Review of the South Australian Standards for In-Home Care Services

The Education and Early Childhood Service Registration and Standards Board of South Australia (the Board) is currently seeking your views to inform the review of the South Australian Standards for In-Home Care Services (the Standards). You are invited to provide feedback on the Standards, in particular to:

  • identify current standards that are working well
  • consider any issues or concerns you have with the current standards
  • identify any standards that require updating
  • identify changes to practices, policy or legislation that may impact on the current standards
  • consider any new standards that could be included

Your feedback will help contribute to shaping the outcome of the review and assist the Board to determine any new standards that may be required. Youare invited to provide feedbackby 30 September 2016either online through the Board’s website by hard copy in the reply paid envelope. Completed electronic forms can be emailed to

Standard 1
Anapprovedin-homecareserviceprovidermustensurethateach individual in-homecarer isafitandproperperson.
Anapprovedin-homecareserviceprovidermust:
a)obtainacriminalhistoryassessmentfromanauthorisedscreeningunitbefore engaginganindividual in-homecarer.
b)keeparecordof acurrent criminalhistoryassessmentfor eachindividual in-homecarertheyengage.
c)conductan interviewbeforeacceptinganindividual in-homecarer.
d)contactatleast twocurrentrefereesbeforedecidingto engageanindividual in-homecarer.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Standard 2
Each individual in-home carer must have appropriate knowledge, skills and experience.
Each individual in-home carer must have:
a)an understanding of their duty of care in relation to the children in their care.
b)experience in caring for children.
c)a basic knowledge of early childhood development.
d)a basic knowledge of children’s health, hygiene, nutritional and safety needs.
e)a current approved first aid qualification that includes emergency asthma management training, anaphylaxis management training and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
f)completed current child safe environment training and have a thorough understanding of their responsibilities in relation to child protection.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Standard 3
Individual in-home carer-to-child ratios must be met at all times.
a)An individual in-home carer must not provide care for more than seven children in total at any one time, with no more than four children who are of preschool age or under.
b)An individual in-home carer may only care for more than seven children if the children are from the same family.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Standard 4
The environment is safe and suitable for children.
a)Children must be cared for in a healthy and safe environment.
  1. A hazard identification and management checklist is to be completed prior to care being provided in a new environment.
  2. Individual in-home carers have an understanding of identifying, assessing and managing risks.
  3. The environment is free of tobacco smoke while children are in care.
b)Adequate health and hygiene practices are to be maintained.
  1. Food is handled, stored and prepared in a safe and hygienic manner.
  2. An individual in-home carer understands and follows current guidelines in relation to sun protection.
  3. An individual in-home carer follows current guidelines in relation to the management and notification of infectious diseases.
  4. An individual in-home carer is aware of, and manages, each child’s allergies and health care needs.
  5. An individual in-home carer understands and follows the safe sleeping standards and guidelines.
c)Children are adequately supervised and protected from harm and hazards at all times while in care.
d)If a child has an accident, injury or becomes ill while in care, an individual in-home carer will:
  1. administer appropriate first aid, if required
  2. seek immediate medical aid, if required.
  3. notify the child’s parent or person nominated by the parent as soon aspossible.
  4. keep a detailed record of the accident, injury or illness.
e)Written authorisation is required if medication is to be administered to a child in care by an individual in-home carer.
  1. Medication is to be stored appropriately and out of reach of children.
  2. Medication should be prescribed and be in the original container bearing the instructions and use-by date.
  3. A record of the medication administered to children is to be kept.
f)First aid provisions must be available at all times in the care environment.
  1. First aid provisions should be easily accessible to an individual in-home carer and not accessible to children.
g)An individual in-home carer is not affected by alcohol or drugs (including prescription medications) so as to impair their capacity to supervise or provide care to children.
h)The approved in-home care service provider has policies and procedures in place to manage a healthy and safe environment.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Standard 5
Relationships and interactions with children are positive and nurturing.
a)An individual in-home carer must promote the dignity and rights of each child at all times by:
  1. using positive guidance techniques and encouraging children towards positive and responsible behaviour choices.
  2. interacting with children in a positive and respectful manner.
  3. respecting the child’s family culture and values.
b)An individual in-home carer should work in partnership with parents to support each child’s wellbeing and development.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Standard 6
The approved in-home care service provider should incorporate a continuous improvement approach to outcomes for children.
a)An individual in-home carer is to undertake relevant professional development each year as specified by the approved in-home care provider.
b)The approved in-home care service provider obtains feedback from parents and families a minimum of once per year.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Standard 7
The safety and wellbeing of children must be maintained during an excursion and vehicular travel.
a)Written authorisation must be obtained before any child is taken out of the premises for an excursion.
b)An individual in-home carer must identify, assess and manage any hazards to ensure the safety of the children while on an excursion.
c)On an excursion an individual in-home carer must:
  1. supervise children at all times.
  2. have a first aid kit available.
  3. have emergency information available.
  4. carry a mobile phone or means of emergency contact.
d)When transporting children in their own vehicle an individual in-home carer must:
  1. hold a current valid driver’s licence.
  2. have appropriate registration and insurances for the vehicle.
  3. follow the requirements for safe passenger transport by using appropriate child restraints and seating.
e)The approved in-home care service provider has the right to conduct an assessment of the family vehicle if it is to be used by an individual in-home carer to transport children.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Standard 8
The approved in-home care service provider must maintain appropriate administration policies, practices and records.
a)Each individual in-home carer must carry with them an identity card provided by the approved in-home care service provider that contains a photograph and signature of the individual in-home carer.
b)An individual in-home carer must carry with them the approved in-home care service provider’s contact phone number and any relevant emergency numbers.
c)The approved in-home care service provider should develop and make available appropriate forms necessary to support the provision of care.
  1. The forms include documentation relating to child information details; health care requirements; parent contact information; parent permissions; authorised persons; record of hours of care; authorisation to administer medication; administration of medication; child accident, injury and illness records; risk assessment and risk management; authorisation for excursion; and a hazard identification and management checklist.
d)The approved in-home care service provider must keep a record of the dates and hours of care that are provided to children by each individual in-home carer.
e)The approved in-home care service provider must hold a register of the parents of the children in care.
f)The approved in-home care service provider must maintain current adequate public liability insurance at all times.
g)The approved in-home care service provider must have a policy and procedures relating to the management of complaints and concerns.
h)Policies and procedures of the approved in-home care service provider are available to parents of children in care on request.
i)The approved in-home care service provider must keep a copy of evidence of current criminal history screening clearances, first aid and other relevant qualifications and forms.
j)Records must be kept up-to-date, stored in a safe and secure area and remain confidential.
Do you have any comments to make in relation to this Standard?
What are your views on:
  • amending the requirements
  • including any new requirements

Is there any other matter you would like to be considered for inclusion in the Standards?

The Education and Early Childhood Services Registration
and Standards Board of South Australia

GPO Box 1811

Adelaide SA 5001

June 2016

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