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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Provisional Protective Measures: The Principles to be Observed During the Institutionalization of a Child (3 of 3)

International Social Service and International Reference Center for the Rights of Children Deprived of their Family (ISS/IRC), 2006

A brief 2-page document that highlights the importance of child participation, post care planning, guarding against abuse, and connecting residential institutions with the surrounding community.

Emerging Practices in Community-Based Services for Vulnerable Groups: A Study of Social Services Delivery Systems in Europe and Eurasia

Rebecca T. Davis, 2006

Examines the transition from residential care to family-based, community care models in five European / Eurasian countries.

Keeping Children Safe: How to Implement the Standards, TOOL 2

Keeping Children Safe Coalition , 2006

Guidance and activities for organizations in implementing internal child protection standards

Elaborating A Lifelong Plan: Family Reintegration

International Social Service and International Reference Center for the Rights of Children Deprived of their Family (ISS/IRC) , 31 Dec 2005

A brief fact sheet on family reintegration. Provides an overview of what a social worker should pay attention to when assessing a child's situation.

The Eugene Declaration

Holt International Children's Services, 31 Dec 2005

Recognition of the crises affecting children and a commitment to improving the lives of children.

Quality Care Standards: Experiences from Cambodia

29 Nov 2005

This presentation was given at the Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005.

Policy Standards Framework in Relation to Residential and Community-Based Care

UNICEF, 29 Nov 2005

This presentation from UNICEF was given at the Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005. It outlines the standards and principles for residential and community-based care in the region.

Scotland: National Care Standards. Early Education and Childcare up to the Age of 16

Scottish Executive, 2005

A set of standards for early education and childcare services for children and young people up to the age of 16 years operating in the public, private and voluntary sectors, and in domestic or non-domestic premises.

Early Childhood Matters: Children Without Parental Care: Qualitative Alternatives

Teresa Moreno and Jan van Dongen (eds.), 2005

Collection of articles highlighting suggestions on how to improve existing mechanisms for providing adequate care. Major article on the current state of international thinking on children without parental care.

Raising the Standards: Quality Childcare Provision in East and Central Africa

Neil McMillan and Diane Swales - Save the Children UK, 2005

A guideline to establish and promote good practice in a variety of childcare settings through the application of quality indicators. The indicators address professional practice, quality of care, caregivers, resources and administration.