“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is: Working with children checks.
Element 4.2.2: Professional standards guide practice, interactions and relationships
How does your service maintain a record of working with children checks and keep informed when their expiry is approaching?
Anyone aged 18 and over, engaged in child related work must have a current Working with Children Check, which must be verified by the employer before the employee/volunteer is engaged in any child related work. Obtaining a copy of a WWCC clearance from the employee/volunteer does not satisfy your obligations. Verifications must be done by the employer and can be completed through the employer portal of the Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Do you have a clear system in place to ensure all staff and volunteers provide and maintain current working with children checks?
Services have a responsibility to maintain current and accurate records of all staff and volunteer’s Working with Children Checks. Ensure you keep an up-to-date register of Working with Children Check clearances and verification numbers. These should be kept in the staff record and maintain a detailed spreadsheet with alerts set for approaching expiry dates.
Employer obligations:
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- Verify the Working with Children Check numbers
- Only employ people who have a WWCC clearance
- Maintain accurate records of the clearance number and expiry date of all employees and volunteers
- Authorise/nominate people within the Service who are authorised to read and receive confidential information about employee’s WWCC
- Remind employees to renew their WWCC up to three months before their Check expires
- Ensure the Service receives, verifies and files the updated/renewed WWCC clearance
Resources:
Working with Children Check information
Working with Children Check for Parents
Working with Children Check Victoria; Organisation obligations
Registration to work with vulnerable people TAS
Within System7 go to Quality Area 4/Module 8 and Quality Area 7/Module 25 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 professional standards. These include staff handbook template, Responsible Person Policy, Recruitment Policy, orientation checklists and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA4 /4.2.2- Professional standards
National Law and Regulations – 16, 146, 147, 153 (FDC), 358 (VIC)
System7 Module – QA4/Module 8 and QA7/Module 25
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
