We ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury.

  • Accident /Incident forms are completed and provided to parents at collection time.

Hygiene

In a group care situation one of our challenges, is to control the spread of infection from one child to another and between children and staff, particularly in the younger age groups, where children developmentally are ‘mouthing’ and have not yet developed a ‘cough and sneeze etiquette’. For this reason, children who are unwell are unable to be cared for at child care.

  • The application of universal hygiene procedures will be followed at the Centre at all times to control the spread of infection within the Centre.

  • Educators model a high level of personal hygiene at all times, and place emphasis on the children learning and understanding why hygiene is important.

  • Hand washing is central to this system and children will be introduced to washing their hands before all clean tasks (i.e. meals) and after all dirty tasks (i.e. after nappy changes, using the toilet, blowing their nose or playing outdoors).

  • Children are also encouraged to cough into their elbow - to cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing and when able, to blow their own nose.

  • Your assistance in encouraging and developing these skills at home is appreciated.

Immunisation

  • It is a requirement at CHCCC that all children be fully immunised for their age. It is also a requirement when making an application for Child Care subsidy.

  • A record of your child’s current immunisation status will be kept at the Centre, please update us when your child is immunised.

  • The Centre’s closest local immunisation centre is at Rheola Street, West Perth.

Exclusion

For the protection of all children and staff the following exclusion policy applies to all children enrolled in the Centre.

  • Children with infectious diseases will be excluded from the Centre in accordance with the National Health & Medical Research Council exclusion guidelines.

  • We are NOT able to care for sick children at the Centre.

  • A medical certificate is required after contracting diphtheria, hepatitis A, polio, tuberculosis, typhoid and paratyphoid, before your child can be readmitted to the Centre.

  • If your child has been unwell at home, please do not bring them to the Centre. Fevers, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained rashes are all indications that a child should remain at home until the symptoms have completely passed i.e. a minimum of 48 hours since the last vomit, loose stool, and 24 hours after a fever.

  • Children who are developing a cold should not be brought to the Centre during the early stages, as this is the most infectious period - when they are sneezing, coughing and spraying secretions.

  • Children who are unwell on arrival at the Centre may not be accepted if they are obviously unwell or showing signs of an infectious illness such as a rash or discharging eyes.

  • Parents are to notify the Centre if their child will not be attending during their booked time, as soon as this is known.

Children Who Become Unwell at the Centre

Our Educators are not able to care for children who are ill.

  • It is important that the Educator receiving your child is notified if your child has been unwell or received an injury since last attending the Centre.

  • If your child becomes unwell whilst at the Centre, you will be contacted and asked to collect your child as soon as possible.

  • In the event of the parent/emergency contact person not being available and your child requiring medical attention, the child will be taken to the PCH Emergency Department for assessment.

Medication

  • Parents are asked to consider whether a child who requires medication is actually well enough to be at the Centre with other children, or whether it would be in the child’s interest and that of all other children and educators, to remain home until they are well.

  • The Educators should also be notified if your child is receiving any medication at home that is not required to be given at the Centre.

  • If your child requires medication whilst at the Centre, you are required to give written permission and sign the Centre’s ‘Authority to Administer Medication’ form.

All medications are routinely checked by 2 educators prior to administering and recorded accordingly. Medication will only be given if it:

  • is authorised by the parent in writing

  • is prescribed by a doctor and has the original pharmaceutical label, the child’s name, the name of medication, the prescribed dose, frequency, date of dispensing and the expiry date.

  • if an ‘over the counter’ medicine, it must have the detailed information of the ingredients, the dose by age and weight and the child’s name clearly printed on it and its expiry date.

  • NB Parents are requested to seek medical advice if the ‘over the counter’ medication is required for more than 2 consecutive days.

  • All Medication is to be handed to an Educator and not stored in a child’s bag or locker.

Occupational Health & Safety Issues

We are committed to protect the health and safety of all children, staff and visitors to the Centre. In line with Hospital policy, in the interest of Occupational Safety & Health and for the well-being of all, the Child Care Centre and the Hospital site is a smoke free zone.

Sun Protection

  • All children are required to bring a hat in their bag every day throughout the year, to teach children that in Australia, you need to wear a hat when you go outside. The hat should be broad brimmed, protecting your child’s face, neck and ears and is to be worn at all times when outside. Please ensure it is clearly named and that you wash it regularly.

  • Parents are requested to apply sunscreen to their children in the mornings prior to coming to child care and dress their children in ‘sun smart’ clothing (covering shoulders, neck and arms) to enable them to go straight outdoors between September-May. Children who do not have a hat will be asked to remain indoors or in the shade. Sunscreen is provided on the Sign In desk for parents if required.

  • SPF 50+ broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen will be provided for children, and applied by educators 20 minutes before going outside in the afternoon.

  • Educators will act as role models, by wearing sun smart clothing, hats, applying sunscreen and seeking the shade wherever possible.

  • Children’s outdoor activities are limited to shade areas whenever the UV Index is 3 or above.

  • The CHCCC is a WA Cancer Council approved ‘Sun Smart’ Centre.

Accident, Incident and Illnesses

Despite every precaution being taken, accidents may occur from time to time. The following procedure will be implemented to protect your child and keep you informed should an accident occur.

  • You are required to provide written authority (included in the enrolment form) for staff of the Centre to seek medical attention from the PCH Emergency Department for your child if required.

  • In the case of a minor accident, educators will attend to the injured child and apply first aid. All qualified educators hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate.

  • Depending on the nature of the injury, you may be contacted at the time of the accident or informed of the incident with a copy of the Accident / Incident Report when you arrive to collect your child at the end of the day.

  • If a serious accident occurs which requires more than first aid treatment you will be contacted immediately or if you cannot be contacted your emergency contact person will be.

  • Your child will be taken to the PCH Emergency Department for medical treatment. A staff member will accompany your child (and remain with them if the staff: child ratio can be maintained at the Centre) until you arrive. You will be provided with a copy of the Accident Report completed by the person in charge of your child at the time of the accident.

Excursions

Due to the nature of this service and the high number of part time children, it is our preference to plan ‘incursions’ for the children rather than ‘excursions’.

In the event of an excursion being arranged, parental permission is always sought with comprehensive details of the excursion plan being provided to each family

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

  • Spontaneous practise emergency evacuation drills will be planned for at least four times per year for the staff and children and a record of these will be kept.

  • The Toddler and Kindy children use the ‘walking rope’.

  • Babies will be placed in the evacuation cots, or be carried.

  • An evacuation plan is displayed in the Reception area for your information.

  • In order to keep the corridors free from obstructions could parents please ensure that prams are small and always placed in the pram storage area.

Protective Environment

The CHCCC is committed to the safety and well-being of all young children accessing the Centre. We support the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a safe environment is maintained at all times that minimises the risk of children being harmed in any way.

To support this right the Centre will follow the procedures set down in the Department for Communities document ‘Child Protection in Children’s Services’, when dealing with any allegations of abuse or neglect of children, to ensure the protection of all children attending the Centre. For more information, please see the Centre Policy Manual on the ‘Sign-In’ desk in Reception.

Registered nurses employed by the CHCCC (Director and RN/Inclusion Support) and our Early Childhood Teachers are required to comply with the WA Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Legislation.

Quality Improvement

The Centre participates in the National Quality Standards (NQS), supporting the provision of high quality care. Further information is available on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority website.

Currently the Centre is accredited at the highest level. Parents are invited to participate in the Accreditation Committee and to offer ideas, suggestions and feedback. We will keep you informed of details or any changes to Centre procedures and policies, via our monthly Parent Newsletter (by email) and notices on the parent notice board in Reception.