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AIM
To protect children’s safety. To create a protocol that gives Carers and Families a safe and uniform guideline to address the issue of arrival and departure from care.
RATIONALE
Children in Family Daycare should be picked up at the end of the utilized care period by a Parent or Guardian or a person authorized by the Parent/Guardian to do so.
It is reasonable to expect that the Parent or guardian will be in a fit state to take responsibility for the child when they pick up.
STRATEGIES
At the time of enrolment, when initially visiting the Carer who will provide care for the children, the matter of drop offs and pick ups of children should be discussed. Carers should have an established routine for drop off and pick up of children and inform families of this routine.
Authorisation of a person to pick up a child must be given by the enrolling parent/guardian in writing to the Co-ordinator of the Scheme. The enrolling parent/guardian must ensure that any person they authorize to pick up children, including their partner where applicable, is identified and introduced to the Carer prior to pick up.
Changes in the regular pick up arrangements must be clearly authorised by the parent/guardian.
Carers cannot refuse to deliver children to a known parent solely on the instruction of the other parent (as in separations without a court ruling on the conditions of access to the child).
However if a divorced or separated parent shows a Court order that excludes contact between the children and the other parent, this Scheme and the Carer will abide by the Court's ruling.
EMERGENCIES
In case of emergency, where a person who has not previously been introduced to the Carer is required to pick up the child, the parent/guardian will phone the Carer, identify the person who will pick up the child, and inform the Carer of the nature of the emergency.
If at all possible the parent/guardian shall send a note with the person picking up the child. The Carer shall request photo identification from the person picking up the child.
Where this is not possible, the Carer shall request photo identification of the person
picking up the child, and note down particulars such as address, phone number, and a short history of the emergency.
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Where a person authorized to pick up appears to be in a state which impairs their ability to take care of a child:-
If the Carer has reasonable cause to believe that the safety of a child in care would be put at immediate risk if released into the care of the person who has come to pick them up, the Carer should, where practical, endeavour to discuss and organise a safe alternative pick up arrangement ie later or by someone else.
If the person picking up refuses to consider alternatives, they should sign the child out, the child should be released into their care and the Carer should immediately inform the Police of the circumstances. The incident should also be reported to DOCS as per Policy on Suspected Child Abuse.
The Co-ordination Unit must also be informed of the incident within 24 hours.
REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS AND OTHER STANDARDS
NSW Children’s Services Regulation 2004
National Childcare Accreditation Council Quality Practices Guide 2nd edition 2004 Family Day Care Quality Assurance, Principle 4.6
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1989
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