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Parents

guide
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Choosing
a
Safe
Child Care
Centre
Have a Plan B available if there
is an urgent need to make a
sudden change to where your
child goes to child care. This is
actually one of the primary
reasons children remain in care,
even after a parent realizes there is
something not right.
Parents are often trapped into
their jobs and routines and find it
very difficult to make a necessary
decision even after the evidence is
clear that they should.
Having a backup plan available
will help if there is a sudden and
unexpected need to change the
care arrangements. It can be
traumatic for the parent and child
to send them back into a
potentially unsafe environment.
Hiring someone to take care of
your children is one of the
biggest decisions any parent can
make.
Important questions you can ask;
Has the service been assessed
under the National Quality
Framework, and what was the
rating?
Can you see the quality
improvement plan?
How are your staff and volunteers
screened and selected?"
Does the centre support and
practice age appropriate
protective behaviours training with
children?
When an unsafe
situation arises, all a
child has to rely on is
what you have taught
them and the action
taken by the adults
supervising them
BestLife Consulting accepts no
liability for the content of this
document or for the
consequences of any actions
taken on the basis of the
information provided. You are
notified that unauthorized
copying, distributing or
duplicating of this information is
strictly prohibited without consent
of BestLife Consulting.
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The parent checklists have been
organised into 4 categories;
1. Leadership
2. Training
3. Safety
4. Your overall impressions
The Choosing a Safe Child Care Centre
checklist is a guide to help you assess
aspects of the safety of each centre.
You may find the centre cannot answer
your questions. If you require
professional guidance on answers given
refer to either the national body for
childcare centre accreditation guides
from ACECQA or your state regulatory
body to inquire about standard policies
and procedures which should be in
place.
http://www.acecqa.gov.au/Contact-
your-Regulatory-Authority.
Ask each centre about their quality
improvement plan to address any gaps
you observe.
The free Parent checklist is available on
the BestLIfe Consulting website.
http://www.bestlife-
coaching.net/bestlife-for-children---
parent-resources.html
More and more, research tells us
that our children's healthy
development depends on safe and
positive experiences during the first
few years of life.
Choosing child care is one of the
most important decisions you will
ever make for your child.
To help you make the right choice
for your child, this guide has been
designed by Parents for Parents.
This guide serves two key objectives;
1. Provide a checklist to objectively
assess safety aspects of the child
care services on offer
2. Encourage you to reflect on your
overall impression of each
centre.
This guide focuses on Safety and
Keeping Your Child Safe from abuse.
Other guides may exists which help
you evaluate other important factors
such as education, nutrition and fun.
This is not covered in our checklist.
You might want to visit several
different child care centres or family
day care homes, before you decide
which one is best for your family.
Call each centre and schedule an
appointment for your visit. Once
you are there, stay for at least an
hour to watch activities, check the
surroundings, and ask questions.
Ensure you pop into the centre
when you are not expected to get
a better idea of what it's really like.
Legitimate day care operators will
be willing to have a prospective
parent drop by and observe.
Visit the ACECQA website to search
accredited childcare providers in
your area. This also allows you to
review their most recent NQS rating.
This checklist has been
designed by parents for
parents
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Protect the ones you love
and take preventative steps
Parent
Centre Safety Checklist
Standards & credentials Centre 1 Centre 2 Centre 3
Who manages the child care centre? Can you meet him/her?
Has the service been assessed under the National Quality Framework?
What was the rating?
What areas required improvement?
Does the centre have a quality improvement plan and can you see a
copy?
(If the centre has not been rated ask what timeframe this is due)
What is the staff turnover rate?
Does the Director of the child care centre have a diploma or bachelor's
degree in a child-related field?
Has the director worked in child care for at least 2 years?
Do all staff have a child safe environment training certificate?
What would the Director do if a parent presented a concern that their
child had been injured several days in a row at the centre? What process
would be followed to investigate?
Has the lead teacher of the room your child would be in worked in child
care for at least 1 year?
Can you see the Code of Conduct for all staff? Does it specifically cover
each educators responsibility not to abuse children and to report
suspicion of abuse? If not, why not?
What are the child to carer ratios at the centre? What is required by state
law and how does this compare? What are the educator to child ratios
for excursions?
What is the centres procedure for processing and reporting a concern
before it goes to CARL (Child Abuse Reporting Line)?
Has the Director had experience reporting concerns to the Child abuse
reporting line and can they provide an example of the process and
policy which was followed?
Leadership
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Parent
Centre Safety Checklist
Screening and Training Centre 1 Centre 2 Centre 3
Are children supervised when they go to the toilet?
what are the behaviour management policies and how do staff
manage challenging behaviours?
Are the caregivers trained to administer medication to the
children? Will they ensure that the correct dose of medication is
given to the child at the right time?
What is the training and policy for fire drills?
What first aid equipment does the centre have? Do staff know
how to do first aid and rescue breathing?
How are applicants screened before they are hired?
Have all caregivers gone through a background check?
How are your volunteers screened and selected?"
Have all caregivers been trained in how to prevent child abuse,
how to recognize signs of child abuse, and how to report
suspected child abuse?
Are staff trained to ensure children are supervised at all times?
How do staff maintain this vigilance?
Does the centre practice age appropriate protective behaviours
training with children? What resources do they use?
What is the centre policy for collection of children by someone
other than their primary caregiver?
Training
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Parent
Centre Safety Checklist
Safety Centre 1 Centre 2 Centre 3
Are children supervised at all times even when they are sleeping?
What is the procedure for putting children down at sleep time?
Are children allowed to eat at their own pace? What would happen if
your child doesnt eat at the designated time?
How does the centre cope with food allergies and intolerances?
Does the child care program keep medication out of reach from
children?
Is the equipment the right size and type for the age of the children who
use it?
Are the soil and playground surfaces checked often for dangerous
substances and hazards? How often? Is there an outside area with
plenty of shade?
Ask what the procedure is if you are running late to pick up your child
and what fees will be charged?
If your child is injured how is this dealt with and how will you be notified?
What reporting on injuries does the centre maintain and can you see
them?
Where will alleged abuse be reported as the first port of call? When are
police notified? What is the centre policy when abuse is an concern?
Can you see the policy?
What are the written rules/procedures relating to staff and visitor
behaviour with children.
Are there any areas of the centre where a child could be taken out of
sight by someone and if so what is the procedure in regard to this?
Can I please have a copy of the parent concern/grievance policy?
Safety
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Parent
Centre Safety Checklist
How did you feel? Centre 1 Centre 2 Centre 3
Is the atmosphere relaxed and happy?
Is there anything that appears to be out of place?
Do the rooms seem well organised, clean and tidy?
Were you offered introductions toall staff during the tour of the
centre?
Was the reception area clean, tidy and organised?
Do staff members seem interested in your child and did they
make an effort to talk to him or her?
Did you hear laughter and the sounds of children playing?
Do you and your child feel welcome?
Does the centre seem safe and secure?
Did anything or anyone concern you?
Do you understand how you can make a complaint about your
child's care or service?
Were you given a copy of the centre's operating policies and
procedures?
Impressions
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