Blue Bay Early Learning Centre /
Evidence of link to NQS:
QA2: Children’s Health and Safety
Evidence of link to Regulation:
R168 and Part 4.2, Divisions 2 – 4
Version / Date / Author / Change Description
1 / 19/10/11 / NAME / Comment

Policy Aim

The aim of this policy is to ensure compliance with The Education and Care Services National Regulations, 2011, R168 and Part 4.2, Divisions 2 – 4, which sets out the requirements for health and safety policies and practices in relation to incident, injury, trauma and illness.

Rationale

Ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of children, employees, and visitors is a legal and ethical responsibility of the organisation. Health and safety policies and procedures are designed to minimise potential risk to all individuals who attend the service. The potential for incident, injury, trauma and illness can be reduced when policies and procedures are in place which guides decision-making and best practice.

While health and safety policies and procedures will not eliminate unforseen events they will reduce the potential risk and provide a framework for the management of incident, injury, trauma and illness as and when they occur.

Young children not yet have the developmental skills and knowledge to anticipate danger or consider the consequences of their actions – this make them particularly vulnerable to injury which can only be minimised by vigilant supervision and policies and procedures that take into account children’s development.

Health and safety policies and procedures also communicate the organisations commitment to ensuring, as far as possible the health, safety and wellbeing of all individuals engaged in the service.

Relevant Legislation:

  • Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011: Part 4.2, Divisions 2 – 4.

Other

  • National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care: QA2: Children’s Health and Safety

Notes

The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care: QA2: Children’s Health and Safety focuses on safeguarding and promoting children’s health and safety.

Strategies and practices

The management of incident, injury, trauma and illness encompasses a significant number of procedures which are addressed in the following Health and Safety polices:

  • Administration of Medications
  • Anaphylaxis and Asthma Management
  • Child Protection
  • Emergency Evacuation
  • First Aid Kits
  • First Aid Training (including Anaphylaxis and Asthma)
  • Food Safety
  • Immunisation
  • Medical Conditions
  • Minimisation and Management of Infectious Disease
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Sun Protection
  • Supervision
  • Telephone and Communication
  • Water Safety

Compliance with health and safety policies

As a condition of employment all employees of the organisation must:

  1. be familiar with, and follow all health and safety policies and procedures.
  2. receive induction training to familiarise themselves with health and safety polices.
  3. undertake annual in-house training to refresh their knowledge and understanding of the organisation’s health and safety polices.

Employees who intentionally breach the organisation’s health and safety policies which puts the health, safety and wellbeing of children, employees and visitors at risk will be required to undertake corrective training or, if the breach has resulted in serious injury to others be asked to show cause why their employment should not be immediately terminated.

Day-to-Day Service Management of Health and Safety Policies

Day-to-day service management of health and safety polices is delegated to the approved supervisor. The approved supervisor must ensure that all employees carry out health and safety policies in accordance with the organisation’s health and safety policies and procedures. The approved supervisor must act at all times in accordance with legislative requirements governing the health, safety and wellbeing of children, employees and visitors.

References

Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011

National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

Resources

Australian Childhood Immunisation Register: information for staff and parents

Better Health Channel: wide range of information on health issues – for staff and parents

Fairwork Australia: Role of Fairwork Australia, link to Modern Awards, links to other government agencies:

National Asthma Council Australia: information for staff and parents

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The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne: Centre for Child Health: Fact sheets for parents; policy briefs (EC research); Child care and children’s health ( available in different languages)

Policy Written by: / Position: / Date:
Approved by: / Approved Date: / Next review date:

Staff Sign:

Health and Safety Policy
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