Personal Care: Shaving Policy

Policy Statement

This policy sets out how {{org_field_name}} addresses a specific aspect of personal care, ie shaving, meaning the removal of unwanted facial and bodily hair.

It is in line with other personal care policies, including that on intimate personal care and with the service’s requirements to provide person-centred respectful, dignified care under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The policy applies to the occasions when care and support staff help people with their shaving routines. It applies to both men and women, who need or ask for help with unwanted hair removal. Such help will be given only when requested, agreed to and included in a person’s care plan.

For Transgender (trans) people, shaving may be a very sensitive personal issue. Trans women often have to deal with facial hair unless they have undergone permanent hair removal treatments. Non-binary and gender non-conforming people might feel as if facial hair is an unwelcome sign of masculinity, so a sensitive approach and discussion with the person as to their needs and preferences is needed.

Like other acts of personal care, the shaving policy must conform to established care standards of care practice. Help with shaving:

should be requested or if suggested carried out only with the consent of the person concerned (or as a best interests’ decision following a full assessment if the person cannot consent)
should follow confidentiality principles and be carried out with respect for a person’s dignity and need for privacy
should be proportionate to the need with a person being encouraged to provide as much self-care as they want, or are capable of, in the procedure
be written into a person’s care plan, which should provide all relevant details such as how often, when and the manner of the support, eg wet shaving, electric razor, etc
should be provided on the basis of need with an accompanying risk assessment and what has been agreed recorded on the care plan, eg to assess risks for allergies, cuts and bruises
should be carried out only by staff who are competent in the specific methods to be used; if there are no such staff the services of a qualified person, eg a barber or someone from personal grooming company from outside might be sought (who we might also use for training staff)
should be carried out only with the appropriate equipment that can be safely and hygienically used by the care and support staff involved
should at all times keep the person’s wellbeing and safety under consideration.

Procedures

General

Staff involved should always:

check that the person has requested help with shaving or has agreed to receiving the help (or following a best interests assessment)
check that the procedure to be used is in line with the person’s care plan
understand what form of help the person needs, based on how much they want or can do for their self
fully involve the person with the process
make all the necessary preparations including after shave items such as cream, etc
wear the appropriate protective clothing in the interests of infection control
record the activity on the person’s care plan
dispose of the equipment used in line with the relevant disposal of waste procedures.

The equipment and accessories to be used should belong to the person, eg disposable or electric razor, after-shave lotion, etc. Items should not as a rule be shared on hygiene grounds.

Specific

Wet shaving

A wet shave is the less safe of the shaving methods that can be used, but might be requested as preferred by the person seeking help.
The staff carrying out the activity are expected to be experienced and competent in the correct shaving techniques that should be used (mainly shaving in the direction that the hair grows).
Staff without experience will have included in their following training observing the practice and then carrying out the activity under the supervision of a competent colleague who can assess their practice.
Staff are expected to avoid using wet shaving requiring razors with anyone at risk of bleeding, who takes blood thinning medication, has delicate skin or who has poor circulation.

A model procedure is as follows (though these could vary).

Have all the necessary equipment set out in advance, eg warm basin of water, shaving cream or foam (in line with individual choices), an appropriate disposable safety razor (only to be used on this person), washcloth, face towel and tissues, mirror, after-shave lotion, and face powder (as required by the person).
Use the appropriate protective equipment, eg apron and gloves.
Begin by checking with the person what has been agreed and the proposed procedure.
Have the person sitting up comfortably in sufficient light.
Wet the face with warm water and flannel.
Apply shaving soap, cream or foam as appropriate.
Starting at one side, holding cheek, shave downwards from cheek, and again from the other side before central areas, taking great care with sensitive areas.
Shave upwards from underneath the chin.
Explain and check at each stage with the person that they are ok with what is being done.
When finished, wipe off any remaining cream and apply after shave or powder as requested.

Electric shaving

Follow the general process outlined above.
Soften the beard by lightly washing with a flannel or lotion first if necessary.
When using an electric razor follow the maker’s instructions — usually using a circular motion with rotary blades systematically working around the beard and under the chin.
Apply after shave as required.

Note:

Staff must not use an electric razor with people receiving oxygen because of the ignition risks.

Other parts of the body

Care staff are not expected to shave other parts such as armpits, legs or pubic hair unless specifically requested and it is in line with a person’s care needs.
They would do so only if experienced and competent in the specific procedure involved.
They will do so then only under supervision and after checking the procedure.
Wet shaving or electric razors might be used for legs, but we would always recommend electric shaving for efficiency and safety reasons (except near oxygen).

Training

Staff providing help with shaving will receive the appropriate training, practice and supervision before they are allowed to use any of the above procedures on their own.

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}

S177. Personal Care: Shaving