5.3 CARER VISITING
DATED: December 2005
SOURCED: Child Care Act 2002
Child Care Regulation 2003
McGinnis, Alan Loy, 1985, Bringing out the
Best in People,
_____________________________________________________________________
The
scheme aims to provide a flexible visiting schedule to carers, sufficient to
assure the delivery of quality childcare.
Purposes of Visiting Carers:
Ø To ensure that quality care is being provided
Ø
To monitor safety
Ø
To provide relevant
support and assistance to carers
Ø To identify & assist in meeting carers' needs, including:
o
On-the-job
training, guidance and support
o
In-service
training
o
Equipment
o Resources
Ø To respond to the personal needs of carers; for example, planned holidays and management of their workload.
PROCEDURE:
Ø Each Carer is visited by two coordinators on a regular basis
o
One
coordinators focus is on programming and supporting inclusive practices within
family day care
o The second coordinators focus is on training and support
Ø
A
new Carer will be visited on a weekly basis for one month, then fortnightly for
one month, then three-weekly thereafter, or as required
Ø
Where
Carers have families who require extra support, the coordinator will visit as
often as necessary to support these placements
Ø
A
Carer can request a visit at any time and the coordinator will arrange a
suitable time
Ø
Visits
will be conducted in the home
Ø
The
coordinators will aim to visit at different times of the day to widen their
knowledge of the Carers activities and to observe the children in care
Ø
Visits
will generally be unannounced, unless there is a specific reason to schedule a
visit
Ø
Visits
to playgroups, in-service training, etc., are all valuable interactions.
However, they are in addition to home visits.
Ø The other ways that coordinators are accessible include:
o
Carers
can come into the office to discuss matters between home visits
o
Coordinators
are accessible by phone, email, fax