Authorisations – Acceptance And Refusal Policy Statement

Purpose
To further ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children being educated and cared for at FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES, Services. These guidelines outline the procedures to be followed when:
Obtaining written authorisation from a parent/guardian or person authorised and named in the child’s enrolment record
Refusing written authorisation from a parent/guardian or person authorised and named in the child’s enrolment record

Scope
These guidelines will apply to the Approved provider, nominated supervisor, educational leader, supervisors, educators, staff, students on placement, volunteers, parents/guardian, children and others attending the service.

Importance of the guidelines:
Authorisations play a vital role in guiding service delivery, behaviours and expectations of both families and the service. Authorisations are one of the cornerstones to safety and professional practices in early childhood education and care.

Policy
At FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES, we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children attending the service and meeting our duty of care obligations under the law.

NATIONAL QUALITY FRAMEWORK

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010	Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011	National Quality Standards	National Quality Standard Elements
161-175	92-94,96,99,102,160-161,168,172	2.3	2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.4
		7.1	7.1.1, 7.1.2

RELATED LEGISLATION

• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
• Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
• Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic.)
• Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cwlth)

RELATED POLICIES

• Administration of First Aid Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Code of Conduct Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Confidentiality Policy V3.2016
• Delivery and Collection of Children Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Emergency and Evacuation Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Enrolment and Orientation Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Excursions Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Incident, Illness, and Trauma Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Medical Conditions Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Mentor, Support and Supervise Educators and Assistants Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Nutrition Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Provision of Information Training and Assistance Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Sun Protection Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Water Safety Policy V3.2016

References and resources

• Department of Education and Training (DET)
• Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
• Belonging, Being & Becoming – The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia:
• My Time, Our Place – Framework for school age care in Australia
• Early Childhood Australia – Code of Ethics
• Early Childhood Australia.
• Criminal History Requirements: Family day care
• Guide for Family Day Care Educators
• Delivering children’s programs in a family day care service
• DET Emergency Management Guidelines
• Protecting the Safety and Wellbeing of Children and Young People
• Children’s Wellbeing Act 2005
• Department of Education and Training – Acceptance and refusal of authorisations policy

PROCEDURES

• Approved Providers and delegates, educators and educator assistants are responsible for:
• Ensuring families are informed of their right to refuse authorisations and the impacts of a refusal
• Ensuring families are informed of and complete and sign the authorised nominee section of their child’s enrolment form prior to commencing care and education as to who can collect the child, authorise the administrations of first aid, whom to notify in emergency etc.
• Ensuring that families or authorised nominee is informed and signed a consent to the medical treatment on child’s file to enable treatment from a registered medical practitioner, hospital or ambulance service, if required. This may also include transportation of the child by an ambulance service
• Requiring educators provide information and permission forms for excursions to families prior to any excursions
• Requiring attendance records are maintained at all educator’s homes to account for all children attending the service
• Requiring where children require medication to be administered by an educator, it is authorised in writing, signed and dated by parent/guardian or authorised nominee, on child’s medication record. Medication will not be administered if medication is not in original container or passed expiry date in accordance with Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 r.95 the parent may be contacted to replace the medication or collect the child
• Requiring that where children require medication that can be self-administered, authorisation is obtained in writing, signed and dated by parent/guardian or authorised nominee on child’s medication record. If the educator is unsure of the child’s ability to self-administer medication an authority from a medical practitioner may be required in accordance with Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 r.96
• Monitoring, maintaining and storing all legislated and required records confidentiality
• Ensuring that educators are aware to not administer medication without the authorisation of parent/guardian or authorised nominee, except in the case of an emergency, including an Asthma or Anaphylaxis emergency in accordance with ‘Medical condition policy and procedures,
• Requiring educators allow a child to participate in an excursion or regular outing only with the written authorisation of parent/guardian or authorised nominee, and procedures if refused alternative care will be offered or the child may be requested to remain at home
• Requiring educators allow a child to depart from the service only with a person who is a parent/guardian or authorised nominee, or with authorisation of one of these, except in the case of a medical or other emergency
• Allowing the refusal for an authorised person to remove a child from the service if the service feels; in accordance with Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 r.99
• the person is unfit (e.g. inebriated)
• not capable of caring for the child or
• the authorised person gives permission for the child to walk home and the service feels the
• The siblings or older children to take the child outside the service does not appear to be capable
• Sending reminders to parents twice per annum requesting updated information on their child
• Ensuring any received updates are communicated to the child’s educator within 24 hours of notification with assigned acknowledgement form
• Reviewing Medical Management Plans (MMP’s) quarterly with any changes or amendments to be updated and communicated to the child’s educator immediately – within 24 hours with assigned acknowledgement form
• Requiring educators provide information and permission forms for excursions to families prior to any excursions
• Be contactable by telephone whilst children are in attendance at the service (this includes whilst on excursions and outings)

Families are required to

• Ensure documentation/authorisations are completed or agreement is reached to alternative arrangements and remain current at all times
• Ensure all records are completed (attendance / illness, accident / medication etc.)
• Ensure any changes to children’s information or status is communicated promptly to the educator or approved provider
• Provide medication in its original container or not surpassed its expiration date and hand in directly to the educator.
• Read and sign consent to the medical treatment for your child to receive treatment from a registered medical practitioner, hospital or ambulance service, if required. This may also include transportation of the child by an ambulance service
• Discuss and negotiate outcomes which may lead to the refusal of authority for your child to attend an excursion (if you feel the excursion or outing is unsafe or of no benefit)

REVIEW

POLICY REVIEWED	July 2018	NEXT REVIEW DATE	July 2019
MODIFICATIONS	Policy created for First Idea Family Day Care Services, inclusive of changes to the National Quality Standards and Education and Care National Regulations