Policy Title: Applies To: Health and Safety Family Day Care Educators Rosebery Child Care Centre Last Reviewed: June 2013 Next Review Due: June 2014 NQF Reference Licensing Ref: Related Policies: Introduction/Purpose: Regulation 168(2)(a) Regulations 78-80 Centre Based Care Class 5, 0 12 years. Standard 12: Health, Hygiene and Infection Control Emergency Situations Excursion Infectious Diseases Medical Conditions Medication Administration SunSmart Policy Rosebery Child Care Centre: Cleaning To minimise the risk to children, the service and educators through Adequate health and hygiene practices Safe practises in handling, preparing and storing food. Policy Statement: This policy provides guidelines to maintain the health and safety of children. Implementation Nutrition, Food and Beverages and Dietary Requirements : 1. Each educator must undertake safe food handling training every three years. 2. Children must have access to safe drinking water at all times and have food and drinks available throughout the day. 3. Where an educator provides food for children, an accurate weekly menu must be displayed on the premises. Food provided as part of a learning experience is excluded. 4. In partnership with parents/guardians, the educator is to ensure that the food and drinks are nutritious and adequate in quantity and take into account dietary requirements appropriate to each child s growth and development needs and any specific cultural, religious or health requirements. 5. The educator will have a written food and nutrition policy and/or procedures which are consistent with the National Food Safety Standards, outline the educator s approach to food and drink provision and promote an awareness of food and nutrition issues. 6. Educators must promote healthy food choices through strategies such as information pamphlets from recognised food authorities. 7. For family day care: At registration and re-registration, an assessment of each educator s environment will be made against a checklist provided for this purpose by the Food Safety Advisor of Tasmania and a review of the food and nutrition policy will be undertaken. Health and Safety Page 1
8. Meal times can be an excellent opportunity to learn and develop social, communication and life skills. There is an expectation that educators provide a designated area for snack and meal times where children develop these skills in a group setting. 9. Snack and meal times are on a regular schedule with flexibility to accommodate children s individual needs. 10. The educator is to store, prepare and handle food in a safe and hygienic manner. Refer to Staying Healthy in Childcare. 11. Educators must be aware that it is a mother s individual decision to breastfeed and we encourage and support their decision. Refer to Staying Healthy in Childcare. 12. Parents/guardians are required to sign a food policy developed by the educator. Safe food handling training website Staying Healthy in Child Care Get up and Grow National Food Safety Standards: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/ Nutrition Unit, Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/pophealth/community_nutrition Food Safety Advisor, Department of Health, Tasmania Lunch Box Ideas at a Glance Tasmanian Food Act 2003 For more information please go to the Australian Government Website: www.eatforhealth.gov.au Implementation Sun and Weather Protection: 1. All personnel will implement practises which reflect current community standards and health guidelines to ensure that: a) Children in care are protected against the adverse effects of weather b) All personnel and children observe sun protection practices as detailed in the SunSmart Policy. 2. Education and care services must ensure that outdoor spaces at the premises include shaded areas to protect children and educators from over exposure to ultraviolet radiation. 3. Educators, staff and families will work together to determine the best way to protect children from the weather. www.sunsmart.com.au Cancer Council Tasmania Health and Safety Page 2
Implementation Water Safety: 1. In Tasmania, pools, spas and Jacuzzis are not permitted in family day care. 2. All educators must demonstrate an understanding of the danger of water to children. 3. All educators must at all times directly supervise children s access to water hazards (e.g. baths, sinks, puddles, containers, water play activities and equipment). 4. For family day care: The risk assessment conducted prior to registration and re-registration will consider any water hazards that may be present on the family day care premises and adjoining properties (e.g. a pond, creek or dam next door). The outdoor play area must be isolated from that hazard by a fence that is a minimum of 1500mm high. 5. All educators must notify the Scheme of any changes to the environment that may pose a water hazard. 6. Water Play Equipment may only by used while children are in care if the water play equipment: Can be easily emptied by one person Is filled immediately prior to and emptied immediately after each use Is stored safely and in such a way as to prevent water collection Is age-appropriate and presents no danger to the children. 7. The educator must ensure that baths and other receptacles: Present no danger to children Are stored safely If a bath is a spa, water jets are not operated while children are in care The bath/receptacle is filled immediately prior to and emptied immediately after each use Children s access to baths and other receptacles is directly supervised. 8. The educator must ensure that water tanks have a water strainer in place and secured and/or not accessible to children in care. 9. Excursions to bodies of water (e.g. public pool, beaches, etc.) Refer to excursion policy. Kidsafe: http://www.kidsafetas.com.au/water-safety/ Implementation Administration of First Aid: 1. The educator must have current first aid qualifications, as determined by ACECQA. 2. Families must fully complete the enrolment form and authorise educators or family day care staff to seek qualified medical attention in the event of illness or injury to the child. 3. If a child has an accident/injury or becomes ill while in care the child must be kept under the educator s supervision until the child s parent/guardian or a nominated person by the parent or emergency services personnel take charge of the child. 4. If a child requires immediate medical aid, the educator will take all reasonable steps to secure that attention. 5. If emergency treatment / medical aid is sought, refer to Serious Injury to a child procedure. Health and Safety Page 3
Administration of First Aid: Cont d 6. Each service must provide and maintain a suitable first aid kit that is easily recognisable and readily accessible to adults but is locked and/or is inaccessible to children and contains no out of date items. Refer to first aid training providers for information on items required. 7. A belt bag or similar is a convenient way to carry a modified first aid kit for routine excursions and outdoor play. Ensure that children s medical requirements are fulfilled when conducting excursions (e.g. asthma medication). 8. Ensure that appropriate forms are completed and authorities notified (refer Emergency Situations Policy) St Johns Ambulance Australian Red Cross Surf Life Saving Australia Australian Academy of First Aid Implementation Educator s Health: 1. The educator s ability to care for children should not be impaired by: Poor health status Any medical conditions Dependency on any medication Dependency on any substance 2. An educator is to provide a medical certificate indicating their ability to carry out full duties if requested at any time by the scheme or the regulatory authority. Implementation Alcohol and Drugs: (refer to Alcohol and drugs policy) 1. No person who is affected by drugs or alcohol is to care for children or remain in the presence of children in care. 2. The educator must not consume alcohol or drugs (except those required for legitimate medical reasons) during the hours that children are in care. Implementation Smoking: 1. A smoke-free environment is to be provided for children while they are in care. 2. The educator and all other persons in the educator s registered home or motor vehicle are not to smoke in the presence of children in care. Health and Safety Page 4
Implementation Cleaning and General Hygiene: 1. A risk assessment via a hazard management checklist must be completed daily prior to care commencing. 2. Premises, grounds, equipment and all furnishings are to be maintained so that at all times they are safe, clean and in good repair. Refer to Staying Healthy in Child Care. 3. Rubbish will be stored appropriately in a place inaccessible to children until collection. 4. Premises and grounds are to be kept as free as possible from vermin. 5. For Rosebery Child Care Centre: See Cleaning Policy Implementation Nappy Changing and Toileting: 1. Educators will endeavour to ensure that nappy changing and toileting are a positive experience for children and this time presents an opportunity to interact with a child individually (e.g. sing a song or nursery rhyme). 2. Educators will discuss toilet training methods and progress with parents, including: Requirement for parents to provide plenty of clean changes of clothing Recognition of home practises 3. All educators will follow the instructions listed for Nappy Changing and Toileting in Staying Healthy in Child Care. 4. Nappy changing facilities will be located in an appropriate area: A change bench or change mat which has an impervious washable surface in good repair (no rips or tears). A bath or a washtub 5. Never leave a baby or toddler unattended on a change table. 6. For Family Day Care: Only those with primary responsibility for the children in care will toilet and nappy change children (e.g. Educator Assistant whilst on duty). Implementation Laundry: 1. There is no expectation that educators will launder wet/soiled cloth nappies, however where this is part of practice, the educator must have: appropriate laundering arrangements either carried out on the premises or through another facility, service or arrangement. Facilities for safe storage of soiled nappies. 2. Laundry and hygienic facilities on the premises must be located and maintained in a way that does not pose a risk to children. If laundry facilities are located in areas which children can access, particular consideration must be given to storage of hazardous materials and adequate supervision. Implementation Child s Sleep and Rest: 1. Educators must take reasonable steps to ensure that children s needs for sleep and rest are met having regard to each child s age, development and needs. 2. Rest and sleep periods must be evident in an educator s written routine. Health and Safety Page 5
Implementation Oral Hygiene: 1. Educators have an important role in promoting and implementing good oral health practices. 2. Helping children develop good oral health practices from a very early age is important for two reasons: Good oral health makes a contribution to general wellbeing in children. Early childhood dental hygiene is a key factor in the development of healthy adult teeth. 3. Oral hygiene measures must first be discussed with the child s parent/guardian: Avoid the use of bottles containing sweetened milk, cordial, juice, etc. Avoid the use of dummies (pacifiers) dipped in sweet substances e.g. honey Offer water to drink in preference to sugary drinks, flavoured milk. Encourage children who are old enough to rinse their mouth with water after each meal. 4. First Aid for Teeth that are knocked out Manage as an emergency. DO NOT re-insert the tooth Gently rinse the tooth or tooth fragments in milk to remove blood and place in a clean container, or wrap in cling wrap to give parent/dentist. Seek dental advice as soon as possible. Complete an Incident/Accident Report Form. Aspects of this policy are based on the previous Tasmanian Standards for Home-Based Care last revised April 2011. Health and Safety Page 6