“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Continuity of staff
Element 4.1.2: Every effort is made for children to experience continuity of educators at the service.
Is your service proactive to ensure that children experience a sense of belonging by being given consistent opportunities to build strong and secure relationships with staff and educators at the service?
Continuity of staff on a day-to-day basis and over an extended period assists educators to build secure relationships with children and plays a significant role in promoting their learning and development. Educators who work closely with children each time they attend the service, understand each child’s interests, strengths, and areas where support may be needed. They can provide continuity of experiences to extend children’s learning. Guide to the NQF p215.
Are rosters organised in a way that promotes continuity of staff?
Before implementing a rotating staff roster, carefully examine the effects this will have on continuity of care for children and families. For example, most children respond better to the same staff greeting them each morning, and this continuity allows parents to develop trusting relationships with educators and staff as well as maintain consistency with communication between families and the service. Continuity of care becomes increasingly significant during this time of year, when services are welcoming new children and families and many children are transitioning to new rooms or from early childhood settings to school age care settings. See QIP Nudge 14.12.21- Transitions
Does your service value staff wellbeing and promote job satisfaction amongst individual staff?
It is important that staff and educators feel valued, respected and supported in their professional roles at the service. Recognition of staff will support retention. Services can implement several practices to assist staff to continue to experience satisfaction within their roles at the service and encourage staff retention.
Consider the following:
- Are staff’s efforts and commitment to their role valued and acknowledged?
- What processes are in place to successfully recruit and retain quality staff?
- Does the service conduct exit interviews and use this information to support continuous improvement?
- Does management value the importance of staff continuity for the benefit of children’s learning and wellbeing?
- Are staff supported in their professional development to assist them to reach their full potential, allowing them to experience success and fulfillment?
- Does the service implement an educator rewards/incentives program to showcase and celebrate educator’s achievements?
Resources:
Understanding and Supporting Educator Wellbeing
Encouraging Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care
Within System7 go to QA 4/ Module 3 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with continuity of staff. These include staff exit survey and interview templates, professional development review, plans, and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 4/ 4.1.2- Continuity of staff
National Regulations – 168
System7 Module – QA 4/ Module 3
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
