Standards of Care

Standards of care are approved criteria for measuring and monitoring the management, provision and quality of child care services and their outcomes. Such standards are required for all child care provision, including day care, kinship, foster and institutional care.

Standards should be concrete and observable sets of indicators which describe what good practice means in terms of outcomes for the child, how a service should be delivered, and the actions required by staff. They should be guided by the rights and best interests of the child, the preservation of the family, and the promotion of the child’s development.

Standards of care should be in line with national child care and protection policies, and reflect international standards for children’s rights. The development, monitoring and evaluation of standards should be participatory, and reflect the views of children and families who are using the services.

Standards should give indicators relating to all aspects of child care from the child’s physical and emotional well-being to staff and organisational procedures. This includes the child’s diet, access to health and education, and play and recreational facilities. Standards should outline the methods of care and control, and ensure that services are accessible and promote the child’s health. Standards should specify the rights of children to privacy, informed choices, dignity and respect. Standards relating to staff should include recruitment and selection procedures, regular supervision, support, and training. Procedural standards include the maintenance of records, respect for confidentiality, and accountability mechanisms.

The literature in this section focuses on examples of organisational standards for child care provision.

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Strategies for Delivering Safe and Effective Foster Care: A Review of the Evidence for Those Designing and Delivering Foster Care Programmes

Ghazal Keshavarzian, Family for Every Child , 2015

This report from Family for Every Child begins to fill the gap in understanding on how to deliver effective, safe foster care programmes through an exploration of the literature and interviews with experts.

Aboriginal Cultural Connections: A Child Protection Resource Guide

Prince Edward Island Community Services and Seniors, 2015

This resource guide offers a fairly comprehensive guide to engaging with the Aboriginal community on Prince Edward Island, Canada. It includes a history of the use of residential schools for Aboriginal children, as well as a description of the widespread removal of Aboriginal children from their families and communities for adoption placement in the 1960s through the 1980s.

HOTĂRÎRE Nr. 441: pentru aprobarea Regulamentului-cadru privind organizarea şi funcţionarea Serviciului social Centrul de zi pentru copii în situaţie de risc şi a standardelor minime de calitate

Republic of Moldova, 2015

În scopul implementării prevederilor Legii asistenţei sociale nr.547-XV din 25 decembrie 2003 (Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova, 2004, nr.42-44, art.249), cu modificările și completările ulterioare, Guvernul HOTĂRĂŞTE:

Twinning in the Best Interests of Children: Promoting Family Life, Not Orphanages

Catholic Relief Services, 16 Dec 2014

This document, published by Catholic Relief Services, urges members of the Catholic faith community to consider the best interests of the child when partnering, or “twinning” with parishes in Haiti and undertaking charitable activities.

Better Volunteering Better Care Excutive Summary

20 Nov 2014

This Excutive Summary is developed by the Better Volunteering Better Care

Derecho Del Niño Y La Niña A La Familia. Cuidado Alternativo. Poniendo Fin A La Institucionalización En Las Américas

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), 10 Nov 2014

El presente Informe, por la Comisión Inter-Americana de los Derechos Humanos, establece los estándares aplicables en el derecho de los niños a vivir en una familia y formula una serie de recomendaciones concretas a los Estados para apoyar a las familias en sus responsabilidades de crianza.

Guidelines for the Alternative Family Care of Children in Kenya

Government of the Republic of Kenya and UNICEF, 01 Oct 2014

The initial goal of the development of these guidelines was to seek to regulate Guardianship and Foster Care of children in Kenya.

Provision of Alternative Care to Children Affected and Infected with Ebola in Liberia

Government of Liberia, 28 Sep 2014

This draft from the Liberian government outlines the protocol and guidelines for responding to children's care issues in the context of Ebola, specifically for the Interim Care Centers (ICC) for children who have come into contact with Ebola.

Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations Including the Quality Standards

Department for Education, UK, 01 Sep 2014

This guide accompanies the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 from the United Kingdon and provides further explanation and information for everyone delivering residential care.

Alternative Care Assessment in 6 Countries (Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe)

Better Care Network Forum , 20 Aug 2014

Assessment of the current status of Alternative Care Legislation, Standards and Practices and identified Gaps in six countries: Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.