CHCCN511A: Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children

Descriptor: This unit describes the knowledge and skills required for a worker to establish, manage and monitor the implementation of a safe and healthy environment when working with children
Employability Skills: This unit contains Employability Skills
Application: The application of skills and knowledge described in this unit relates to the health and safety of children in a variety of child care contexts

Element	Performance Criteria
Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.	The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. Terms in italics are elaborated in the Range Statement.
1. Assess and improve the safety of environments	1.1 Assess environments for suitability and safety against relevant criteria and make decisions 1.2 Identify hazards and potential risks in the environment with others involved 1.3 Identify and clearly communicate the level of response required to address a hazard 1.4 Facilitate strategy development among others involved 1.5 Develop, implement and review a plan with others
2. Coordinate the response to accidents and emergencies	2.1 Develop, maintain and practise evacuation procedures with all workers and children 2.2 Review steps already taken by workers and implement additional actions required 2.3 Seek medical assistance as required 2.4 Implement a plan to meet the emotional needs of children and others in the situation 2.5 Allocate tasks to different people and give directions about how to proceed 2.6 Sensitively and calmly provide accurate information to parents 2.7 Use policies and procedures of the organisation to inform people of actions required of them 2.8 In light of the incident, review service’s policies and procedures with others and change as required
3. Plan and monitor supervision	3.1 Develop safety limits and guidelines with others involved 3.2 Plan, implement and review appropriate levels of supervision to suit a range of experiences and situations 3.3 Develop strategies for the service which can be used to address specific incidents 3.4 Regularly and carefully monitor implementation of supervision plan and procedures
4. Promote hygiene and safety practices	4.1 Explain and monitor policies for medication administration, storage and documentation 4.2 Monitor and reinforce the safe storage of hazardous materials with workers 4.3 Demonstrate and effectively communicate guidelines for safe food handling and storage 4.4 Promote and demonstrate practices for managing children’s hygiene needs
5. Promote appropriate practices to respond to illnesses	5.1 Regularly and clearly communicate infection control and medication guidelines to others 5.2 Suggest specific practices to address situations as they arise 5.3 Inform parents of infections 5.4 Develop procedures for responding to sick children 5.5 Report notifiable diseases/infections to the appropriate government organisation according to guidelines
6. Monitor travel and excursions	6.1 Establish and communicate procedures for safety in relation to excursions and transport 6.2 Monitor travel practices in relation to service procedures and regulations 6.3 Organise responsibilities during excursions
7. Provide guidance to workers when abuse is identified or investigated	7.1 Explain policies and procedures clearly and calmly 7.2 Support workers to provide information to appropriate bodies
8. Monitor care provided by others	8.1 Observe care practices and give specific instruction as required 8.2 Regularly review care routines with workers 8.3 Review practices to ensure policies regarding care are met

Required Skills And Knowledge

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively perform task skills; task management skills; contingency management skills and job/role environment skills as outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit
These include knowledge of:

Up to date knowledge of regulations on safety, health and hygiene
Potential hazards to children, including traffic and the spread of infectious diseases and cross infection
Strategies to minimise the spread of infectious diseases
Developmental stage appropriate toys and equipment
Legal requirements for supervision including worker – child ratios
Food preparation, cooking and storage of food – temperatures
Child protection policy of service
State/territory requirements about abuse and reporting process
Common childhood illnesses recognition, management strategies
Incident records
Indicators of different types of child abuse
Organisation procedures
Strategies for developing responsible behaviour by children in cars and buses
Organisation standards, policies and procedures

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Apply a thorough understanding of dangers and hazards for specific age groups
Make informed and appropriate decisions under pressure to ensure the safety of children, including in the home environment, and in particular:
personal hygiene to prevent cross infection e.g. handwashing
modelling safe behaviours and hygiene practices
risk identification in relevant environments
risk reduction strategies in that environment
risk minimisation strategies in response to specific incidents
ways of supervising appropriate to the age of the child
supervision systems e.g. an area/ a group of children/ floater
Address issues in planning supervision according to the ages of children –
For 5 to 12 year olds:
absences of children booked in need to be investigated
older children may be able to assist in responding to an incident if directed clearly and supported to do so
developing children’s capacity to monitor their own safety
developing children’s capacity to develop strategies with staff
Assess additional supervision requirements for a child due to – child’s disability:
level of risk taking behaviour
age/stage of development of child
child’s level of competence in the activity selected
child’s level of responsibility
child’s familiarity with environment/equipment/materials

In addition, the candidate must be able to demonstrate relevant task skills; task management skills; contingency management skills and job/role environment skills
These include the ability to:

Demonstrate application of skills in:
strategies for developing responsible behaviour by children in cars and buses
decision-making under pressure

Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Environments may be assessed for safety in relation to:	Hazards Noise Pollution Fences Buildings Grounds
Relevant criteria for assessing environments may include:	Regulations Policies of organisation Industry standards e.g. QA and IS principles Occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines
Criteria for assessing safety of environments may include:	Legislation and regulatory requirements Safety criteria developed by service Own judgement and experience
A plan to meet the emotional needs of people involved in an accident or emergency may include:	Reassurance/comfort Counselling ‘Debriefing’
Areas where close/additional supervision may be required include:	Hazards e.g. Water Specified equipment Areas without fences Toilets
Plan for supervision may include:	Limit setting for children Deployment of workers Programming Separating different aged children Placement of equipment Staff/child ratio
Limits and guidelines related to supervision may include:	Out of bounds areas Rules for safe play
Additional supervision may be required for:	Excursions Boisterous activities e.g. Touch football Swimming Younger children Children with additional needs e.g. ADD
Supervision strategies on excursions include:	Head counts Developing and maintaining group norms that foster safety
Practices to respond to sick children may include:	One to one care Separation from other children Contacting parents Requesting parent to take child home
Government organisation which may need to be consulted/ notified include:	Work Cover, if worker situation Public health unit
Guidelines for reporting may include:	Public health guidelines e.g. a number of cases, timeframe for reporting Organisation guidelines e.g. who is to write and set report
Procedures for safety in travel may include:	Regulations are followed e.g. children are appropriately restrained Restraints are effectively installed Behaviour guidelines and limits for children during travel
Supervision of travel and care practices may be monitored by:	Observation Discussion with worker

Evidence Guide

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.