ILLNESS POLICY
We are committed to preventing the spread of infectious illnesses through the implementation, monitoring and
maintaining of simple strategies such as, effective handwashing and cleaning procedures, and an understanding and
knowledge of children’s health.
To ensure our environments are safe, clean and hygienic the Nominated Supervisor (NS) or Persons in Day to Day
Charge (PIDTDC) reserves the right to exclude a person of a suspected illness from the centre to prevent the spread of
infection to other children and educators and to allow the child/educator time to rest, recover and be treated for the
illness. Excluding ill children, educators and staff is an effective way to limit the spread of infection in the centre (p.13
NHMRC)
Children may not remain at the centre if they:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Have a temperature over 38.5°C and child appears unwell
Have had more than two episodes of diarrhoea and / or vomiting within the day / 24hour period
Are unable to actively participate in learning experiences
Require dedicated one–to–one attention
have an unexplained rash that impacts the health and wellbeing of themselves and others
Have any of the suspected illnesses listed below
Should a child become ill during the day, educators will need to be vigilant and responsive to any symptoms of illness
especially in young children who are unable to indicate they are unwell. Families will be asked to collect their child
within 1 hour (or as soon as practical) of the call or arrange for an authorised nominee to collect. If there is no one
able to collect the child within this time the child’s condition will be monitored and if worsens an ambulance will be
called.
In an emergency when the parent or emergency contact person is uncontactable, the child’s temperature reaches
38.50C or higher and after attempts to cool down the child fails. If the parent has signed the paracetamol permission
in the Terms and Conditions of the child’s enrolment form, the Nominated Supervisor can administer one dose of
Paracetamol in the appropriate dose only. The Nominated Supervisor will check that permission has been signed in
the terms and conditions prior to giving the one dose of Paracetamol.
NATIONAL VERSION 1.0 (REVIEW DATE: AUGUST 2018)
1|Page
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Symptoms indicating a suspected illness may include (but are not limited to):
• Behaviour that is unusual for the individual child, such as child who is normally active and who suddenly
becomes lethargic or drowsy;
• High temperature of 38.5oC or more
• Poor circulation
• Loose bowels;
• Discharge from the eye or ear;
• Red or purple rash;
• Poor urine output;
• Headaches;
• Sensitivity to light;
• Difficulty in breathing;
• Difficulty in swallowing or complaining of a sore throat;
• Persistent, prolonged or severe coughing;
• Faeces which is grey, pale or contains blood;
• Vomiting;
• Loss of appetite/ poor feeding;
• Skin that displays rashes, blisters, spots, crusty or weeping sores;
• Dark urine;
• Stiff neck or other muscular and joint pain;
• Continuous scratching of scalp or skin;
• Drowsiness;
• Pain;
The NS or PIDTDC has a duty of care to the centre, children and adults and therefore has ultimate responsibility for
deciding if a child is well enough to be at and/or return to the Centre. The NS or PIDTDC are guided by professional
documents as a reference for their decisions making including Staying Healthy in Child Care (5th ed) and State based
Health Departments.
Children returning to the Centre after illness:
•
•
•
•
May return if they have not had an episode of vomiting/ diarrhoea for a minimum of 24 hours
Suspected symptoms have lessened, and child appears to be themselves
Child has not had Panadol / Nurofen before arrival
The Nominated supervisor (NS) or Persons in Day to Day Charge (PIDTDC) can request family to obtain
Medical Certificate to confirm that the child is well enough to return (this is at the Nominated Supervisor or
person in day to day charge discretion)
Young children are susceptible to the risk of infectious diseases. It is imperative that educators and children
implement infection control measures to minimise cross infection.
Reporting to the Public Health Unit and/ or Regulatory Authority
Nominated supervisor or person in day to day charge (PIDTDC) must contact the local Public Health Unit to:
• Seek advice or advise in managing health issues
• Resolve any difference of opinion
• Report vaccine preventable disease or notifiable disease.
• Report an outbreak of gastroenteritis. An outbreak is defined as two or more cases of vomiting and/ or
diarrhoea occurring among children and/ or educators within 48 hours of each other.
The Regulatory Authority must be notified where they believe an illness or emergency meets the definition of serious
incident or it poses a significant risk to the health, safety and wellbeing to children. Before reporting consideration is
to be given to the severity and scope of the matter; impact and risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of the child or
children; number of children involved.
LINKS TO THE NATIONAL LAW AND REGULATIONS
NATIONAL VERSION 1.0 (REVIEW DATE: AUGUST 2018)
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Section 165 Offence to in adequately supervise children
Section 167 Offence relating to protection children from harm and hazards
Regulation 168 – Education and care services must have policies and procedures
Regulation 77 Health, hygiene and safe food practices
Regulation 85 Incident, injury, trauma and illness policies and procedures
Regulation 86 Notification to parents of incident, injury, trauma and illness
Regulation 87 Incident, injury, trauma and illness record
Regulation 88 Infectious disease
Regulation 89 First aid kits
Regulation 90 Medical conditions policy
Regulation 91 Medical conditions policy to be provided to parents
Regulation 92 Medication record
Regulation 93 Administration of medication
Regulation 94 Exception to authorisation requirement – anaphylaxis or asthma emergency
Regulation 95 Procedure for administration of medication
Regulation 96 Self-administration of medication
2|Page
LINKS TO THE NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD
Standard/
Elements
Concept
Descriptor
1.2
Practice
Educators facilitate and extend each child’s learning and development
1.2.1
Intentional Teaching
Educators are deliberate, purposeful, and thoughtful in their decisions and
actions
2.1
Health
Each child’s health and physical activity is supported and promoted
2.1.2
Health practices and
procedures
Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are
promoted and implemented
2.2
Safety
Each child is protected
2.2.1
Supervision
At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure
children are protected from harm and hazard
5.2
Relationships
between children
Each child is supported to build and maintain sensitive and responsive
relationships
5.2.1
Collaborative
learning
Children are supported to collaborate, learn from and help each other
6.1
Supportive
relationships with
families
Engagement with
the service
Respectful relationships with families are developed and maintained and
families are supported in their parenting role
7.1
Governance
Governance supports the operation of a quality Guardian Centre
7.1.2
Management
Systems
Systems are in place to manage risk and enable the effective management
and operation of a quality service
7.1.3
Roles and
Responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, and understood, and support
effective decision-making and operation of the centre
6.1.1
Families are supported from enrolment to be involved in the service and
contribute to service decisions
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2018
Guide to the National Quality Framework 2018
Staying Healthy in Childcare; Preventing Infectious diseases in Child Care (5th Ed.)
Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council (2012)
NATIONAL VERSION 1.0 (REVIEW DATE: AUGUST 2018)
3|Page
HEALTH AND SAFETY
REFERENCES
ILLNESS PROCEDURE
Who?
APPROVED
PROVIDER
(GUARDIAN
EARLY
LEARNING
GROUP) WILL:
How?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
NOMINATED
SUPERVISORS
WILL:
•
•
In the
absence of
NS, the
person in day
to day charge
WILL:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
NATIONAL VERSION 1.0 (REVIEW DATE: AUGUST 2018)
4|Page
HEALTH AND SAFETY
•
Ensure that the premises are kept clean, hygienic and in good repair.
Ensure that completed medication records are kept until the end of 3 years after the child’s
last attendance
Ensure the illness records are kept and stored securely until the child is 25 years old
Ensure that there is a minimum of one educator with a current approved first aid qualification
(including CPR, emergency asthma and anaphylaxis training) on the premises at all times.
Ensure that children’s enrolment forms provide authorisation for the person in day to day
charge to seek emergency medical treatment by a medical practitioner, hospital or ambulance
service.
Ensure that reports and documents are reviewed in line with and reviews and changes to
National Law and Regulation
Operations Managers may report to the Regulatory Authority where they believe an illness or
emergency meets the definition of serious incident or it poses a significant risk to the health,
safety and wellbeing to children. Before reporting consideration is to be given to the severity
and scope of the matter; impact and risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of the child or
children; number of children involved.
Ensure all new families know:
- where to access this policy
- the exclusion periods and procedures
- importance of effective handwashing
Notify parents/emergency contacts immediately after an onset of an illness and continue to
keep family updated of their progress
Notify other person/s as authorised on the child’s enrolment form when the parent/ guardians
are not contactable.
In an emergency when the parent or emergency contact person is uncontactable, the child’s
temperature reaches 38.50C or higher and after attempts to cool down the child fails. If the
parent has signed the paracetamol permission in the Terms and Conditions of the child’s
enrolment form, the Nominated Supervisor can administer one dose of Paracetamol in the
appropriate dose only.
Will check that permission has been signed in the terms and conditions prior to giving the one
dose of Paracetamol
Consult with their Operations Manager to determine whether an illness or medical emergency
requires notification to either families, the Public Health Unit and the Regulatory Authority.
Maintain all enrolment and other medical records in a confidential manner.
Be aware of individual children’s medical conditions, allergies and immunisation status and
use this knowledge when attending/responding to any illness
Ensure educators understand the requirements for checking and accepting medication from
families – see Procedure for collecting and administering medication to a child
Ensure that an illness form is completed and recorded on the illness register
Ask family to sign completed illness form and offer a copy for their records
Discuss centre’s expectations about the child’s return and note this on Illness form to ensure
this expectation is clearly outlined
Contact family, by phone, at the end of the day to check on child’s wellbeing and continue
contact with family until child returns
Ensure that the Person in Day to Day Charge (PIDTDC) who holds a current first aid certificate
to administer medication with a second qualified educator to witness this
Review the cause of any illness and take appropriate actions to minimise the spread or the
cause if possible.
Ensure that regulatory responsibilities are met in relation to any illness or medical emergency.
Forward a copy of illness form to their Operations Manager, (if illness is deemed reportable to
the Regulatory Authority to be lodged within 24 hours)
Ensure educators are consistently following Guardian’s handwashing and cleaning procedures
Ensure educators are always following the nappy change procedures
Call an ambulance immediately if a child displays any of the following symptoms:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
EDUCATORS
AND STAFF
WILL:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Notify the nominated supervisor or person in day to day charge (PIDTDC) of any reportable
illness or potential medical emergency as soon as practical
Record details of illness on the Illness form as soon as is practicable but not later than 24 hours
after the occurrence.
Seek further medical attention for a child if required.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of illness.
Be aware of individual children’s medical conditions, allergies and immunisation status and
use this knowledge when attending/responding to any illness.
Respond to children showing signs of illness and begin monitoring the symptoms of the child
and record on the illness form.
Contact the child’s authorised person to inform them of the illness signs, to request the
collection of the child.
In response to a child registering a high temperature, follow the:
- Fact Sheet – Steps to manage a high temperature procedure
- Collecting and administering medication procedure, and
- complete the illness record.
Ensure the PIDTDC will administer the medication to children and witnessed by qualified
educators
Ensure medication is only be given by educators who have a current first aid certificate
Ensure effective handwashing and hygiene practices are followed for both children and adult
Ensure a cleaning schedule of all equipment, resources and materials is maintained. When a
number of illnesses are present in a short space of time, ensure the centre has additional
cleaning strategies to minimise the spread of germs
Complete the Whereabouts of medication form when all medications (including Centre’s Epi
pen, asthma reliever medication, individual children’s medication etc) is taken from its storage
location. in an emergency this form does not need to be completed when taking medication,
only when returned. This is to ensure that medication is tracked, and medication is stored in
correct location.
Be informed of policies and procedures upon enrolment with regards to first aid, illness whilst
at the centre, and exclusion practices, including immunisation status and illnesses at the
centre.
Collect their child from the centre within 1 hour (or soon as practical) of the call or arrange for
an authorised nominee to collect
Adhere to the recommended minimum exclusion periods
Inform the centre of their child’s requirements, and provide all current and relevant
paperwork to the centre, such as immunisation status, health plans, allergies, medical
management plans etc.
Update medical action plans in consultation with a medical practitioner each calendar year
Collaborate and consult in the development and review process of their child’s risk
minimisation and communication plans every 6 months
Ensure medication is on the centre’s premises at all times your child is in attendance
Notify the centre of any changes to their child’s health requirements
Be notified of any illness or possible symptoms of an illness, and a copy of the illness form will
be provided.
Receive access to this policy and notification of its existence.
NATIONAL VERSION 1.0 (REVIEW DATE: AUGUST 2018)
5|Page
HEALTH AND SAFETY
FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY
WILL:
a temperature of more than 39.5°C, where attempts to reduce the child’s
temperature have been unsuccessful, and paracetamol given to child has not
reduced the temperature and child’s condition appears to be worsening
If child is less than 3 months old and has a fever above 38.50C and temperature
attempts have not reduce
The child has difficulty breathing and the child becomes floppy and unresponsive
the child loses consciousness
the child has seizure/convulsions
the child complains of a stiff neck, headache, and sensitivity to light
or possible broken bone