Staff Handbook

Regulations, Policies And Procedures

Act 28 | Dress Code And Related Expectations | Duty of Care | Emergency Evacuation Procedure | Equipment | Evening Meals | Food Safety |

Grievance Procedure | Health And Safety | Illness | Immunisation | Regulation 27 | Infection control

Discipline Of Children - Act 28

The proprietor of a children’s service must ensure that no child being cared for or educated by the children’s service is subjected to -

(a) any form of corporal punishment; or
(b) any discipline which is unreasonable in the circumstances

A staff member of a children’s service must not subject any child being cared for or educated by the service to -
(c) any form of corporal punishment; or
(d) any discipline which is unreasonable in the circumstances

Dress Code And Related Expectations

Management provides:

• two pop overs
• a hat.
• Name badge (replacement of lost badges will be at your own cost)

During the spring and summer months a white top is to be worn under the pop over with navy bottoms and during the autumn and winter months a navy top is to be worn under the pop over with navy bottoms. Shoes are to be closed in at the toes and a heel no higher than 3 cms.

No responsibility is taken for open shoes or bare feet if an injury should occur.
No pants are to be dragging on the ground.
Tracksuit pants are not acceptable.
Facial piercings are prohibited.
Have an awareness of safety aspect when wearing jewellery eg. Long dangly earrings are a safety hazard, and therefore not suitable for working with children.
Hygiene - each staff member is expected to practise regular personal hygiene.
Language - no staff member is permitted to use foul and unacceptable language whilst on duty. Please remember that children learn by example.

Duty of Care

Anyone caring for children has a duty of care, legal responsibility, towards each child. A requirement of licensing regulations and duty of care is to ensure that the safety of all children is maintained to a high standard.
In essence, duty of care is an obligation to do “the right thing”. Having a duty of care means taking responsibility to ensure that no one is harmed by our actions, or as a result of our actions.
Should a child be injured while in your care and you or the service are found to be in breech of your duty of care, you or the service may incur legal action.
It is worth noting that your duty of care also extends to your co-workers, and that you have an obligation to ensure that you follow all work policies, procedures and practices in a safe and responsible manner.

Emergency Evacuation Procedure

Ensure that you familiarise yourself with the emergency procedures of the centre (lock down, sighting of a reptile and general evacuation). Each emergency procedure is found in each room on the notice board. Mock evacuations are performed at every eight weeks.
Ensure that you familiarise yourself with all emergency exits, attendance books and positions of fire extinguishers, reptile blanket.

Equipment

Treat all equipment with respect, and endeavour to ensure that the children do likewise.
Pack all equipment away neatly and in their appropriate containers / places, etc.
Any breakages of equipment are to be reported to management immediately.

Evening Meals

Evening meals can be purchased for you to take home at the end of your day. Weekly menus are displayed in the foyer. Please enquire at reception for more information.

Food Safety

The centre has a food safety program that is to be followed at all times. Should you handle food you are required to wash your hands before serving food and ensure your hair is tied back or away from the food and long sleeves are pulled up.
All staff working in the kitchen hold relevant food hygiene qualifications. At each staff meeting food handling techniques are demonstrated.
Please ensure that you are aware of where the food safety program is located in the kitchen and understand and follow the policies and procedures of the program.

Grievance Procedure

If you have a concern - whether it be personal or professional that is effecting your work responsibilities and you are not able to resolve it - please talk to the manager. We will endeavour to assist you in a professional, yet caring manner.
The following procedure should be followed if you have a grievance with another staff member:

1. make a meeting time do discuss the issue with the specific person
2. involve your team leader if you feel more comfortable
3. should you not be able to resolve the issue, discuss this with management

Health And Safety

Do not leave detergents or any toxic substance within reach of children. All cleaners/disinfectants must be stored in a locked cupboard or stored on a high shelf.
Children in your care are to be adequately dressed in accordance to weather conditions.
Children in your care will be protected from sunburn by applying sunscreen and hats - sunscreen must be applied to all children 20 minutes before going outdoors. Parents are asked to provide hats for their child. ( we do provide spare hats) No hat no outdoor play.
At all times ensure that a happy and safe environment is provided to each and every attending child.
Ensure that the individual dietary requirements of each child are met (this particularly refers to cultural, religious and allergy requirements).

Illness

In case of an illness of a child staff will:

• attend to the immediate needs of the child keeping them comforted and informed throughout
• consult the Team Leader (if not available Manager) at all times before making any decision regarding the ill child
• comply to recommended periods of exclusion for cases and contact with infectious diseases in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council
• to contact the parent/guardian if exclusion period is necessary (should exclusion not be necessary the parent/guardian must be contacted and informed about the child’s illness in order for the parent to make a decision regarding a doctor, treatment etc)
• to display the infectious disease poster at the sign in desk to inform staff and parents of current infection/s (or ask office staff to do so), and to inform office staff in order to complete the relevant illness record book

Immunisation

The Children’s Centre has a policy of exclusion of children and staff who are not immunised when a particular disease is present or suspected at the Centre.
This policy does not apply to children who are not yet old enough for certain immunisations, or who cannot be immunised for medical reasons. This policy is designed to protect the child or staff who is not immunised, whether by choice or for medical reasons, and to reduce the potential spread of those contagious diseases in the community.
When infectious diseases that can be immunised against are evident in the Centre, the information we have on computer regarding the children’s immunisation status and staff’s immunisation status will be used to contact parents or staff should our records indicate either the child or staff member is at that time un-immunised. Please ensure that your immunisation records are kept up to date. On commencement of employment you will be given a booklet containing information on infectious diseases.

Inadequate Supervision of Children - Regulation 27

The proprietor of a children’s service must ensure that all children being cared for or educated by the service are adequately supervised at all times that all children are on the premises where the service operates or in the care of that service.
A staff member of a children’s service must ensure that any child in their care is adequately supervised.

Infection control

Although our environment can not be made germ free, we can lessen the harmful effects of germs by keeping their numbers at a low. Germs can be most effectively controlled by frequent:

1. Cleaning and disinfecting objects which come in contact with children and
2. handwashing.

In addition, proper handling and disposal of contaminated items is necessary to prevent the spread of infections.
Hand washing is the most important procedure you and the children can follow to prevent the spread of infection.
How to wash your hands:

1. rub your hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds using warm running water and soap
2. wash your fingernails, between fingers, backs of hands and wrists
3. rinse your hands well under running water
4. dry your hands with a single cloth or hot blow dryer

When should you wash your hands?

• When you arrive at the centre
• After you use the bathroom, or help a child in the bathroom
• After you change a nappy
• After you handle items with body fluids or wastes such as blood, urine, runny nose etc
• After outside play
• Before you prepare food
• Before you eat or drink
• After you handle an ill child

When should the children wash their hands?

• When they arrive at the centre
• After outside play
• Before they eat and drink
• After they have touched an ill child
• After they blow, wipe their nose
• After they use the bathroom
  
  

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