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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Western Australia: Better Care, Better Services- Standards for Children and Young People in Protection and Care

Kay Johnson, 2008

This document sets forth key standards through which child and youth protection, particularly in regards to foster care, will be approached in Western Australia.

Report of Rapid Assessment and Analysis of Vulnerabilities Facing Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY), and the Quality of OVCY Projects and Programmes in SADC

SADC Secretariat, 2008

This study sought to assess, analyse and inform the different forms of vulnerabilities affecting children and youth, and their effects and existing strategies and programmes addressing the challenges and vulnerabilities facing orphans, vulnerable children and youth (OVCY) in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. The study also sought to propose recommendations for improvement, and development of minimum standards for OVCY and the finalisation of the SADC OVCY Strategic Framework.

Evaluation of a Community-Based Orphan Care Program in Uganda

Jini L. Roby & Stacey A. Shaw, 2008

Examines the outcomes of family strengthening model in Uganda.

Keeping the Children Safe: Training for Child Protection

Keeping the Children Safe Coalition, 2008

The third tool in the Keeping the Children Safe Toolkit builds upon the development and implementation of standards portions to address training staff on protocol

Journeys of Faith: A Resource Guide for Orphan Care Ministries Helping Children in Africa and Beyond

Faith to Action Initiative , 2008

This resource is designed to be used as a guide for those in the Faith community working with orphaned children.

Supporting Family and Community Strengthening to Prevent Child Abandonment

SOS Children's Villages - Bolivia, 2008

Provides analysis on the implementation and outcomes of child abandonment prevention and orphan care programming in Bolivia.

Keeping Children Safe: Standards for Child Protection

Keeping Children Safe Coalition, 2008

The first tool in the Keeping Children Safe Toolkit which explains what the basic standards should be for all organisations across the world working with and for children directly and indirectly