Delivery & Collection/Late Collection/Non-Collection Of Children

Purpose
To provide clear guidelines to ensure the safe delivery and collection of the children being educated and cared by the educators managed by FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES.

Scope
These guidelines will apply to the Approved provider, nominated supervisor, supervisor, educators, staff, students on placement, volunteers, parents, children and others attending the service.

Objectives
To ensure the safety of children as the priority, delivery is done by the parent/guardian or authorised person. Delivery or collection times are used for receiving and giving information about the child’s education and care needs.

Policy
At FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES, we are committed to our duty of care and to ensure the child is delivered and collected by parent/guardian/authorised person by the parent, who is in a good physical and mental condition to deliver and collect the child.

PROCEDURES
Family day care educator will adhere to the following procedure at all times to ensure the safety of children.

Attendance record:
Records the full name of each child being educated and cared for at the family day care residence or approved family day care venue; and

Records the date and time each child arrives and departs; and
Is signed by one of the following persons at the time that the child arrives and departs–

• the person who delivers the child to the family day care residence or venue or collects the child from the family day care residence or venue;
• if the signature of the person who delivers the child cannot reasonably be obtained–the family day care educator.
• The record should available for inspection at the residence or venue (Section 175)
• The record should be accurate and is provided to the child’s parents on request( Section 178)

Arrival:

• All children must be signed in by their parent or person who delivers the child to our service.
• Family day care educator need to remind the parent to sign the time sheet at the arrival.
• If the parent or other person forgets to sign the child in they will be signed in by the educator.
• An educator will great and receive each child to ensure the child is cared for at all times.
• A locker or shelf space will be made available to children and their families.

Departure:

• • All children must be signed out by their parent or person who collects the child from our service.
  • Family day care educator need to remind the parent to sign the time sheet at the departure.
  • If the parent or other person forgets to sign the child out they will be signed out by the educator.
  • Children can only be collected by a parent, an authorised nominee named on their enrolment record, or a person authorised by a parent or authorised nominee to collect the child. Children may leave the premises if a parent or authorised nominee provides written authorisation for the child to leave the premises, including authorisation to go on an excursion (please refer Excursion Policy).
  • Children can be given into the care of a person or taken outside the premises if the child requires medical, hospital or ambulance care or treatment, or because of another emergency
  • No child will be released into the care of an unauthorised person. If the person becomes aggressive or violent and will not leave the premises the educator will:
    1. ensure the safety of all children and adults at the service, and implement lockdown procedures if required, ring the police on 000.
  • Educators will ensure that the authorised nominee pick-up list for each child is kept up to date.
  • No child will be released into the care of anyone not known to educators. Parents must give prior notice where:
    1. the person collecting the child is someone other than those mentioned on the enrolment form (e.g. in an emergency) or
    2. there is a variation in the persons picking up the child, including where the child is collected by an authorised nominee who is unknown to educators.
  • If educators do not know the person by appearance, the person must be able to produce some photo identification. If educators cannot verify the person’s identity they will be unable to release the child into that person’s care.
  • If the person collecting the child appears to be intoxicated, or under the influence of drugs, and educators feel that the person is unfit to take responsibility for the child, educators will:
    1. discuss their concerns with the person, if possible without the child being present
    2. suggest they contact another parent or authorised nominee to collect the child.
  • inform the police of the circumstances, the person’s name and vehicle registration number if the person insists on taking the child. Educators cannot prevent an incapacitated parent from collecting a child but must consider their obligations under the relevant child protection laws.
  • If a child has not been collected by the time we are due to close the service, educators will:
    1. attempt to contact the parents or other authorised nominees. (Earlier attempts may have also been made to contact the parents and nominees)
    2. leave a voicemail or SMS message on the parent’s phone if they do not answer advising he or she will wait up to 30 minutes before ringing the police or Child Protection Hotline
  • wait for 30 minutes and, if the parents or authorised nominee has not arrived, ring the police or Child Protection Hotline for guidance on the appropriate action to take.

Details of absences during the day will be recorded.

Families are responsible for:

• Ensuring documentation/authorisations are completed and signed.
• Ensuring all records are completed.
• Ensuring any changes to children’s information or status is communicated promptly to the educator or approved provider.
• Notifying the educator of any changes to normal routine.
• Supervising child at all times whilst present at the service.
• Ensuring doors are closed upon entering and exiting.
• Sharing and exchanging daily information with educator about their child, during arrival and departure.
• Delivering and collecting children within nominated and agreed collection time unless otherwise negotiated with educator.
• Notifying educator at least 15 munities before the agreed collection time if running late to collect child.
• Notify the educator well in advance if an unauthorised person is collecting the child from service.
• Providing written or telephone authorisation with identifying information (Photographic identification will be required of person prior to release of child) if an unauthorised person is to collect child from service.

National Quality Framework

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010	Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011	National Quality Standard	National Quality Standard Element
165,167	99,161,159	2	2.13

Related policies

• Authorisations – Acceptance and Refusal Policy and Procedures
• Complaints and Grievances Policy and Procedures
• Confidentiality Policy and Procedures
• Emergency and Evacuation Policy and Procedures
• Enrolment and Orientation Policy and Procedures
• Excursions Policy and Procedures
• Incident, Illness Policy and Procedures
• Medical Conditions Policy
• Participation of Volunteers and Students Policy and Procedures

Related legislations

• Children’s Health and Wellbeing Act 2009
• Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
• Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
• Family Law Act 1995
• Information Privacy Act 2000
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
• Privacy Act 2000 (Vic.)
• Working with Children Act 2005

Related sources

• Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
• Early Years Learning Framework
• National Quality Standard
• Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004
• Department of Education and Training (DET)
• Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

REVIEW

July 2019.               Next Review-July 2020