Visitors to the service
Purpose
- To ensure an accurate record of visitors to the FDC SERVICES managed by FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES,
- Assist educators to ensure the service actively assesses potential risks with regard to the security, health, safety and welfare of children attending the FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES, SERVICE
- Ensure service can identify who is in attendance the service at all times
Scope
These guidelines will apply to the Approved provider, nominated supervisor, Certified supervisor, educators, staff, students on placement, volunteers, parents, children and others attending the service.
Definition of a Visitor to the Service
Family day care brings a range of benefits to children and their families but differs to centre-based care as educators are operating an education and care service from their place of residence often being the only person with the supervisory responsibility for the children in care.
Regular visitors that may attend education and care services include:
- Coordination unit staff
- Department of Education and Training authorised persons
- Tradespersons
- Extended family and friends of either the child or the educator
- House guests whilst holidaying
- Any other person that does not reside at the residence
- It is the educator’s role to welcome and work with visitors to build and enhance programs for children whilst remaining vigilant in their supervisory requirements to ensure the safety of children at all times.
Policy
At FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES, we are committed to ensuring children’s health and safety at all times. We acknowledge visitors are unavoidable and even welcomed and encouraged at times, but visitors will demand the educator’s attention for one reason or another. It is vital the educator implement strategies to ensure they are able to interact with the visitor whilst ensuring the supervision and safety of each child.
REQUIRING UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES VISITORS ARE LEFT ALONE CHILDREN BEING CARED FOR OR EDUCATED
Procedures
Approved providers and delegates are responsible for:
- Providing training annually to educators to supervise, support and mentor students and visitors
- Monitoring the educators Visitors’ Register – including completion of time of arrival and departure and signature
- Informing educators of their obligation to notify the approved provider of any person over the age of 18 years living at the family day care residence within 24 hours
- Informing educators of the obligation to notify the approved provider of any house guest or resident over the age of 18 years within 7 days (at which time the house guest would now be considered a resident) and obtaining the following;
- Criminal history record check (issued not more than 6 months prior) OR:
- Working with children check/card (WWCC) or Current Victorian Institute of Teachers (VIT) registration
- Information to be added to residents register
- Requiring educators are aware to notify the approved provider of any changes of a visitor/resident which may affect their ‘fit and proper’ status ie. criminal conviction
- Ensuring students hold current mandatory safety checks – record to remain on student’s file
- Providing students with an induction process
Educators and Assistants are responsible for:
- Ensuring all required insurances are up to date (public liability – $10million)
- Maintaining a register of visitors – Ensure ALL visitors fully complete and sign the Visitors register
- Preparing children for visitors to the service – assisting children’s understanding of the visitors’ role at the home and;
- Reminding children to remain with the educator whilst visitors are in attendance
- Notifying the approved provider of any person over the age of 18 years living at the family day care residence within 24 hours
- Notifying the approved provider of any house guest or resident over the age of 18 years within 7 days (at which time the house guest would now be considered a resident) and providing the following;
- Criminal history record check (issued not more than 6 months prior) OR:
- Working with children check/card (WWCC) or Current Victorian Institute of Teachers (VIT) registration
- Minimising, as far as practicable, the number of visitors to the family day care home
- Informing the educational leader/coordinator of pending visits – including Volunteers / trades people, relatives etc
- Scheduling visitors, where practicable, to attend when educational leader/coordinator can be in attendance as well to support the supervision of children
- Scheduling any maintenance and repairs outside of operating hours, as far as practicable
- Keeping ‘social’ visits (friends and relatives of educators) to a minimum
- Notifying the approved provider of any changes of a visitor/resident which may affect their ‘fit and proper’ status ie. criminal conviction
- Conducting immediate headcount after each drop off or pick up of any child – initial the attendance record after each count
- Conducting headcount prior to visitor leaving premises
- Ensuring records are stored in a safe secure location maintaining confidentiality.
Visitors, including auxiliary employees, students and volunteers are required to:
- Remain under the direct supervision of educator/supervisor and/or mentor
- Follow the instructions and guidance of educator/supervisor and/or mentor
- Maintain confidentiality in relation to children, families and the family day care scheme
- Complete the Visitors’ Register upon arrival and departure with signature and arrival and departure times
Supervision
Adequate supervision of children must be maintained at all times. Children being educated and cared for in the service will be supervised at all time by the educator and not left alone with a visitor (regulation 166(165)
NATIONAL QUALITY FRAMEWORK
| Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 | Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 | National Quality Area | National Quality Standard |
| 161-175 | 153, 163, 164, 165, 166, 169 | 2.3 | 2.3.2 |
| 7.3 | 7.3.1 |
RELATED LEGISLATION
- Children’s Health and Wellbeing Act 2009
- Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
- Family Law Act 1995
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- Information Privacy Act 2000
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
- Privacy Act 2000 (Vic.)
- Working with Children Act 2005
RELATED POLICIES
- Participation of Students and Volunteers
- Nutrition
- Mentor, Support and Supervision of Educators
- Medical Conditions
- Interactions with Children
- Infectious Diseases
- Code of Conduct
- Emergency and Evacuation
- Complaints and Grievances
- Authorisations – Acceptance and Refusal
- Administration of First Aid
- Confidentiality
- Delivery and Collection of Children
- Engagement or Registration of Family Day Care Educators
- Enrolment and Orientation
- Maintaining a Register of Family Day Care Educator and Assistants
References and resources
-
- Department of Education and Training
- Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
- Belonging, Being & Becoming
- Early Childhood Australia
- Criminal History Requirements: Family day care
- Guide for Family Day Care Educators
- Delivering children’s programs in a family day care service
- DET Emergency Management Guidelines
- Protecting the Safety and Wellbeing of Children and Young People
ACECQA – Record of Visitors
REVIEW
| POLICY REVIEWED | July 2018 | NEXT REVIEW DATE | July 2019 |
| MODIFICATIONS | Policy created for First Idea Family Day Care Services, inclusive of changes to the National Quality Standards and Education and Care National Regulations | ||
