“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Risk Management
Element 3.1.2: Premises, furniture and equipment are safe, clean and well maintained.
Is your risk management cycle thorough, consistent and embedded in everyday practice across the Service environment and operations?
The Education and Care Services National Law requires services to ‘ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury’. Risk management is crucial to ensuring the physical environment is safe for use. It allows educators to identify and assess any potential hazard/s and develop appropriate strategies to manage or eliminate the risk. Managing risks and hazards must be embedded in daily practice across the Service, with systems in place that all staff, educators and management understand and implement strategically, collaboratively and continuously.
Ensure that your service creates opportunities for consultation with children, staff, families, management and community members throughout the risk management process, providing opportunities for all stakeholders to have a voice in the decision-making process.
With the implementation of comprehensive risk management processes, services will help to ensure that children, families, staff and visitors are protected from harm or hazard whilst maintaining an enriching learning environment. Ensure that there is a clear process for service stakeholders to report any hazards to staff or management and these must be acted upon immediately.
When it comes to the physical environment and ensuring that the Service premises, furniture and equipment are safe, clean and well-maintained services must consider a variety of factors and potential hazards when tailoring their risk assessments to suit their individual Service context including, but not limited to:
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- Geographical location and the environment surrounding the Service.
- Environmental factors. For example: extreme weather, surfaces and learning environments exposed to/impacted by the elements etc.
- The educational program and the implementation of higher risk experiences
- Electrical appliances
- The sleep and rest environment
- Water safety
- Children and staff with allergies and additional needs
- Children’s behaviours
- The layout of the service and its impact on maintaining effective supervision and accessibility to hazards
- Storage of hazardous chemicals
- Pets and/or animals
- Emergency equipment
- Providing adequate space for conducting experiences
- Work Health and Safety such as manual handling (e.g., safe lifting children from cots and highchairs)
It’s crucial that all services ensure that they maintain and follow advice and requirements from recognised authorities, adhere to Australian Standards and manufacturers instructions. Ensure that your service files all manufacturers’ instructions (or have access to them online) in a location accessible to staff and educators.
Resources:
ACECQA- Risk Assessment and Management Tool
Kidsafe- A Risk Management Approach
Risk Assessment and Management
Risk Management in Children’s Services- Webinar
Hot weather risks for children
Sleep and Rest Physical Environment Considerations
Within System7 go to Quality Area 3/Module 5 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 upkeeps. These include Safety Check Templates, Risk Assessment Templates, Risk Assessment Guide and Procedure, Surface Temperature Check Form and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 3/ 3.1.2 – Upkeep
National Regulations – Part 4.3- Physical environment
System7 Module – QA 3/ Module 5
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
