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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The Effects of Improving Caregiving on Early Development

Christina Groark, Robert McCall, Rifkat Muhamedrahimov, Natalia Nikoforova and Oleg Palmov, 2003

Through a review of orphanages in St. Petersburg, Russia, this study examines the causal roles of consistency in caregivers and appropriate caregiving behaviors in the social, emotional, and development of young children.

Changing Minds, Policies and Lives: Improving Standards in Child Protection Services

Andy Bilson, Louise Fox, Ragnar Gotestam, and Judith Harwin, 2003

Contains practical tools and policy guidance for family and child welfare policy makers and practitioners. Relevant topics include gatekeeping, redirecting resources into preventive and family based services, and standards of care.

Boarding Schools, National Minimum Standards: Inspection Regulations

Department of Health, England, 2002

A set of standards for ensuring welfare protection at boarding schools. It includes standards and outcomes that outline a school’s welfare policies and procedures, organization and management, welfare support to boarders, staffing, and premises.

Best Practices for Care of AIDS Orphans

Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development , 2002

Brief overview of successes, challenges, threats and programmatic best practices in addressing the needs of children affected by AIDS.

England and Wales: National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services

Department of Health, UK , 2002

A set of standards for the delivery of a national fostering service. It includes standards for the management of the service, the delivery of care, reunification with birth families, and working with caregivers.

IFCO Addenda to Foster Care Guidelines

K. Siroka, 2002

Brief guidelines on assessing and training foster carers, and supporting children in foster care placements.

Children's Homes National Minimum Standards: Children's Homes Regulations

Department of Health, England, 2002

A set of standards for ensuring positive welfare, health and education in children’s homes. It includes standards and outcomes on planning for care, quality of care, complaints and protection, care and control, environment, staffing, management and administration, and specialist provision.

Foundations: International Legal Standards: Resource Pack

Action for the Rights of Children, 2002

Resource pack for a rigorous course on international legal standards for children. Includes notes for facilitators, participatory exercises, overheads, and handouts.