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This document has been formulated to provide clear guidelines which promote excellence, and within that excellence parity of service at Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre’s After School Care.

It is acknowledged that parents have the prime responsibility for their own children’s care and development and have an entitlement to seek care for their child which is reflective of their family values.

While children are attending the service, staff have the responsibility for maintaining a safe, caring and stimulating environment which meets the physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs of each individual child within the constraints of group care. It is the responsibility of the Coordinator/Director to ensure that each member of staff is aware of, and works to maintain the goals of the Service.

The major goals of Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre After School Care are to:-

• provide a wide variety of supervised play and recreational activities, which assist primary school aged children’s social, emotional, creative and physical development.
• promote and encourage equity and access throughout the whole organisation, with equal opportunities for children attending the service, parents and staff. This must be irrespective of their cultural background, disability, geographical location, religion or family income.
• enable parents/guardians to pursue work, study/training or other activities, in the knowledge that their children are being well cared for in a safe and happy environment.

(from Voluntary Code of Practice)

Professional practice at the Child Care Centre will be based on the following Code of Conduct.

All new staff members including casual staff will be given a copy of the Code of Conduct upon commencement and required to undertake to meet the standards of the Code.

• All new permanent staff will be given notice of their employment in writing by the Convenor or Secretary of the Management Committee, outlining all conditions of employment along with a job description. A copy should be signed by the new employee and returned to the Management Committee to be kept on the employee’s personal file.
• All new permanent staff and regular casual staff must be given a copy of the centre policies and procedures manual and the Voluntary Code of Conduct by the Coordinator. Any specific requirements of the new staff member will also be discussed.
• All new permanent staff and regular casual staff will be asked to read and sign a copy of the centre policies and procedures. The Coordinator will clarify any queries relating to the policies.
• All new staff whether permanent or casual will be informed by the Coordinator of the service’s evacuation procedures.
• Orientation of new staff should include an assessment by the Coordinator of any initial training the worker requires.

As a basic principle under the Common Law of Tort, every person is bound to exercise a duty of care in their dealing with other persons in the provision of goods and services and in respect of the use of equipment or ownership of premises.

Legal liability may arise when a person fails in the exercise of that duty of care (or negligence) and injury or damage is caused by that negligence. Coordinators of and workers in child-care programs are responsible to ensure that proper care is taken to protect children from harm in all circumstances.

Individual centres should protect themselves from liability of negligence by developing and implementing written policies and procedures for both parents and children regarding the service’s rules and regulations.

Staff should be aware of their legal responsibilities as a carer and not put themselves or their colleagues in any situation that could lead to possible claims of negligence.

Potential casual/permanent staff members may not be appointed unless legally able to assume the responsibilities of an adult, ie. aged 18 years. This does not apply to specific purpose tutors who are not directly responsible for children and are not counted in staff ratios.

A critical tenet of parent-staff relationships is confidentiality of information about parents and children. Staff must ensure that they do not discuss with parents information regarding other parents, staff or children other than the parents own. Any concern felt by a staff member regarding the well being of an individual child, parent or other staff member should be conveyed only to the Coordinator. Staff members proved to have breached confidentiality may be subject to disciplinary action.

In addition, the Committee shall also respect confidentiality of information. Where it becomes necessary to raise concerns about a specific child to the committee, all precautions will be taken to ensure that details of name, address, and family details are not divulged. Committee members shall also ensure that any discussion regarding members of staff will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

The performance of staff is fundamental to the provision of quality care for children using the service. Monitoring performance through staff appraisals is a means of encouraging and supporting good work practices as well as improving poor performance. Staff appraisals provide:

Staff appraisals will be conducted on a 6 monthly basis for the purpose of:

Staff appraisals (for staff other than the Coordinator) will be conducted by the Coordinator and a designated member of the Management Committee. The appraisal will be conducted using the approved appraisal form in conjunction with the job description for each worker.

The Coordinator’s staff appraisal will be conducted by a designated member of the Management Committee only.

A plan of action will be the outcome of the staff appraisal, identifying areas for improvement, action to be taken, and the review period and evaluation.

The appraisal will also provide an opportunity to review the job descriptions and identify any training needs.

Should a staff member not fulfil 80% of the appraisal criteria, a second appraisal will be undertaken after one month. Failure to meet the appraisal criteria over three consecutive appraisals, will result in disciplinary action as per clause 15 of this policy.

Professional development is an on-going process which includes formal and informal learning situations. Professional development increases job satisfaction and the quality of care provided, as well as reducing job stress and burnout.

Staff are expected to be committed to professional development. All staff should have a training plan developed annually through consultation between the Coordinator and the individual staff member.

The cost of casual replacement for each staff member will be made available for at least two days each year.

Before commencing duties, casual and Jobskills staff will be given copies of the Code of Conduct and the policies and procedures manual by the Coordinator, and required to read and abide by its contents.

Casual and Jobskills staff will not at any time be permitted to withdraw an individual or group of children from areas readily accessible to and within the visibility of other permanent staff members. Permanent staff member/s will remain on the premises at all times while casual and Jobskills staff are employed.

It is the responsibility of the Coordinator to ensure a time sheet is supplied to each casual staff member and correctly completed and signed. An Employment Declaration form must be completed by new casual employees.

The Jobskills supervisor’s role is to assess the skill level, provide appropriate on-the-job training, allocate and oversee the work, act as a role model for the participant.

It is important that the supervisor of the Jobskills participant:-

• allows time for the participant to practise the skills learnt during their training;
• regularly fills in the participants Logbook;
• supervises the practise of skills;

The Centre may from time to time provide work experience opportunities to students studying child care and related courses at tertiary and secondary levels. Students will only be placed here at times suitable to the service. Staff should ensure they have prior understanding of their roles and responsibilities in regard to the student on placement and the tasks to be carried out by the student. Staff will ensure that students are never left in sole charge of any individual or group of children. Students must not be counted in the child:staff ratio. Educational institutions requesting placements will be required to supply in writing, prior to placement, details of insurance cover for each student.

In the event of volunteers attending a service they must be advised that they are not entitled to any conditions provided to permanent staff and are not covered by the centre’s Workers Compensation Insurance.

All volunteers must be a minimum age of 18 years except in special circumstances where the volunteer meets the Coordinator’s or service’s criteria.

Volunteers will not at any time be permitted to withdraw any individual or group of children from areas readily accessible to and within the visibility of permanent staff members.

Following an interview with the Coordinator all volunteers will be given on commencement:

• information about the service
• policies and procedures of the centre
• appropriate duties
• safety procedures
• copy of the Voluntary Code of Conduct

A reference check must be done on any potential volunteer by the Coordinator and\or the Management Committee before commencing duties at the centre. A volunteer will be accepted only at the discretion of the Coordinator.

The Coordinator is not required to attend Committee meetings. However a Coordinators report must be given to the secretary before each meeting.

A grievance is any type of problem, concern or complaint related to work or the work environment made by a staff member. Some examples are:

• unfair allocation of opportunities such as special projects and job rotation;
• indirect pressure from a supervisor not to use established procedures to appeal a decision;
• work allocation;
• interpersonal conflicts or group victimisation of an individual worker;
• a lack of communication on work-related information;
• sexual or sexist harassment, racial harassment, or harassment on the basis of disability, pregnancy, age, homosexuality or marital status;
• work environment problems.

Every effort must be made to deal with all grievances fairly and impartially. All grievances will be dealt with promptly and thoroughly.

Grievances are classified as "less serious" or "more serious". Less serious grievances tend to be those where the problem is causing inconvenience or dissatisfaction rather than serious physical or emotional stress, or where the matter is not likely to lead to formal disciplinary action.

More serious grievances are generally those where the griever suffers serious physical or emotional stress, where the grievance arises because unacceptable behaviour is continued despite warnings and counselling or where the matter is likely to lead to formal disciplinary action.

It is part of the Coordinator’s job to listen to grievances and, if possible, resolve them. Staff should feel free to approach them with a problem. If a staff member does not want to approach their supervisor, they can contact a member of the Management Committee. Staff also have the right to contact their union or seek union representation on a workplace grievance.

Anyone receiving a grievance must do their utmost to maintain confidentiality. The person responsible for the grievance may not be able to guarantee confidentiality if it is considered that someone is in danger, disciplinary action or criminal investigation might be necessary, or employer liability might be involved.

In normal cases, no action will be taken without the consent of the persons raising the grievance, nor will their name be disclosed without prior consent.

Victimisation of anyone with a grievance is unacceptable and may be viewed as misconduct. In handling grievances, care should be taken to respect the rights of the person against whom the grievance is lodged.

The person responsible for overseeing the grievance process receiver will interview the person raising the grievance and clarify the facts, work out whether you need advice from another source, discuss the options available and help formulate a plan of action.

More serious grievances will be referred to the Management Committee who will select a suitable person to investigate the matter. This person will discuss possible methods of investigation and obtain consent for any action from the person lodging the grievance.

Grievances are usually only considered resolved when all parties agree; when the cause of the grievance has been removed or resolved; and when arrangements have been made, if appropriate, to repair and make good any damage and distress suffered by the griever.

Records will not be retained of less serious grievances unless they are part of the resolution. If they are kept, it will be in the strictest confidence and should not be entered on anyone’s personal file unless a disciplinary charge has been proved.

If staff are not satisfied with the remedies provided within the service they have the right to approach external bodies such as the NSW Industrial Commission, or on some matters the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW or the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

Management and supervision of staff should be conducted in a positive and constructive manner.

In the event that discipline of staff does become necessary, the following procedures should be undertaken by the Convenor or other designated member of the Management Committee in consultation with the Coordinator.

1. Verbal Warning:

The staff member shall be informed of:

- specific problems with their work in relation to their job description

- changes the committee would like the worker to make

- the planned method for a performance review

- the proposed time frame for the review

The staff member shall be given two weeks to respond to the concerns raised.

The result of this meeting shall be recorded and signed by each party as a true record of the meeting.

2. Written Warning:

If after the first performance review no change has been observed, the Committee will issue a written warning to the staff member. The warning will cover:

- a further period for reviewing the worker’s performance

- the changes required

- the method of review

- the consequences should no change take place

The staff member will again be given the opportunity to discuss the results of the performance review.

3. Dismissal:

If after the second (written) warning there is assessed to be no change, the staff member will be dismissed.

The notice of dismissal will include:

- the reasons for dismissal

- a period of notice in line with Award regulations.

Where a period of notice will cause further disruption within the centre, the staff member will be given payment in lieu of notice.

It is the role of the Committee and Coordinator to keep records of all meetings and discussions pertaining to the discipline and dismissal of staff.

The Coordinator or his/her designated representative will be held responsible for ensuring that all doors and windows are locked at the end of the day. Disciplinary action may be taken if the building is not secured, as negligence in this respect may endanger other staff, the building and the property of the service.

Any staff member on the premises by themselves is to ensure, as an issue of safety, that the building is secure.

Any staff member arriving on duty who finds or suspects a break in, will not enter the building. When at least one other adult arrives they should check the premises, note any damage or loss without disturbing potential evidence, and notify Police and the Management Committee.

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A child will be permitted to leave with either parent, unless the Centre holds a copy of a custody order restricting access to the child. If a copy of a custody order is held, all staff must be made aware of this by the Coordinator. Access can not be denied to a non custodial parent unless a copy of a court order to this effect is held by the centre. Access to the non custodial parent is to be denied if a court order is held and the custodial parent is to be contacted, as well as the police if necessary.

Siblings of the children in care will only be permitted to collect children from the centre if the parents of the enrolled child has informed the service of the arrangement in writing.

The Service will keep a current list of adults authorised to collect children from the Service which will be revised bi-annually.

The Coordinator must be notified if someone other than those specified above is to collect a child. The staff member must be satisfied that they have recognised the voice of the parent on the phone, and this should be verified in writing, if possible before the event.

In the event that a staff member believes a parent is unfit to drive or otherwise transport a child home from the Centre, the staff member is to suggest getting a taxi and contact the other parent/a family member if possible to inform them of the situation and request assistance. In extreme cases the Police and/or DOCS should be informed.

Children are to be collected before the closing time to allow time to sign out and communicate with staff. Staff on duty must, under their Award, finish at the closing time of the service. Parents should ensure that they arrive in time to communicate with staff before closing time, as staff will not be available from this time.

Staff who are kept waiting more than 15 minutes are to attempt to contact parents and emergency contacts as listed on the enrolment form. Overtime will be paid on receipt of the late fee, which must be immediately requested from the parent/s on arrival. Details are to be entered into the Late Collection Book and signed by both staff and parent.

If children are left at the Centre 45 minutes after closing time the following guidelines will apply:

• Two staff members should be present to care for the child & will be paid Overtime.
• If no-one has been found to collect the child, the Department of Community Services may be contacted for further advice where possible. The Coordinator or senior staff, and the local Police Station will be informed.
• In the above circumstances the child may be taken by two staff members to the Police Station. The enrolment form should go with the child. If the Centre premises is left, a notice will be displayed on the Centre’s door, asking the parent/guardian to contact the local Police Station (address and phone number to be supplied) to find out the address from which the child is to be collected.
• Staff members involved in the care of a child in this situation will ensure that the Coordinator and the Management Committee is given a full written report of the circumstances on the service’s next working day.

Staff will continue to endeavour to contact parents’ emergency contacts listed on the enrolment form.

The adult or designated nominee must sign the child out of the Service, giving the correct actual time, as the signing out sheet is the principal record of actual attendance used in the case of emergency (eg. fire).

Where a child is part of an arrangement in which he/she either arrives or leaves the Centre on their own, this should be verified in writing by the parent/guardian at the beginning of each school term or vacation care period.

Parents are to be actively encouraged (with signs, newsletters etc.) to supply information of changed contact as soon as possible.

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The Management Committee of the centre is responsible for the overall running of the centre.

The Committee is elected annually at the Annual General Meeting as stated in the Constitution. The Committee would normally consist of : Chairperson/President; Vice Chairperson/Vice President; Secretary; Treasurer; Public Officer and any other office bearers and ordinary members as stated in the Constitution.

The Co-ordinator of the After School Care may attend Committee meetings in an advisory capacity. Other staff members will only attend in a paid capacity at the specific invitation of the Committee. No employee shall be the signatories of accounts.

It is the role of the Management Committee to make decisions about the operation of the centre including the employment and support of the staff.

All decisions will be made in a fair, democratic way, following the rules of the centre’s constitution. Any dispute that arises through a management committee decision will be dealt with according to the Grievance policy.

The Management Committee is accountable to all funding bodies who fund the service. Therefore all decisions taken about the operation of the centre must adhere to any guidelines and agreements required by the funding bodies.

The Management Committee must adhere to all relevant legislation on employment and the provision of service such as EEO, Anti-Discrimination, Access and Equity, Occupational Health and Safety, industrial legislation including unfair dismissal,

• managing and operating an After School Care service that provides high quality care for the children attending the service and meets the needs of the families using the centre
• receiving Government funds and using these funds according to Government policy
• developing policies for the service and ensuring these policies are implemented
• employing, managing and providing support to the staff of the centre according to all Government legislation regarding the employment of staff
• planning, managing the service’s finances in accordance with the requirements of the funding bodies and as stipulated in the Articles of Incorporation
• ensuring that the centre operates according to all regulations so that children and staff are safe
• ensuring that the centre keeps relevant records and conforms with all Government legislation
• providing leadership to the staff and assisting on the provision of a high quality service

All members of the Management Committee must be aware that in the course of their duties they may gain information on families or staff at the centre that is of a personal and private nature. It is essential that all members of the Management Committee treat this information confidentially. The Chairperson must decide in certain situations if it is necessary that information be given to all members of the management committee or if certain parts of the information be withheld in the interests of confidentiality.

1. Sick Children

Staff and parents must meet their responsibilities in ensuring that children are well. Sick and infectious children should not attend the service, as:

• A healthy environment is essential for the welfare of all of the other children.
• Group care is not appropriate for children who are ill or recovering from illness as staff numbers do not allow for the kind of individual attention required.
• Parents of any child infected by a sick child at the service may have to take time off work to care for their child.
• Staff are vulnerable to the infections brought into the service, and staff illness will result in an increase in the costs of maintaining the service for the parents through their fees.

Staff need to be understanding and supportive of parents needs, while ensuring that the needs of the sick child are met and that a healthy environment for all of the children in the service is maintained.

An essential element of any quality child care program is the provision of careful interactive supervision.

It is the responsibility of the Coordinator to ensure:

• Children are supervised at all times by staff members.
• That the ratio for supervision is maintained at 1:15 on the services premises, 1:8 during excursions and 1:5 for swimming.
• That wherever possible, staff members are not engaged in other activities such as cleaning, preparation, administration etc while supervising children.
• That volunteers are not left with the sole responsibility for supervision.

2. Children who leave the Centre/Missing

• If a child is found to be missing from the centre the parents/guardians should be informed immediately. Workers should attempt to locate the child and return them to the centre grounds, providing that this does not place other children in care also at risk.
• If the child cannot be found or it is suspected that they did not leave the grounds of their own volition the Police should be contacted immediately.
• After a child has left the centre once, they are accepted back on the condition that they/their parents are able to assure the centre that it will not happen again. Attempts should be made to discover why the child left the centre, and to rectify the situation that is causing the behaviour if at all possible.
• Should the incident reoccur the family will be asked to seek alternative care, or the child shall be suspended from the centre for an agreed amount of time, returning only upon the implementation of a management plan discussed and agreed upon by the parents, the coordinator and/or other relevant parties.

The Centre will ensure continuous ambulance insurance cover is maintained. The ambulance service is to be used in the case of illness or accident rather than private transport to ensure safety. Staff must not transport children in their own vehicles.

Any child or staff member suffering from any of the following contagious conditions (excepting those with an asterisk*) are subject to automatic exclusion until able to present a medical certificate stating that they are no longer infectious.

If staff remain concerned that a child’s illness is still infectious, the service reserves the right to ask for an independent medical opinion. All staff are to familiarise themself with and practice the procedures outlined in the ‘Procedure for Preventing the Spread of Infection’ in Section 8.2.

Group care is not appropriate for children who are ill, infectious or not, as staffing arrangements do not allow for the individual attention required for a sick child. It is at the discretion of the Coordinator whether a child is to be excluded. Child care will be withdrawn from any family refusing to collect an ill child within one hour, or a reasonable period agreed to by the Coordinator and parent.

cold sores influenza

common cold measles

diarrhoea ringworm

headlice* croup

hepatitis* bronchiolitis

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)*

HIV/(AIDS)*

Those contagious conditions asterisked above are subject to the conditions as outlined in the following sections.

Parents of all the children enrolled will be notified in the event of an outbreak of an infectious or contagious illness at the centre.

While headlice do not constitute a medical emergency, lice, being highly contagious are almost impossible to control if spread through the centre. Staff cannot take responsibility for constant checking and treating children while maintaining a quality program.

If a child is suspected of having lice and/or nits, staff will check that child’s head only. If lice/nits are found the parent will be contacted immediately and will be required to withdraw their child until treatment has been administered. All other parents of children at the Service will be notified that a child has contracted the contagion and requested to check their children’s head. Following treatment, the child who has been excluded will be re-admitted.

In the event of an ongoing problem developing (ie. three cases in a week), all parents will be given reasonable notice of the requirement to treat all children attending the centre, their siblings and themselves whether apparently affected or not on a given day. All children will be checked on the following day before re-admission to the Service.

Staff will supply a printed sheet outlining the procedure to use in treating head lice to the parent of a child suspected of having lice/all parents in the case of a major outbreak.

See Procedure for Treading Head Lice in Section 8.3.

Hepatitis A virus causes infectious hepatitis, and is contracted from the faeces or blood of an infected person. It is contagious from 3 weeks before the onset of jaundice and one week after onset. The virus can also be contracted through contaminated water and food.

Any child showing signs of hepatitis A including jaundice, fever, vomiting and upper abdomen pain will be isolated from other children, and excluded from the service until a medical certificate is provided stating that the child is no longer infectious.

Hepatitis B is contracted through close mouth to mouth contact with a carrier, or from the blood of an infected person. It is contagious during the incubation period, and may be contagious thereafter.

Confidentiality will be respected if disclosure is made. Staff will be advised that if disclosure is made to them they should request permission to discuss the situation with the Coordinator as she/he is in the best position to ensure that hygiene practices are followed without alarming anyone.

All staff should be advised to have an Hepatitis B inoculation.

CMV infection is common in young children. It is a virus which usually causes a mild respiratory illness and occasionally pneumonia, although most infection is unrecognised and undiagnosed because of the mildness of the illness. Many healthy children , carry the virus in their saliva and urine.

Child carers are more likely than other workers to have contact with CMV infection which is spread mainly through contact with saliva or by droplets from coughs and sneezes. While CMV infection is usually mild, it can be serious in people with an immune disorder. Infection during early pregnancy can result in serious abnormalities in the baby, similar to congenital rubella.

Children with CMV are not subject to exclusion, if detected, but staff and parents (who may contemplate pregnancy or have an immune disorder) will be informed of the risk without breaching the confidentiality of the family concerned.

In accordance with the policy of the Department of Health and the Department of Community Services, any child, staff member or parent who is HIV positive will not be excluded from the centre.

Confidentiality will be respected if disclosure is made. Staff will be advised that if disclosure is made to them they should request permission to discuss the situation with the Coordinator as she/he is in the best position to ensure that hygiene practices are followed without alarming anyone. If permission is denied, confidentiality must be observed as required by law.

Other health issues common in child care services are asthma, diabetes or other chronic illnesses. They are not infectious but children affected require careful monitoring.

No child with asthma, diabetes or other chronic illness will be enrolled at the service without a management plan completed by the doctor. A copy of the management plan will be requested by the Coordinator during enrolment. Staff will ensure that regular treatment as outlined in the plan is carried out, at the times specified.

• Parents will be immediately notified of any worsening of the chronic condition, and an ambulance will be called if the child appears to be in difficulty.

A staff member holding a current First Aid Certificate is to attend to the child following an accident not requiring medical attention.

The child is to be given appropriate first aid treatment. An accident report formis to be filled in by the staff member present at the time of the accident and/or by staff who treated the child.

The Coordinator is to be informed concerning any accident occurring in the service.

The child’s condition is to be monitored. When treating a child who is bleeding, disposable gloves must be worn.

Parents are to be notified by the Coordinator/Authorised supervisor on duty of any accident when collecting the child.

A staff member holding a current First Aid Certificate is to attend to the child immediately, and administer First Aid if appropriate. Other staff members are to ensure that other children are kept away from the injured child and proceed with normal routine.

The parents/contact persons are to be informed immediately, and an ambulance called.

The Management Committee will be informed by telephone by staff as soon as possible so that support to staff and parents can be given by management.

A senior staff member well known to the child will accompany the child in the ambulance and will remain with the child until the arrival of the parent/s. This staff member is to take a copy of the child’s records to the hospital.

A full written report of the circumstances of the accident and action taken is to be given to the Management Committee at latest by the following day.

It is important for medication to be given accurately therefore medication will only be given with written authority and full information about the medication from the parent. The Centre will maintain a medication book.

It is the responsibility of the parents to fill in the medication book and let staff know that they have written in the medication book. Medication brought into the service for use by staff is to be stored and securely at all times in a safety cupboard provided in each area.

It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that medication (other than self-administered Asthma medication) is never left in a child’s bag and is placed out of reach of the children.

All medication is to be administered by a staff member with a First Aid Certificate and checked by another staff member who should cross check the label on the bottle, including the expiree date with the entry in the Medication book. If there is a discrepancy the staff member will phone the parent and ask for permission to contact the Family Doctor for clarification. No medication is to be administered without this clarification.

Medication must be brought daily in its original labelled bottle/packet with the prescription dosage, timing and the child’s name attached to be accepted.

Medical opinion supports that all children, especially those attending child care, should be up to date with routine childhood immunisation to protect the child and all other children in the centre.

Verification of the child’s immunisation status will be requested before enrolment by the Coordinator. Any parent opting not to have their child immunised must sign the declaration agreeing to remove their child in the event of an out break.

If parents of a child enrolled at the service opt not to have routine immunisations, the child will be excluded in the event of any outbreak of an infectious disease for which protection is available.

Staff should be advised at the time of their induction to ensure they have completed primary courses of ADT (diphtheria and tetanus) and polio (Sabin oral vaccine). Booster shots of ADT every 10 years are recommended by the NSW Department of Health. Also staff are to be advised to be immunised against measles, mumps and rubella.

To protect themselves and the children from infectious diseases which are common in child care services staff must adopt the highest standards of hygiene possible in the working environment. In places where children are cared for this means careful hand washing plus attention to cleaning and disinfection, and use of rubber gloves as appropriate.

All equipment used by children should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at least every six months.

See Preventing the Spread of Infection Procedures in Section 8.2

One staff member on duty must hold a First Aid Certificate. All staff are encouraged to hold qualifications in First Aid, and will be given training on request.

All staff, including casual staff, will be given as part of their induction process prepared information regarding back care and prevention of the spread of infection in services. Coordinators will ensure that staff maintain healthy hygiene practices as outlined in the prepared information.

See Preventing the Spread of Infection Procedures in Section 8.2

See Back Care and Manual Handling in Section 8.8

Female staff members contemplating pregnancy should be advised by the Coordinator have a blood test to determine immunity to Rubella and Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Staff will ensure that all attending children are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun throughout the year by implementing sun protection strategies as outlined below.

• All children will be encouraged to wear hats and shirts with sleeves.
• Staff will adopt a No Hat - Play in the Shade policy whereby children without hats remain in covered or shaded areas during outdoor activities.
• Children are to be encouraged to apply their own sunscreen.
• Services will provide broad spectrum water-resistant sunscreen suitable for use on children.
• Coordinators will encourage staff and parents to model skin-protective behaviour such as wearing hats and shirts with collars and sleeves, applying sunscreen and using shaded areas.

The Coordinator will ensure that the children are provided with a varied selection of food and drinks that are nutritious, attractively presented and hygienically prepared.

Where possible special diets (eg. for medical religious and cultural reasons) will be provided after parent/staff consultation.

An eating environment that assists the transmission of family and multicultural values will be provided.

Water will be available at all times.

The following principles will be observed at all times in preparing food/drink at the centre.

• Fresh food will be given in preference to processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt while recognising the role of some processed foods.
• Foods low in fat and sugar, salt and preservatives will be given preference.
• Fruit juice will be diluted with water.

Appropriate food hygiene practices as listed below will be observed in the centre at all times.

• All food will be kept covered except during serving.
• Children and staff will wash their hands before handling food or eating meals and snacks.
• Food will be served and stored at safe temperatures.

Members of the public entering the service will at all times be kept in the sight of a staff member and staff will ensure that no child is ever to be alone with a member of the public.

When tradespersons are working on the premises, it is the responsibility of the Coordinator to seek the co-operation of the tradespersons to ensure the safety of the children.

Staff will:

• Ensure that the children are kept a safe distance from the work being undertaken.
• Ensure gates are not left open without direct supervision by a staff member.
• Ensure that tools, small objects such as screws or nails, ladders, paint/turpentine etc are not left accessible to the children.
• Ensure that children are not at any time left with the tradesperson/s without supervision. This requirement is to protect all parties.
• Ensure that children are kept away when hazardous chemicals, tools, equipment etc are being used.

In the event of failure by the tradesperson to observe safety requirements, the Coordinator should contact the Management Committee to request assistance in ensuring safety requirements are met.

The Coordinator of the service will check the attendance roll each day. It is also his/her responsibility to request parents who have not signed their child out for the day to do so following any occasion on which it is not done.

During enrolment , parents will be requested to sign a standard inclusion on the enrolment form giving permission to the staff to take their child on informal excursions. Informal excursions are defined by the Department of Community Service as outings within walking distance of the service to nearby recreational venues which are used regularly.

Informal excursions are subject to the discretion of the Coordinator as to increased adult/child ratios, but the need to exercise proper care and supervision at all times is stressed.

A formal excursion is defined as any activity in which children aged 5-12 years are taken out of the approved venue of an OOSH service, except for informal outings as defined above. The Service shall ensure that parents and guardians are provided with details of each excursion.

The adult/child ratio on formal excursions shall be at a maximum of 8 children to 1 carer, and a maximum of 5 children to 1 carer for swimming.

The ratio for the supervision of children on excursions and/or swimming, may include carers other than regular staff, for example parents or volunteers.

When excursions are arranged, the following requirements will be observed at all times

• a list of children attending the excursion is left at the centre prior to departure and a copy carried by the attending staff member for the purpose of checking at regular intervals during the course of the excursion.
• parents should be made aware of the details of the excursion in order that children are equipped with clothing appropriate to the excursion, eg. sun hats, appropriate footwear.
• any excursion planned must be consistent with the requirements/exclusions of the Public Liability Insurance cover held by the service.

Wherever possible, one staff member attending the excursion is to hold a current First Aid Certificate, and a current life saving certificate for swimming excursions. Water venues which are relatively unsupervised (beaches, rivers etc) are not considered suitable for OOSH excursions.

For the health of the children, all OOSH services shall be smoke free areas. It is the Coordinator/Director’s responsibility to ensure that any person on the premises is made aware that smoking at any time in the building, or in the playground while children are attending the service is not permitted.

Lead pollution can come from lead petrol fumes, or from lead paint. It only presents danger if children are able to have access to lead accumulations. Therefore, staff will ensure that exposure is minimised.

See Procedure to Minimise Lead Contamination in Section 8.4

All OOSH Services must:

• have appropriate fire fighting facilities such as fire extinguishers of a design to facilitate the speedy evacuation of the centre in the event of an outbreak of fire.
• Ensure all fire protection equipment with which the centre is equipped is tested at least once every 12 months and is kept in proper working condition.
• Establish appropriate fire drills and evacuation procedures and practise these at least once every 4 months.

The Coordinators must also ensure that:

• Flood and fire evacuation procedures are established which detail specific responsibility for all staff members.
• Procedures for evacuation are displayed prominently in several places throughout the service.
• Training in the use of fire extinguishers is available to staff members.

See sample Fire/Flood Procedures in Section 8.5 and 8.6.

It is the responsibility of the staff to ensure safety and maintenance of the equipment, both indoor and outdoor, at their service and to supervise children using this equipment.

This policy will be implemented through a variety of individual service procedures designed to ensure staff will:

• replace and/or repair equipment to help prevent accidents:
• clean and wash equipment to limit cross infection and ensure hygiene;
• observe and report the suitability of the equipment used to enable appropriate purchases of new equipment;
• provide suitable and safe storage space for equipment.

Committees of Management shall ensure that all safety regulations for ASC Service as determined by government authorities will be complied with.

This policy will be implemented through a variety of individual service procedures designed to ensure staff will inspect and maintain health and safety standards in their service, including child-proof locks on cupboards; regular inspection and maintenance of electrical apparatus and power points; installation of circuit breakers at the centre; floors being cleared and cleaned to prevent ripping and slipping and proper storage of equipment, medication and utensils to prevent injuries.

Local Government regulations in regard to fire ventilation, natural and artificial lighting and safety glass will be adhered to wherever possible.

Daily cleaning of the building will be arranged and monitored to ensure adequacy of standards by the Coordinator.

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SECTION SIX: ACCESS, ATTENDANCE AND FEES

Placements are allocated according to the Priority of Access guidelines of the Commonwealth Government.

First priority is allocated to children with parents working, seeking work or training for work.

Fees are required to be paid for all days of enrolment, except during the shut down period of the service, to maintain enrolment in the service.

Any family consistently in arrears, or three or more weeks in arrears at any time, may have the provision of child care withdrawn with one weeks notice, unless full payment is received. A schedule of payments to meet arrears can be negotiated with the Coordinator in circumstances of hardship.

Means tested Childcare Benifit subsidies are available to all. The Coordinator will explain the eligibility criteria to all parents as part of the enrolment procedure. It is the Coordinator/Director’s responsibility to ensure that accurate fee and Childcare Benifit records are kept for each family by monitoring these records at least once a month.

Requesting immediate payment of late fees is a routine, if difficult, responsibility for staff. Parents are to be requested not to take enforcement of this policy personally. A late fee is charged after the service closing time to offset staff overtime costs. It is the Coordinator responsibility to discuss late fees with the parent at the time of the occurrence.

All enrolments in services receiving Commonwealth Government funding are governed by Priority of Access Guidelines. Staff should enter their child on the waiting list in the normal manner.

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The ultimate goal in behaviour management is to help children know what to do instead of what not to do and to instil in them a sense of self discipline and an understanding of the consequences of their behaviour.

Managing children’s behaviour in appropriate ways will also lead to them having a greater understanding and appreciation of other people’s needs, rights and feelings.

Teaching children about what is the right thing to do and what is not the right thing to do, what is safe to do, and what angers or hurts other people, promotes acceptable behaviour.

What this teaching becomes is a clear set of rules consistently applied which defines conduct and behaviour. This set of rules must be explained to the children and understood by staff.

Children are never to be subjected to:-

• Any form of physical punishment.
• Any punishment that takes the form of immobilisation.
• Any punishment that is intended to humiliate or frighten the child
• Whenever possible, positive techniques of guidance, redirection and reinforcement will be used rather than promoting comparison, competition and criticism. Positive techniques enhance self esteem and encourage children to feel capable and competent.
• Language which labels a child rather than the behaviour should not be used.
• Staff are to be consistent to minimise confusion and to ensure that children are clear about what behaviour is expected from them and from each other.
• Children’s feelings of anger, sadness, frustration, jealousy etc will be acknowledged and accepted but not the negative behaviour that at times occurs as a result of these feelings. Staff will encourage children to talk about their feelings and explore with them a range of more acceptable behaviours they can use.
• Disciplinary techniques appropriate to the child’s age/stage of development will be used.
• Time out as a behaviour modifying measure will only be used as a last resort and then not in a punitive manner or in a way that will humiliate the child. The child is only to be excluded from the activity or group for a short period of time. Following time out it is essential to restore a positive relationship between the staff member and the child.
• Outside intervention may need to be sought by the Coordinator. This will at all times be done in consultation with parents and the Management Committee will be notified of the process.
• Staff who consistently raise their voice as a mode of communication/ discipline of the children or at any time handle children roughly will be subject to disciplinary action.

See also Procedures for managing behaviour in Section 8.1

Play is the natural medium for learning and it is accepted that the process of play creates the main vehicle for the child’s development. Activities which enable the child free choice, decision making, total involvement, trial and error, and success without necessarily requiring adult intervention are to be provided by staff.

The Programs will be developed using the principles as outlined below:-

• It is the responsibility of trained staff to initiate and manage the planning process. However ideally all staff should feel welcome to contribute to any part of the process.
• A program that is planned in advance and evaluated regularly is essential for the development of each child.
• Activities which enable children to guide their own learning and contribute to their emotional and social development, particularly to their self esteem, self confidence and self discipline, will be provided.
• The program should promote the social, emotional, physical, cognitive and creative development of each child.

EEO is about making sure that for any vacant position, people with an equal chance of job success have an equal chance of being hired or promoted. It is also about recruitment and promotion on merit.

Management Committees shall ensure that EEO principles are integrated as part of the normal work and management practices in OOSH services. It shall also ensure that all staff are aware of EEO principles and their rights and responsibilities.

All staff are required to ensure all children are accepted irrespective of race, sex, religion or disability. Staff will endeavour at all times to respond to the individuality of each child and to their individual community, by promoting anti-bias concepts.

Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre After School Care will:-

• be gender inclusive valuing male and female experiences and interests in the content, method and resourcing of the program;

Staff will:-

• raise awareness about equal opportunities to the children.
• endeavor to enhance children’s perceptions so that they see themselves as individuals making positive and varied contributions.

Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre After School Care will:-

• recognise and value cultural diversity of the group
• encourage individual and group esteem
• promote development of social skills and attitudes which foster co-operation and participation
• recognise and respect the cultural identity of each child. Encourage children to learn about other cultures as well as their own

Staff will:-

• be aware of the expectations that particular cultures may have of an educational program. Show an interest in other cultures including those represented in the groups
• use resources from the children and families

• recognise differences within the group
• encourage individual and group esteem
• promote development of social skills and attitudes which foster co-operation and participation

Staff will:

• recognise and respect the Aboriginal child’s unique cultural identity
• reinforce and maintain the self esteem and cultural identity
• recognise non-verbal behaviour as an important part of communication for Aboriginal children

Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre After School Care will:-

• develop an appropriate program for the individual children with a disability
• support children with disabilities and provide an appropriate model of interaction for other children and adults
• provide access whenever possible so that children with disabilities have their learning and social needs met
• where possible, ensure any modifications to premises encompass the provision of access to people/children with disabilities

• Physical
• Emotional
• Sexual
• Neglect

Child abuse of any kind is a particularly sensitive and emotional issue. Although child care staff have a responsibility to report suspected cases, all due caution must be exercised to ensure that we do not overreact to suspicions or handle them indelicately.

Our approach to child protection is based on the following principles:

• Children have the right to feel safe, secure and under the protection of responsible, caring, trustworthy adults at all times.
• Children will be respected and in no way degraded, endangered, exploited, intimidated or harmed psychologically or physically.
• Warm words and loving touch are basic needs throughout life. The loss of spontaneous affection would be a detriment to both children and staff. Physical contact is part of the nurturing of children and helps to create and sustain trusting relationships and adds to feelings of security.

Coordinators should be encouraged to attend Protective Behaviours programs, run by the NSW Child Protection Council within the first year of employment.

If there are any concerns or suspicions of abuse, all staff must respect the child’s and parents right to confidentiality. Information must be discussed only with the Coordinator or Committee of Management to provide protection to all concerned.

Staff who have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child attending the Service has been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused or neglected, should report this to their immediate Supervisor. It is the Coordinator responsibility to inform the Management Committee immediately.

See Procedure for Making a Notification to Department of Community Services in Section 8.7

In the case of a direct disclosure by a child regarding any form of abuse and depending on the nature of the disclosure, the information may be reported to Department of Community Services as appropriate.

The Coordinator is not required to inform the parents/guardians that a notification has been made. This is the role of Department of Community Services, or the Police, depending on the circumstances. The Children (Care and Protection) Act, 1987 provides that the notification carries certain safeguards for the reporter.

The Coordinator is required to keep confidential records (dated) of any unusual or inappropriate behaviour eg bruises, excessive masturbation, or if the child is unusually aggressive or withdrawn. The child is not to be questioned by any staff members. If appropriate the Coordinator may wish to ask parents about an injury. This should be recorded including the date and the parent’s response.

Coordinators should be aware that any concerns or questions about a child’s behaviour can be raised with the Duty Officer at the Department of Community Services anonymously. Details may not be provided without prior consultation with a member of the Management Committee.

In the case of a staff member being implicated in any form of child abuse or inappropriate behaviour towards a child, the President of the Management Committee is to be informed immediately.

Given the need to protect the rights of all concerned, each situation will be dealt with appropriately according to the individual circumstances.

Confidentiality is to be maintained by all staff and Management Committee members in these circumstances.

All allegations will be thoroughly investigated and a report made to the Department of Community Services if necessary. In the event of an allegation being made, the staff member may be removed or placed under close supervision until the matter is resolved.

Staff in children’s services can find themselves open to allegations of abuse unless care is taken to implement protective strategies for staff and children.

It is the responsibility of the Coordinator to carefully monitor the adequacy of the supervision of children in the centre throughout the day and ensure that the following strategies are implemented.

• Individuals or groups of children must not be withdrawn into areas where they are not visible by other staff members, or taken into rooms that can be locked.
• Permanent staff will ensure that they at all times remain readily accessible and within the visibility of other staff while with the children.
• Casual staff, students or volunteers are to be directed to ensure that they are never alone with children.

• Staff should be aware of their own level of tolerance and stress factors and acknowledge that there may be some children that are found to be more difficult to relate to than others.
• A minimum of two staff members should be on the premises at all times.

Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre After School Care will:-

• discriminate in favour of recycled materials wherever possible.
• recycle any materials used within the service, eg. packaging for box construction, waste paper for drawing and other art activities, plastic containers, tins for water and sand play, recycled clothes, shoes, hats for dramatic play.
• where appropriate, foods scraps will be composted for garden soil enrichment as well as reducing the volume of garbage leaving the service.
• be encouraged to integrate the idea of conservation and recycling into the daily program. For example, by having a recycling bin that the children use to place paper scraps from craft activities.
• whenever possible discriminate in favour of products that are environmentally friendly.

• Children will be encouraged across all areas of the program to be sensitive to and aware of environmental issues in a positive way, eg. develop a sense of responsibility with a positive focus on action.
• Staff education programs will be implemented to ensure that staff are aware of the issues and feel confident in implementing the program.
• Staff will be encouraged to become knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the immediate environment and to transmit this with enthusiasm to the children.
• Children will be encouraged across all areas of the program to develop understanding, appreciation and respect for the interdependency of all life.

• Staff are to clearly and positively explain centre rules and the specific limitations of particular activities so that all the children are aware of the expectations placed on them.
• When a child is behaving inappropriately staff are to ask the child which of the centre rules they have broken, why and how. Staff should explain to the child the problems with his/her behaviour.
• Staff should explain in positive language the alternative acceptable behaviour, for example "When you do........you hurt other children/put yourself in danger... etc, if you wish to continue to play this game then you need to....." , or "walk inside", rather than "don’t run inside".
• A warning can be given in positive language.."if you continue to do .....you will need to....". The child has the choice of naming their own consequence if they continue with the unacceptable behaviour. Staff are to ensure consequences nominated are reasonable.
• If the child does not heed the warning, the consequence can be carried out as stated in the warning. It is important that this be done as stated in the warnings so that children know that a warning is meant. This is to be done consistently by all staff.

• For serious and/or continuous breaches of behaviour rules, the consequences can be exclusion from the centre beginning immediately, or in the case of children being collected by parents, as soon as the parents can be contacted.
• For very serious offences such as violent or threatening behaviour a child may be excluded permanently immediately. The parents of the child need to informed immediately with a full explanation of the unacceptable behaviour that has occurred. The committee will also need to be informed.
• If a child is excluded on a non-permanent basis, their return to the centre will have to be negotiated with the parent/s, child and Coordinator. A written contract will be drawn up specifying the conditions of return including the possibility of a second exclusion.
• These contracts are to be discussed with parent/s in the presence of the child so that the child is fully aware of the expectations and consequences of any unacceptable behaviour in the future.

Standards are necessary because all of the common infections in child care centres are spread through person to person contact and can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces. The susceptibility of young children to infection as they build up immunity, and the unhygienic behaviour of young children, helps spread infection.

When young children touch parts of their bodies then touch people and objects such as toys and furniture, infection spreads. This is because a small amount of body fluid, ie. saliva, nasal discharge, urine and faeces, is left on the surface of everything that is touched if the hands have not been washed. If there are germs in these body fluids, then all surfaces that have been touched will be contaminated.

To counter this, carers of children of all ages need to adopt not just basic but good hygiene practices in order to protect themselves as well as children.

Infections can spread through contact with body fluids that are airborne or on the skin. As well, most viruses, bacteria or parasites can survive on surfaces and can be transmitted to another person via a surface. The common ways infections spread include:

Coughing and sneezing, even talking or singing, produce airborne droplets that can fall on surfaces or be breathed in by others.

Infections can spread if germs are present in this body fluid when it is on hands, other parts of the body, clothes or surfaces such as toys, walls and tables.

Any virus, bacteria or parasite present in the faeces of infected children can be passed directly to the mouth from hands, or indirectly onto other surfaces or food. The sites most frequently contaminated with faeces are hands, floors, tap handles, nappy changing areas, toilet flush handles, toys and table tops.

Some conditions can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or skin contact with contaminated items or surfaces.

Some infections are spread through contact with urine.

Viruses, bacteria and parasites in blood or body fluids are spread through certain types of contact with these fluids.

Ways to prevent the spread of infection include hand washing, cleaning and disinfecting, immunisation and excluding contagious children and staff from a centre. In addition, certain procedures should be followed when dealing with body fluids.

If performed often, this is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Only 15 seconds needs to be spent washing the hands using ordinary soap and running water. Warm water is ideal but coldwater is acceptable. All surfaces of the hand must be cleaned, including the sides and between the fingers. Dirty fingernails should be scrubbed with a scrubbing brush. Hands should be dried on individual paper towels, not cloth towels.

If hands are not clean, simple activities such as placing a finger in the mouth, rubbing the nose or eye may transmit enough germs into the body to cause infection. A carer can infect herself or a child in this way. Therefore it is important for all carers and children to wash their hands:

• On arrival at the centre
• Before and after toileting
• Before and after giving medicine (after is important if fingers touch the receiver’s face, hands, mouth etc.)
• After cleaning
• Before eating, preparing or serving food (when preparing and serving food it is advisable to wear disposable gloves if possible)
• Before going home

All body secretions should be considered infectious even when a child appears well. Children may be contagious but not develop any symptoms of a disease such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Most viral illnesses such as chicken pox are most contagious just before the first symptoms.

Rather than sharing cloth towels, paper towels and tissues should be used for individual carers and children and should be disposed of in plastic lined containers immediately after use. Under no circumstances should a tissue, face cloth or towel be used on more than one child. If cloth towels are used, each person should use their own towel exclusively.

To clean fluids off skin, staff are to wash skin with warm, soapy water. Staff should routinely cover any cuts on themselves or on children to prevent infection. If blood is splashed in the eyes or on the face staff should rinse with running water for several minutes.

All frequently used surfaces such as taps, hand basins, door and drawer knobs and toys should be cleaned then disinfected to destroy germs and reduce the risk of infection. Clean surfaces with detergent and water spray with freshly prepared household bleach solution diluted 1 in 100 (10 ml bleach to every litre of water), then allow to air dry. Always wear waterproof gloves when handling bleach or detergent.

1. Apply a sufficient quantity of anti-lice shampoo or lotion to work up a lather, and follow the maker’s instructions regarding the amount of time it should be left on.
2. Follow ALL instructions on the bottle carefully.
3. Don’t let any lotion into your child’s eyes. The eyes should be firmly covered with a tightly rolled towel or cloth. Older children can hold the clothe for themselves, but someone else needs to hold it for a younger child. Ask children to shut their eyes while you are shampooing.
4. To remove the nits, comb the hair vigorously, preferably with a special fine-toothed comb.
5. Parents must wash in hot water all sheets, towels, blankets, pillowcases and soft toys used by the family. Re-infestation can occur if the source of the lice is not treated.
6. For this reason, all children and family members should be treated at the same time.
7. Check the hair of children regularly.

Lead is harmful to children if it is ingested. Strict adherence to the following procedures will minimise children’s contact with lead particles.

• outdoor verandahs/paving should be hosed thoroughly at least twice per week
• cleaners should be instructed to wet dust all surfaces regularly fans should be cleaned of accumulated dust on a monthly basis
• children should be discouraged from playing in any area of dirt
• all painted surfaces should be maintained to avoid areas of peeling paint

• Whoever discover the fire blows the whistle and alerts all staff.
• The Coordinator phones emergency, collects attendance sheet and roll book.
• All staff collect children from playrooms, bathrooms and outside and direct to appropriate exit one or two.
• Once all staff and children are outside the gate, the Coordinator checks the children’s names off the attendance sheet.

• The Coordinator and one assistant move all the children to the driest area of the Service.
• The Coordinator phones 000 and collects the attendance sheet.
• The other assistant fills the evacuation baskets from the middle room with the first aid kit.
• If possible all staff and children walk to the higher ground point near the service.
• Once all staff and children are assembled, the Coordinator checks the children’s names off the attendance sheet.

A notification is an expression of concern for the child. Staff members do not have to be able to prove that abuse is occurring or have evidence of who may be abusing the child to consider making a notification. It is the responsibility of DOCS to carry out any investigation.

Following a notification being made records of the child remain the responsibility of the centre staff and should not be passed onto any other person. If the DOCS officers wish to see the records they should be viewed at the Service in the presence of the Coordinator or only removed if signed for by the DOCS officer with a stated date for return of the records to the Service.

If an interview is to be conducted at the Service the following should be adhered to:

• It if is clearly apparent that the alleged abuser is not a member of the child’s immediate family, the parents should be notified of the interview and be given the opportunity to be present.
• A staff member to whom the child relates will be present during the interview. The staff member must not intervene in the process but should be present as an observer and a support for the child.
• Following the interview, the staff member must immediately write a report in the first person, which states as well as he/she can remember what each person has said.

8.9 Back Care and Manual Handling (from ‘Workcover Authority Child Care Information’)

Manual handling means any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any living or non-living object.

Manual handling injuries may be caused by the above activities. Injuries can include back strains and similar strains and sprains in parts of the body such as the neck, shoulder and knee. Manual handling injuries also encompass overuse injuries or, as a result of falling during manual handling, bruising or laceration.

These injuries are among the most common work injuries and account for about one quarter or workers compensation claims every year.

Every effort should be put into preventing manual handling injuries by using mechanical aids, team lifts and safer handling methods. To help prevent injuries, there are legal requirements for manual handling in the workplace.

Once it was thought that the weight of an object being lifted was the main risk factor. It is now recognised that many other factors as well as weight increase the risk of injury. These factors include: movement and action, weight and force, characteristics of the load, posture equipment used, duration and frequency of an activity, aspects of the work environment, and age of the worker.

An example of a risk factor is being: bending forward or bending down with straight legs puts great strain on the lower back. Child carers frequently bend down to a child’s level. These actions need to be identified as manual handling risks because the result can be backache and other problems.

The following are examples of ways to help prevent manual handling injuries:

• Where possible, kneel rather than bend down, in order to avoid neck and back problems.
• Carry children only when necessary. The correct way to carry a child is with one arm under the child’s buttocks and your other arm supporting the child’s back. At the same time, hold the child facing you, as close to your body as possible. Try to avoid carrying a child on your hip because this may strain your back.
• When lifting awkward loads be careful to lift with a balanced and comfortable posture.
• Minimise the need to reach above shoulder level and use a step ladder.
• Avoid extended reaching forward, eg., leaning into low equipment boxes. Share the load if the equipment is heavy, long or awkward.
• When sliding, pulling or pushing equipment, eg., trestles or gym mats, if the equipment is not easy to move, ask for help and organise a team lift.
• Child care centres are often designed for children rather than employees. Where possible rearrange surrounding to meet the needs of both children and adults. Remember these needs when buying furniture and equipment or upgrading facilities.
• Badly designed equipment poses risks. Use equipment and furniture that can be moved around as safely, easily and comfortably as possible.

Many injuries result from twisting while lifting. To avoid this:

• Move equipment when children are not around.
• Rearrange storage so that it is easier and safer to replace and remove items.
• Lift only within the limits of your strength.
• Use beds and equipment that are easily moveable.
• Make sure you can see where you are going when carrying equipment or children.
• Be extra careful when lifting a child with special needs.

Good housekeeping means fewer accidents. Check that:

• The floors and other walking surfaces are uncluttered, even and non-slippery.
• The workplace is tidy.
• There is adequate space to perform each task.
• Equipment is maintained regularly.
• Lighting is adequate.

Correct storage and shelving height is essential in order to prevent slips, falls and strains. To check the height at which it is safest for each individual to work, stand with feet together and hands by sides. The best height range for handling loads is around waist level and the acceptable height for lifting is any point between the individual’s knuckle and shoulder.

Seldom-used objects can be stored at the shoulder-to-raised arm height but carers should use ladders to avoid stretching. Avoid storing objects at a level between an individual’s knuckles and the floor. Mechanical aids such as ladders and trolleys should be used where possible in order to avoid lifting.

1. Place your feet in a stride position.

2. Keep your breastbone as elevated as possible.

3. Bend your knees.

4. Brace your stomach muscles.

5. Hold the object close to your centre of gravity, ie. around your navel.

6. Move your feet not your spine.

7. Prepare to move in a forward-facing direction.

8. Ask for help when it is not possible to lift on your own.

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