1. Who this policy protects
Every child and every adult receiving care deserves dignity, safety and a voice. A child is anyone under 18. An adult may need additional protection because of illness, disability, age, dependence, isolation or a particular situation; this does not, by itself, mean that the adult lacks decision-making capacity. This policy applies to clients, professionals, household members and anyone using Aupaire in connection with care.
2. Best interests, dignity and equal treatment
The child’s best interests and the care recipient’s welfare take priority over convenience, ratings or commercial interests. No one may discriminate, harass or deny respectful treatment because of sex, religion or belief, race, colour, language, origin, disability, age or another protected characteristic. Care preferences must be considered lawfully and respectfully in relation to the person’s needs, privacy and the professional’s permitted scope. Reasonable communication support should be discussed without assumptions about a person’s abilities.
3. Accounts, authority and consent
Children must not create a client account, contract for services or participate as care professionals. The person making a booking must meet the account-age and legal-capacity requirements in the applicable terms. A parent or legally authorised guardian must authorise care for a child. Processing the child’s data must follow the lawful conditions and any separate consent requirements in the Privacy Policy; this does not prevent necessary safeguarding reports or lawful disclosures concerning that guardian. Being a relative or paying for a visit does not automatically give authority to decide for another adult. Obtain the adult’s informed consent, or establish lawful representative authority where required. Explain care in an accessible way and listen to the child or adult’s wishes and concerns.
4. Before a visit
The booking adult must provide accurate, relevant care information: who will receive care, allergies or essential safety information, agreed tasks, emergency contacts and an authorised handover plan. Share only what is needed for safe care through the approved channels. Before onboarding, every professional must complete identity verification and a face-to-face interview, and undergo credential, health-fitness certificate and criminal-record checks. Credentials must match the services they will provide; professionals may offer only approved categories. Client identity verification is also required by the applicable account and booking workflow. Screening reduces risk; it is not a guarantee of future conduct.
5. Clear professional boundaries
Physical punishment, humiliating treatment, threats, bullying, sexual conduct, grooming, exploitation, trafficking, neglect and withholding essential care are prohibited. Never seek secret contact with a child, ask a child to keep secrets about care, or use private social-media accounts to contact the child. Do not solicit gifts, loans, access to money or changes to a care recipient’s will or financial arrangements. Touch and assistance must be necessary, appropriate to the agreed care, explained where possible and respectful of privacy and consent. Restraint, sedation or restriction of movement must never be used for convenience, punishment or outside lawful professional authority.
6. Supervision and safe handover
Follow the agreed supervision and handover arrangements. Do not leave a child or a dependent person without the supervision required for their needs, and do not hand over care to an unverified or unauthorised person. If the authorised adult is absent or a handover is unsafe, contact Aupaire and, unless doing so could increase the risk, the booking adult. Follow section 10 if a parent, guardian or household member may be the source of harm. If there is immediate danger, contact the competent emergency service. Do not leave a person in immediate danger to meet an app deadline. Any change in the care plan must remain within the booked service and lawful professional scope.
7. Childcare, nursing and current service boundaries
Current childcare categories are daytime childcare, overnight childcare and special-needs support. Aupaire does not currently offer school pickup, travel, outings or accompaniment to medical appointments. A childcare or companionship booking does not authorise nursing procedures, diagnosis, prescribing or medication decisions. Regulated care requires the relevant professional credentials, instructions and consent. Special-needs support must match the professional’s competence and the person’s needs. New categories require a separate review before being offered.
8. Personal care and privacy
Explain intimate or personal-care tasks, seek appropriate consent and protect the person from unnecessary exposure. Stop and seek guidance when consent, authority or scope is unclear, while taking reasonable steps to avoid immediate harm. No photography, recording, livestreaming or social-media sharing of a child or care recipient is permitted merely because a visit has been booked. Any necessary clinical or incident documentation must have a lawful purpose, minimum necessary content and a secure authorised route. Do not share intimate images in general support chat or by public links.
9. In-app communication and check-ins
Use the communication tools available for the booking to coordinate with the authorised adult. Video check-ins during care must respect the recipient’s dignity, consent and privacy. Do not show intimate care or an unwilling participant. In-app communication is not continuous supervision, an emergency service or permission to record. Keep personal contact information private and never use a child as the channel for resolving a payment or adult dispute.
10. If someone discloses harm
Listen calmly, take the concern seriously and do not blame the person. Do not promise absolute secrecy, confront the alleged perpetrator, conduct an investigation or repeatedly question a child. Explain that information may need to be shared with people who can help protect them. Record the person’s own words and the relevant facts accurately when safe, without speculation. Do not notify a parent, guardian or household member if doing so may increase danger; seek guidance from the competent protection authority.
11. Report promptly; do not wait for proof
Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, unsafe care or a serious boundary violation promptly. You do not need to prove an allegation before reporting it in good faith. For immediate danger in Egypt, call the appropriate emergency service; the reporting page lists official numbers, including the Child Helpline. A report to Aupaire does not replace a report required by law to a competent authority. Aupaire’s support channels are not emergency dispatch and must not delay urgent help.
12. Protective action and fair review
Aupaire may restrict contact, suspend access or stop affected bookings while a safeguarding concern is assessed, according to the applicable terms and law. A temporary protective measure is not a finding of guilt. Reviews must protect the person at risk, use relevant evidence and allow a fair response where this does not prejudice safety or a lawful investigation. Information may be shared with competent authorities where legally required or permitted. No confidentiality promise may prevent lawful safeguarding action.
13. No retaliation and accessible reporting
Threats, intimidation, reviews used in retaliation or other reprisals against someone who raises a concern in good faith or assists an investigation are prohibited. An unsubstantiated report is not automatically a malicious report. Ask for help if disability, language, literacy or fear makes reporting difficult. A trusted person may assist where appropriate and authorised. Children’s views should be heard in an age-appropriate manner without requiring them to manage the complaint themselves.
14. Records, review and legal rights
Safeguarding information must be limited to what is necessary, accessible only to authorised people and retained under the applicable lawful retention rules. Children’s and sensitive personal data require the additional safeguards described in the Privacy Policy. Aupaire assigns safeguarding responsibility to an authorised team and provides relevant training. The policy is reviewed after material incidents or service changes. Nothing here limits the right to approach police, child-protection bodies, regulators or competent courts, or any right that cannot lawfully be waived.