3.3        MANAGEMENT PROCESS TO ADDRESS INADEQUATE  CARE:  BREACH OF CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL

 

DATED:             January 2006

SOURCED:        Queensland Child Care Act Legislation 2002 and Regulation 2003, Queensland Department of Communities

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POLICY

 

The scheme has a commitment to provide quality child care and has a process to address inadequate care, which may breach the Carer’s conditions of approval:

 

PROCEDURE

 

The Carer is bound by the standard of quality care as outlined in the:

 

o        Queensland Child Care Act Legislation 2002 and Regulation 2003

o        The Scheme’s Policies and Procedures

o        The Carer  Contract

 

Level One

 

Identified area for quality improvement


Where the Carer fails to meet the required standards and a coordinator or third party identifies inadequate care:

 

  • The coordinator will discuss the issue with the Carer and develop a corrective plan, with specific steps and review dates, to improve the quality of care in the identified area of concern. The corrective plan will be written into the Coordinator/Carer visiting book and will be reviewed as part of the visiting schedule and targeted on-the-job training & support provided by the coordinator
  • Should the quality of care not improve, in accordance with the steps and dates in the corrective plan, the coordinator may proceed to the following process:

 

Level Two

 

Inadequate care &/or breach of conditions of approval


Where the Carer fails to meet the required standards and a Coordinator, or third party identifies inadequate care; and/or

Where there is a breach of the conditions outlined within the above documents, the Coordination team adhere to the following process:

 

  • The coordinator will write a letter to the Carer  outlining the allegation of how the Carer  breached the conditions of approval, and identifying the specific condition/s

 

  • The coordinator and one other person (the Manager, where possible) will visit the Carer  to discuss the identified breach of the conditions of approval

 

  • The Carer  is given an opportunity to respond to the allegation

 

  • The response is recorded in writing. Two copies are made:
    • A copy is filed, and
    • A copy given to the Carer

 

  • The matter may:
    • Be resolved at this point, or
    • A plan is formulated to address the area/s of concern
    • A period of time is negotiated for changes to occur
    • A review date is recorded & given to the Carer
    • A review interview occurs & is recorded in writing. Two copies are made:
      • A copy is filed, and
      • A copy given to the Carer
    • The matter may be resolved at this point, or:

§         A further plan is implemented, or

§         The Carer  is suspended  --

§         The Carer  is terminated

 

Level Three

 

Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse

  • Where there is an allegation of child abuse by a third party, for example, a parent, colleague or a member of the public, the scheme must adhere to the Reporting of Harm procedure as outlined by the Queensland Department of Communities & the Commission for Children & Young People. The scheme must report the matter to the Queensland Department of Communities immediately and they in turn will pass the matter on to the Queensland Police Juvenile Aid Bureau for investigation.