Family Day Care

/ Whitehorse Family Day Care
Educator Handbook

WHITEHORSE

FAMILY DAY CARE

EDUCATOR HANDBOOK

ISSUED BY: City of Whitehorse

Page 1

/ Whitehorse Family Day Care
Educator Handbook

Table of Contents

PART 1: GENERAL

Mission Statement

Philosophy

Code of Conduct

Australian Early Childhood Association Code of Ethics

Roles and Responsibilities

Managing the Shared Home Environment

Organisational Structure

The Professional Family Day Educator

Developing a Professional Profile

The Parent Interview

Tips on Settling a Child into Care

PART 2: OPERATING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1.EDUCATOR REGISTRATION

1.1Educator Recruitment

1.2Criminal Records Checks

1.3Health Declaration

1.4Educator Orientation

1.5Professional Training and Development

1.6Mentor Support

1.7Leave Procedures

1.8Counselling

1.9Disciplinary

1.10Complaints / Compliments

1.11Deregistration

2HOME VISITS

2.1Coordinator Unit Support Visit

3PLAY SESSIONS

3.1Play Sessions

4CHILD PLACEMENT

4.1Placement of Children

4.2Priority of Access Guidelines

4.3Diversity and Equity

4.4Gender Equity

4.5Inclusion of Children with Additional Needs

4.6Alternative Emergency Care

4.7Parental Right of Access

5CHILDCARE PROVISION

5.1Privacy and Confidentiality

5.2Supervision

5.3Visitors / Temporary Residents

5.4Planning and Evaluating Children’s Experiences

5.5Behaviour Guidance

5.6Biting

5.7Swearing

5.8Television, Videos and Computer Games

5.9Outings / Excursions

5.10Arrivals / Departures of Children

5.11Clothing and Comfort

5.12The Role of Educators’ Family in Family Day Care

6NUTRITION

6.1Nutrition

6.2Food Safety

7EMERGENCY

7.1Accident and Injury to Children

7.2Accident and Injury to Educator

7.3Rest and Sleep

7.4Suspected Child Abuse

7.5Child Protection

7.6Uncollected Children

8SAFETY

8.1Child Safety

8.2Dangerous Products

8.3Equipment Auditing and Monitoring

8.4Sleeping and Bedding

8.5Overnight Care

8.6Occupational Health and Safety

8.7Fire Safety

8.8Sun Protection

8.9Photography of Children

8.10Transport

8.11Animals / Pets

9HEALTH AND HYGIENE

9.1Immunisation

9.2Infectious Disease

9.3Diagnosed Conditions

9.4Medication

9.5Anaphylaxis

9.6Asthma

9.7Head Lice

9.8Dental Health Policy

9.9Hand Washing

9.10Bathing

9.11Nappy Changing

9.12Toileting

9.13Gloves

9.14Smoke Free Environment

9.15Alcohol and Drugs

9.16Cleaning and Disinfection

9.17Blood Spills / Body Fluids

9.18Illness

10ADMINISTRATION

10.1Records Management - Families

10.2Records Management - Children

10.3Records Management - Educators

10.4Access to Information

10.5Communication with Families

10.6Fees

10.7Childcare Benefit

10.8Timesheets / Attendance Records

10.9Absences from Childcare

10.10Media Relations

PART 3: FORMS

Educator Recruitment...... / Educator Application Form
Health Declaration Forms
Whitehorse Family Day Care Home Safety Check
Whitehorse Family Day Care Registration Agreement
Home Visits...... / Home Visit Record
Home Visit parent Notification
Annual Educator Review and Registration
Play Sessions...... / Play Session Interest slip
Play Session Notification slip
Play Session Review and Feedback sheet
Child Placement...... / Service Agreement
New Family Feedback Sheet
Educator Leave Form & Alternate Care Request
Authorisation to Collect Form
Inclusion Support Permission Form
Termination of Care Form
Childcare Provision...... / Excursion Permission Form
Car Transport Permission Form
Preschool/School Run Permission Form
Family Day Care Timesheet
Emergency Procedures...... / Home Accident Report
Incident Report
Safety...... / Emergency Action Plan
Home Fire Escape Plan
Emergency Evacuation Practice Form
Emergency Evacuation Certificate
Request Not To Use Sunscreen Form
Health & Hygiene...... / Influenza Information and Consent Form
Medication Record

PART 1: GENERAL

Mission Statement

‘Providing a quality

home-based child care service

that is responsive to changing

community needs.’

Philosophy

We believe that the care of young children is a journey that is taken together with families, children Educator’s and staff. Working together ensures that our service reflects the needs of the children, their families and the wider community.

By working together, Whitehorse Family Day Care strives to provide a service that is respectful, responsive and enjoyable. We endeavour to establish relationships with all of our families that allow for a shared exchange of information. We believe in responsive services that embody commitment, action and respect.

We value services for families and staff that reflect mutual trust and respect, ensuring that our aim to provide quality services for young children and their familles is achieved.

Whitehorse Family Day Care believes that -

Children:

Feel safe and secure in a nurturing home-based childcare environment;

Learn in an environment that respects their individuality, developing skills and knowledge;

Require a play-based program with a variety of experiences that stimulates and challenges their developing skills;

Are encouraged to wonder and question, to explore and discover and that with the Educators and staff they can seek answers and enjoyment;

Gain confidence and trust through respectful and appropriate interactions;

Are able to enhance their own learning and development when respected, encouraged and accepted.

Families:

Are central to the journey being undertaken;

Bring to our service unique values from their background, their cultures, their beliefs and their practices

Work together with staff and Educators to achieve the best outcomes for all;

Magnify the quality of the care provided for each child, through their knowledge and insight.

The Program:

Strives to work in partnership with families;

Encourages the developing self esteem of children;

Reflects everyday life and provides the resources for developing life skills;

Recognises each individual child through the provision of culturally and developmentally appropriate play experiences and interactions;

Offers a variety of play-based experiences that utilise natural and recycled materials and resources that allow for exploration;

Fosters the children’s sense of wonder and curiosity.

Coordination Unit Staff and Educators:

Are integral to the operation of the program;

Bring a sense of joy and belief in young children and families to the program;

Are committed to and act as facilitators to ensure the provision of high quality Family Day Care services;

Bring to our service unique values from their background, their cultures, their beliefs and their practices;

Demonstrate their understanding of the children in their care and a commitment to ensuring that the time that these children and the families spend with them is of value;

Interact in positive and respectful ways, safe guarding the needs of the families, children, and each other;

Will guide children’s behaviour with positive encouragement and in consultation with families;

Develop a sense of wonder with the children through play experiences and involvement in the world around them.

Management:

Supports the provision of Family Day Care for families and children in our community;

Encourage and support staff and Educators in their quest for information and knowledge;

Are committed to the professional development of staff;

Guide the progress of the Family Day Care program with integrity and sensitivity;

Support the families in their desire for quality services

Family Day Care Aims and Objectives

To provide a quality home-based childcare service that is flexible, and responsive to the needs of the families and children in our community.

Programs Objectives:

To ensure Whitehorse Family Day Care is flexible and responsive to the changing child care needs of the community;
To provide the opportunity for children to participate in a variety of developmentally appropriate experiences within a safe and secure home-based environment;
To provide opportunities for children with additional needs to be included into Whitehorse Family Day Care where this is in the children’s best interest;
To recruit, train and support Educators in the latest child care industry practices, thus attaining the highest quality care. This is achieved through orientation, training, in-services, regular home visits, home safety checks, the provision of play sessions and resource services;
To encourage staff, Educators and parents involvement in the development of the program;
To support the Government’s aim of strengthening Australian families, by assisting families with dependant children to participate in the workforce and the general community.
To ensure childcare placements meet the Commonwealth guidelines;
To ensure Family Day Care National Standards are maintained;
To meet National Accreditation Council (NCAC) Standards outlined in the Family Day Care Quality Practices Guide Second Edition (2004).

Service Description

The Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) through its Childcare Services Support program registers Whitehorse Family Day Care. The service receives funding from DEEWR and is sponsored by the Whitehorse City Council.
This service is available to families who are living, working or studying within the Municipality.
The Commonwealth Government has established priority of access guidelines for all Children’s Services Programs. Childcare places are allocated in accordance with these guidelines.
Families are required to verify that a child fits a priority by supplying supporting documents where the supply of childcare places exceeds demand.
The service offers care to children 0-12 years with the main focus being for pre-school children. Older children are also cared for before and after school during school holidays and on curriculum days.

Family Day Care provides:

Full time care
Part time care
Before and/or after school care
Rostered care
Casual care
Holiday care
Respite care
Occasional and emergency care
Weekend, evening and short term overnight care (whenever possible)
Care for children with additional needs

Quality Statement

Whitehorse Family Day Care is committed to continuous improvement

Through Whitehorse Council’s Best Value process the program identifies objectives and actions that work towards improving services.

In addition the development of “Childhood Matters” a City of Whitehorse Early Years Strategy for Children

0-12 Years, Parents, Services and the Community 2009-2013 provides for targeted service development and improvements.

Whitehorse Family Day care is required to be accredited with the Commonwealth National Childcare Accreditation Council in order to be eligible for Childcare Benefit.

We believe it is important that families, staff and contracted Educators are consulted at all stages when reviewing and developing service improvements.

Throughout the continuous improvement process stakeholders views on the services provided and areas where Whitehorse Family Day Care can improve will be sought through such means as interviews, random telephone polling and surveys.

Statement / Original date of Issue / Date of Review / Authorised by
Philosophy / 30 June 2003 / April 2004 / Kay Burns
October 2005 / Kay Burns
April 2007 / Kay Burns
October 2008 / Kay Burns
April 2010 / Kay Burns
October 2011

Source:

Early Childhood Code of Ethics, Early Childhood Australia, retrieved 29 March 2010

Putting Children First, Issue 34, June 2010 (pages 18-20), School of Thought: Case Studies of Different Philosophical Approaches

Family Day Care Excellence in Many Ways (Stonhouse, 2004).

Code of Conduct

The Whitehorse Family Day Care Code of Conduct requires that all Educators, Coordination Unit staff and Management members must:

Abide by the Code of Ethics as developed by the Australian Early Childhood Association.
Maintain standards of integrity, conduct and concern in their interactions with children, their parents and the community.
Maintain a family centred approach.
Treat everyone with respect and courtesy and without harassment.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality in all interactions between Educators, Coordination Unit staff, families and children.
Disclose and take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest (real or apparent) in connection with their position.
Use Whitehorse Family Day Care resources in a proper manner.

Not make improper use of inside information or

Use their duties, status, and power of authority in order to gain or seek to gain a benefit or advantage for themselves or any other person.

Comply with all regulations, policies, procedures and legislative requirements.
Comply with the terms and conditions of their position.
Observe safe work practices so as not to endanger themselves or others.
Recognise the need to act in a professional manner at all times

Policy Procedure Title / Original date of Issue / Date of Review / Authorised by
Code of Conduct / 30 June 2003 / April 2004 / Kay Burns
October 2005 / Kay Burns
April 2007 / Kay Burns
October 2008 / Kay Burns
April 2010 / Kay Burns
October 2011

Australian Early Childhood Association Code of Ethics

1IN RELATION TO CHILDREN, I WILL:

1.Act in the best interests of all children.

2.Respect the rights of children as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991) and commit to advocating for these rights.

3Recognise children as active citizens participating in different communities such as family, children’s services and schools.

4Work with children to help them understand that they are global citizens with shared responsibilities to the environment and humanity.

5Respect the special relationship between children and their families and incorporate this perspective in all my interactions with children.

6Create and maintain safe, healthy environments, which enhance children’s learning, development, engagement, initiative, self-worth, dignity and show respect for their contributions.

7Work to ensure children and families with special needs can exercise their rights.

8Acknowledge the uniqueness and potential of all children, in recognition that enjoying their childhood without undue pressure is important.

9Acknowledge the holistic nature of children’s learning and the significance of children’s culture and linguistic identities.

10Work to ensure children are not discriminated against on the basis of gender, age, economic status, lifestyle, ethnicity, religion, language, culture or national origin.

11Acknowledge children as competent learners, and build active communities of engagement and inquiry.

12Honour the children’s right to play, as both a process and context for learning.

2IN RELATION TO FAMILIES, I WILL:

Listen to and learn from families, in order to acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and support them in their role of nurturing children.
Assist each family to develop a sense of belonging and inclusion.
Develop positive relationships based on mutual trust and open communication.
Develop partnerships with families and engage in shared decision making where appropriate.
Acknowledge the rights of families to make decisions about their children.
Respect the uniqueness of each family and strive to learn about their culture, structure, lifestyle, customs, language, beliefs and kinship systems.
Develop shared planning, monitoring and assessment practices for all children’s learning and communicate this in ways that families understand.
Acknowledge that each family is affected by the community contexts in which they engage.
Be sensitive to the vulnerabilities of children and families and respond in ways that empower and maintain the dignity of all children and families.
Mainitain confidentiality and respect the right to family privacy.

3IN RELATION TO COLLEAGUES, I WILL:

Encourage my colleagues to adopt and act in accordance with this Code, and take action in the presence of unethical behaviours.
Build collaborative relationships based on trust, respect and honesty.
Acknowledge and support the personal strengths, professional experience and diversity, which my colleagues bring to their work.
Make every effort use constructive methods to manage difficult differences of opinion in the spirit of collegiality.
Share and build knowledge, experiences and resources with my colleagues.
Collaborate with my colleagues to generate a culture of continual reflection and renewal of high-quality practices in early childhood.

4IN RELATION TO COMMUNITIES, I WILL:

Learn about the communities I work within and enact curriculum programs, which are responsive to those contexts and community priorities.
Connect with people, services and agencies within the communities that support children and families.
Promote shared aspirations amongst communities in order to enhance children’s health and wellbeing.
Advocate for the development and implementation of laws and policies that promote child-friendly communities and work to change those that work against child and family wellbeing.
Utilise knowledge and research to advocate for universal access to a range of high-quality early childhood programs for all children.
Work to promote community understanding of how children learn, in order that appropriate systems of assessment and reporting are used to benefit children.

5IN RELATION TO MYSELF AS A PROFESSIONAL, I WILL:

Base my work on contemporary perspectives on research, theory, content knowledge, high-quality early childhood practices and my understandings of the children and families with whom I work.
Regard myself as a learner who undertakes reflection, critical self-study, continuing professional development and engages with contemporary theory and practice.
Seek and build collaborative professional relationships.
Acknowledge the power dimensions within professional relationships.
Act in ways that advance the interests and standing of my profession.
Work within the limits of my professional role and avoid misrepresentation of my professional competence and qualifications.
Mentor other early childhood professionals and students.
Advocate in relation to issues that impact on my profession and on young children and their families.
Encourage qualities and practices of leadership within the early childhood field.

Source:

Australian Early Childhood Association – Code of Ethics 2006

NSFDC Pages 7-8

Roles and Responsibilities

Coordinator / Team Leader

Ensures the scheme operates within Commonwealth Funding Guidelines.
Evaluates the operation of the scheme so that it functions in the best interests of all relevant parties.
Oversees and ensures all equipment is safe.
Develops and maintains record keeping procedures.
Manages, supervises and supports coordination unit staff.
Liaises and networks with other professional organisations.
Consults, develops and implements policies for the scheme.
Plans, develops, implements and monitors the budget.
Recruits, resources, and supports Coordination Unit Staff and Educators
Provide training opportunities for coordination unit staff and Educators that enhances their personal development.
Ensures safety checks and home visits are conducted regularly.
Ensures the implementation of the Family Day Care Quality Assurance process, a continuous quality improvement process that promotes quality care and identifies areas for on going improvement.
Handles enquiries.

Fieldworker

Supports and resources Educators through regular home visits, telephone contact and written communication.
Ensures the developmental needs of children in care are met.
Monitors the standards of care and reports any breeches to the Coordinator.
Assists with the implementation of the continuous quality improvement and assurance process that promotes quality care and identifies areas for ongoing improvement
Assists with the selection and training of Educators.
Maintains accurate records.
Assists with the organisation and development of play sessions.
Is involved in the placement procedures, including parent interviews.
Maintains regular contact with families that supports their child’s placement.
Assists the Coordinator with duties.
Provides equipment and toys when necessary.
Reports to the Coordinator any emerging issues within the Scheme.

Coordination Unit Playgroup Facilitators