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AIM
The Scheme will manage enrolments in a manner that ensures the successful and appropriate placement of a child into care, in accordance with all government regulatory requirements.
RATIONALE
To ensure children are placed where a suitable vacancy occurs and where there is a match between the needs of the child, family expectations and the Carer’s ability and willingness to meet the individual needs of the child.
STRATEGIES
1.PRIORITY OF ACCESS
Demand for childcare places may exceed supply in the Scheme where:
Child care usage reaches the maximum level approved by the Department of Family and Community Services for the Scheme as a whole or there is a shortage of child care places in a given area of the Shire.
The Australian Government has determined Priority of Access guidelines for allocating places in children’s services. These guidelines are set out in the following levels of priority:
Priority 1: A child at risk of serious abuse or neglect
Priority 2: A child of a single family who satisfies, or of families who both satisfy the work/training/study test under section 14 of the Family Assistance Act (those families who have been approved for 50hrs care p/week)
Priority 3: Any other child.
Within each category mentioned above, the following children are to be given priority:
children in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
children in families which include a disabled person
children in families whose CCB percentage is 100%
children in families with a non-English speaking background
children in socially isolated families
children of single families
(Note that these are not in priority order as children may fall into more than one category).
Where demand exceeds availability of care, either in the Scheme as a whole or in a given area, a list of families requiring care will be created and, as places become available, priority of access will be given to families according to their category.
Families in the third priority category may need to vacate their place, should a child in a higher priority category need care. This decision will be made by the Co-ordinator in consultation with the Family and Carer.
Where a shortage of care exists in a given area, the Scheme will endeavour to recruit and license more Carers in that area in order to satisfy all care needs.
2.LIST OF FAMILIES REQUIRING CARE
The Scheme maintains a current list of families requiring care.
Families are asked to notify the scheme of any changes to their details and/or if they wish to remove their child from the list
The list is reviewed and updated on a regular basis
3.HOURS OF OPERATION
The Scheme complies with the Current Children’s Services Handbook, and this information is related to families in the Family Information Handbook.
4.FEES
The Scheme’s fees and charges are reviewed in consultation with relevant stakeholders (families, Carers, Staff and management) and within government legislation guidelines.
5.ENTITLEMENTS
The Co-ordination Unit provide information to families in regard to entitlements for which they may be eligible ie Child Care Benefit.
6.NUMBER OF CARERS A FAMILY WILL BE REFERRED TO
Where possible, families will be referred to more than one Carer, who may be able to meet their child care requirements.
REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS AND OTHER STANDARDS
NSW Children’s Services Regulation 2004, Schedule 1: 1.1a-l; 1.2 a-I; 1.3 a-c; 1.4 a & b, Division 2
National Childcare Accreditation Council Quality Practices Guide 2nd edition 2004 Family Day Care Quality Assurance, Principle 1.2
Australian Government, Department of Family and Community Services, Child Care Service Handbook 2005/6, 2.1
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