'r plentyn neu berson ifanc y maent yn gweithio gyda fo/hi ei ystyried yn drosedd a bydd bob amser yn arwain at gymryd camau disgyblu.
Mae gan bob plentyn a pherson ifanc yr hawl i gael eu trin â pharch ac urddas hyd yn oed mewn amgylchiadau lle maent yn arddangos ymddygiad amhriodol neu heriol. Ni ddylai oedolion fychanu plentyn na defnyddio sylwadau diraddiol neu ansensitif fel cosb. Dylai unrhyw gosbau neu wobrau a ddefnyddir fod yn rhan o bolisi rheoli ymddygiad y lleoliad. Pan fydd plant yn dangos ymddygiad amhriodol neu heriol, rhaid i gweithwyr gofal plant ddilyn y polisi ymddygiad, a defnyddio strategaethau sy'n briodol i'r amgylchiadau a'r sefyllfa. Dim ond mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol y gellir defnyddio ymyriad corfforol a rhaid ei ddefnyddio fel dewis olaf pan fydd strategaethau rheoli ymddygiad eraill wedi methu.
Mae gan gweithwyr gofal plant y blynyddoedd cynnar a gofal plant elfen o bŵer sy’n gysylltiedig â’u rôl, felly, mae angen iddynt ddeall pa arferion neu ymddygiad sy’n annerbyniol, e.e.:
Use the thought shower to note as many ideas as you can think of.
Defnyddiwch y gawod syniadau i nodi cynifer ag y gallwch o syniadau.