5.5 EMERGENCY CARE

DATED: October 2002

SOURCED: Child Care Act 2002, Queensland Department of Communities

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POLICY

In the event of an emergency where a parent is unavoidably detained, a carer may provide emergency care to one child, or sibling group, for a period of not more than one hour.

a) Emergency care may not be provided to a child or siblings on consecutive days.

b) In the event of any provision of emergency care a carer must immediately notify the office or the after hours contact number. Written notification of the provision of emergency care must be forwarded to the office within seven (7) days of the provision of any such emergency care.

c) Emergency care is defined as child care provided ‘in response to a need that a relative or guardian of the child claims has arisen from an emergency or other circumstances unforseen by the relative or guardian’; or ‘in response to circumstances beyond the licensee’s control’.

PROCEDURE

1. Parent to inform the Care Provider prior to the period of emergency care commencing

2. Care Provider to speak to a Co-ordinator immediately to inform them of emergency (after hours – Linda Harnett (m) 0403 265 344, or 3396 1143)

3. Complete the form and return to the office

4. If emergency care occurs more than once, parents will need to review their care arrangements with the office

Examples of an emergency are:

Natural disaster

Medical or illness

Accident or injury

NOTE:

Carers can provide emergency care to one child or sibling group

for a maximum of ONE hour in a day

If the above procedures are not followed it will be acknowledged

 as a breach of the Child Care Act 2002