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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Keeping Children Safe. Standards for Child Protection: TOOL 1

Keeping Children Safe Coalition, 2006

A set of basic standards for organizations to implement in order to fulfill their responsibilities in safeguarding children from abuse and exploitation

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.

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.

Quality Care Standards: Experiences from Cambodia

29 Nov 2005

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

Working with Children and Families Vol 2., Children's Activities

Louise Melville, British Council, Jordan, 2005

Guidance and examples of group activities which promote development and self-esteem, and the role of the worker in providing activities on a regular basis.

Timor Leste: Policy and Procedures for Child Care Centres and Boarding Houses

Timor Leste - Division of Social Services, 2005

This document is a guideline to facilitate good policy and practice within institutional care settings for children in Timor. It addresses regulations, registration, standards of care, placement and monitoring.

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.