What can you expect from our team?

New children will be made to feel welcome through the use of the “buddy” system. No child will be lonely or feel isolated, especially younger children with less confidence. Staff will be more than happy to undertake special care and attention in these circumstances.  We would encourage parents to discuss any concerns regarding their child settling in at Kidzcare with the club manager.  He/she can then ensure that the local team or specific member of staff can look out for your child until they feel comfortable and confident within their new surroundings.

We would encourage parents of children for whom English is not their first language to discuss appropriate approaches with the club manager to enable a speedy, pain free, settling in process.

Praising will be realistic and reproaching will be just and fair. Above all, clear and proper boundaries shall be maintained in terms of the adult/child relationship.

Training

First & foremost, Kidzcare seek to attract individuals who are energetic, creative and enthusiastic in their attitude to child care.   Once recruited we will build on this by taking them through our own in-house induction training which will then be followed up by regular, formal training.

Kidzcare are very keen to develop their team.  In order to support good, safe and creative interaction with our children, we run regular in-house training sessions for new and existing staff which addresses specific aspects of child care.  These include creative play, child protection, intimate care and moving&handling.

We also seek to offer financial support and encourage employees who are keen to obtain formal qualifications in play work, first aid and other relevant studies.             

Security/Confidentiality

All staff have been checked and fully disclosed by Disclosure Scotland, (the organization which ensures that adults involved in working with children have gone through necessary security checks.)

Parents can be confident that individual discussions regarding their child or attendance at Kidzcare will be treated with the utmost confidence. Staff will aim to develop an open, friendly but professional relationship with parents.

Where appropriate, any issues or views raised by parents will be dealt with at weekly staff meetings which are held at each club. Constructive criticism will always be welcome.

Day to day queries can be addressed to any staff members but we would suggest that issues be discussed with the club manager in the first instance.

If a child is simply unhappy at Kidzcare after school club, the situation will be talked through with parents. In the first instance however, you can expect that any member of staff will quietly and sensitively discuss the issue with the child with you. If there seems to be an important issue that remains unresolved, this would be reported to the manager from a staff member, who will then contact you to make you aware of the situation.

Promoting positive behaviour at Kidzcare

Kidzcare will endeavour to promote good behaviour, and to ensure an environment free of bullying, discrimination and abuse, by:

1. Valuing each child as an individual.

2. Ensuring staff interaction with children builds confidence and encourages the learning of new skills.

3. Working with parents to promote positive behaviour and to deal with difficult behaviour.

4. Encouraging children to participate in the day to day running and planning of the club.

5. Ensuring staff gain training and guidance on identifying and handling abuse and neglect.

6. Encouraging children to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

7. Having a child protection policy.

8. Have a code of conduct standard which is fair and consistent. 

Accidents

All staff should be willing and able to administer reasonable medication where necessary. A secure cupboard will be available for the storage of medicines.

At enrolment, you should make Kidzcare aware of any special needs you child has e.g. asthma, nut allergies and so on.  We would encourage you to speak confidentially to your local club manager at this time if we need to implement any particular procedures or take special care with any medical condition that your child has.  We will always endeavour to accommodate any of your child’s requirements where we can do so.

Staff will report any accidents to parents on the same day via an incident slip. This can include such items as a bump on the head whilst playing, a small graze and so on. No medication will be administered without first receiving written authorisation from parents. A medicines book will be kept to log all administrations, with parents receiving a copy of the details. Wherever possible, only first aid trained staff will handle medicines.

If an accident is viewed as serious by the manager, we will try to contact you immediately via all of the emergency contact numbers at our disposal.  If you cannot be reached and we believe the best course of action is to take the child to hospital, we will do so and continue to try and contact you via any means at our disposal.  We will of course stay with your child until you arrive.

Staff will also be vigilant for other health care issues such as nits and lice, and parents will be notified immediately if these incidences occur.

Kidzcare will follow Care Commission Child Protection procedures. Where bruises, for example, are noticed on a child this will be brought up and discussed with parents. Any further concerns must be reported, as a matter of obligation, to the Social Work Department of Edinburgh City Council.  A copy of our Child Protection policy is available for your perusal at all of our clubs.