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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Doing Better for Children: The Way Forward, Chapter 7

Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 2009

This document is the seventh, and final, chapter of Doing Better for Children: The Way Forward, produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The aim of this chapter is to contribute to the policy debate on child well-being, synthesising the previous chapters and drawing on the existing research and policy literature.

Information Collection Tools for Quantitative Indicators for the Manual of Measurement of Indicators for Children in Formal Care (Indicators 1-12)

Better Care Network and UNICEF Headquarters , 31 Dec 2008

The information collection tools from the Manual for the Measurement of Indicators for Children in Formal Care - a manual to assist countries in strengthening their information system around children in formal care through data collection around 15 global indicators.

Information Collection Tools for Quantitative Indicators.doc

The African Report on Child Wellbeing 2008: How child-friendly are African governments?

African Child Policy Forum, 01 Nov 2008

Assessment of individual African government's performance in regards to child welfare.

Rights of Children in Institutions

Council of Europe, 05 Aug 2008

This report provides an assessment of the current situation with regards to rights of children in institutions in 42 Council of Europe member states.

Adopting the Rights of a Child: A Study on Intercountry Adoption and its Influence on Child Protection in Nepal

Terre des Hommes Foundation and UNICEF, 01 Aug 2008

Evaluates the need for reform within Nepal's intercountry adoption programming and the broader needs within the child protection and alternative care arenas nationally.

Assessment of Procedural and Physical Standards in Children's Residential Care Institutions in Guyana: Summary and Recommendations

01 Aug 2008

Examines the capacity of childcare institutions and the monitoring and reintegration meausures necessary to ensure child safety in such.

Mapping of Residential Care Institutions in Sierra Leone

UNICEF, 01 Aug 2008

Mapping of existing facilities caring for children in residential capacity for use in developing child protection standards

Third Edition of the ISS Special Series on the Draft UN Guidelines on the Appropriate Use and Conditions of Alternative Care for Children

International Social Service, 31 Jul 2008

Evaluates country level implementation of principles set forth in Guidelines.

Executive Summary of Enhanced Protection of Children Affected by AIDS

UNICEF, 31 Jul 2008

Outlines how to strengthen social protection, legal protection, and alternative care for children at country level. Contains specific actions that governments and NGO's can take to decrease the vulnerability of children affected by AIDS and respond to instances of abuse, exploitation and neglect.

Executive Summary of Enhanced Protection for Children Affected by AIDS - FRENCH

UNICEF, 31 Jul 2008