Childcare: Legislation, Safeguarding, and Environment Assessment

This assignment is a comprehensive assessment of home-based childcare practices, covering a wide range of topics essential for ensuring the safety, well-being, and proper development of children. It begins by examining relevant legislation and regulations, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and the Children and Social Work Act 2017, emphasizing the importance of child protection. The assessment then explores the role of regulatory bodies in maintaining standards and providing guidelines for health and safety, safeguarding, and equality, referencing key legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Equality Act 2010. Risk management is discussed, highlighting the need for a balanced approach and the importance of identifying, evaluating, and mitigating risks to create a safe environment. The assignment includes practical elements such as designing a leaflet for parents, outlining medication administration procedures, conducting risk assessments, and summarizing ways to maintain a safe and healthy environment. It also delves into safeguarding children, covering regulatory requirements, local authority procedures, the roles and responsibilities of lone workers, and the identification of different types of abuse. Furthermore, the assignment addresses the importance of equality, diversity, and inclusive practice, as well as the impact of a childcarer's attitudes and behaviors. It explores day-to-day routines, play-based learning, and the assessment of children's development, including early intervention strategies and planning activities for different age groups. Overall, the assignment provides a thorough overview of the multifaceted aspects of home-based childcare, emphasizing the need for a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for children.

Childcare Assessment

Table of Contents
Question 1........................................................................................................................................1
1. As a home-based child carer you must have an understanding of current legislation and
regulations. Outline current legislation relevant to the home-based child carer....................1
Question 2........................................................................................................................................1
2. Outline the role of regulatory bodies in relation to home-based childcare. If you do this,
please state in the box that you have provided an attachment................................................1
Question 3........................................................................................................................................2
3. Consider the role of regulatory bodies in relation to home-based childcare......................2
Question 4........................................................................................................................................3
4. Why it is important to take a balanced approach to the management of risk.....................3
Question 5........................................................................................................................................4
5. Design a leaflet for parents and carers explaining how you will promote a safe, healthy and
secure environment for the children in your care...................................................................4
Question 6........................................................................................................................................5
6. It is a requirement that you have procedures in place for administrating medication to
children. Write a procedure for:.............................................................................................5
Question 7........................................................................................................................................6
7. Carry out a risk assessment of own home. You should produce 2 separate risk assessments
and support with photographic evidence................................................................................6
Question 8........................................................................................................................................7
8. Summarise ways to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children in relation to: 7
Question 9........................................................................................................................................8
9. As a home-based child carer you will be required to have policies and procedures in place.
................................................................................................................................................8
Question 10......................................................................................................................................9
10. Describe in detail the terms:.............................................................................................9
Question 11......................................................................................................................................9
11. Write a summary of regulatory requirements for safeguarding children within a home
based setting...........................................................................................................................9
Question 12......................................................................................................................................9

12. Identify the Local Authority safeguarding procedures in your own local area................9
Question 13....................................................................................................................................10
13. Explain the roles and responsibilities of the lone worker in a home-based setting in
relation to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children..........................................10
Question 14....................................................................................................................................10
14. Define the following types of abuse and identify the signs and/or symptoms associated
with each type of abuse:.......................................................................................................10
Question 15....................................................................................................................................11
15. Describe the actions to take if a child or young person alleges harm or abuse..............11
Question 16....................................................................................................................................11
16. The procedures that need to be followed you as a lone worker in a home based setting
when harm or abuse are suspected or alleged against:.........................................................11
Question 17....................................................................................................................................12
17. Write a policy identifying procedures for the safeguarding, protection and welfare of
children in a home-based setting..........................................................................................12
Question 18....................................................................................................................................12
18. Explain the roles and responsibilities of the home-based childcarer in supporting equality,
diversity and inclusive practice............................................................................................12
Question 19....................................................................................................................................12
19. Evaluate how your own attitudes, values and behaviour could impact on work with
children and young people....................................................................................................12
Question 20....................................................................................................................................13
20. As a home-based childcarer you will need to have an understanding of the day-to-day
routines of children in your care and how you can promote their well-being......................13
Question 21....................................................................................................................................13
Produce 2 plans to meet the needs of children aged between 0 and 7 years and 7 years and
older in relation to:...............................................................................................................13
Q31.................................................................................................................................................24
Question 32....................................................................................................................................24
Outline the different ways you can effectively manage and support the child to promote
positive behaviour................................................................................................................24

Question 33....................................................................................................................................25
As a home-based childcarer you will need to understand the value of play in promoting
children’s learning and development....................................................................................25
Question 34....................................................................................................................................25
Explain the innate drive for children and young people to play...........................................25
Question 35....................................................................................................................................25
Analyse how play is necessary for all children and young people’s development and well-
being.....................................................................................................................................25
Question 36....................................................................................................................................26
Explain benefits of balancing child-initiated and adult-led play activities..........................26
Question 37....................................................................................................................................26
Identify how children’s play needs and preferences change in relation to their stage of
development.........................................................................................................................26
Question 38....................................................................................................................................26
Discuss the need for an inclusive approach when planning play activities..........................26
Question 39....................................................................................................................................27
When working as a home based child carer you will undertake observations and assessments
of the children in your care...................................................................................................27
Question 40....................................................................................................................................27
Supporting a child with extra help before the child starts to fall behind the expected pattern of
development is known as early intervention........................................................................27
References......................................................................................................................................28

Question 1
1. As a home-based child carer you must have an understanding of current legislation and
regulations. Outline current legislation relevant to the home-based child carer.
In context of home based child carer, it has been analysed that legislation should be used for
providing care facilities effectively. It includes number of legislation and regulations which helps
to carry out operational tasks and procedures in appropriate manner. However, it is very
important to consider legislation at the time of providing care services to children for their proper
development in order to gain desired outcomes (Drange and Havnes, 2019). It consist number of
legislation which are applicable in home based child carer settings which are given below.
Children Act 1989 is known as child protection legislation which includes some of key
principles that should be used by workers in home based childcare settings. It includes the
paramount nature of the child’s welfare and the expectations as well as requirements around
duties of care to children.
Children Act 2004 is responsible for encouraging partnerships between agencies and develops
more accountability with the help of several aspects. It involves the criterion to place a duty on
local authorities for appointing kid’s facilities members who are ultimately accountable for
delivery of services. However, it consists the way of placing a duty on local authorities and their
partners to co-operate in safeguarding as well as promoting the wellbeing of kids and young
people.
Children and social work act 2017 has an important role to encourage employees working in
home based childcare in order to maintain safety of children. It includes following safeguarding
practice for providing secure and comfortable environment to children (Adamo and et. al., 2016).
Question 2
2. Outline the role of regulatory bodies in relation to home-based childcare. If you do this, please
state in the box that you have provided an attachment.
The regulatory bodies in relation to home based child care plays an important role to make sure
that employees should use effective practices of maintaining safe and hazards free atmosphere
for children. It includes the criterion of providing more effective as well as efficient guidelines to
motivate staff members to follow them which facilitates to deliver better quality of services for
develop of kids in proper manner. Meanwhile, it includes their role of providing care standards
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and guidelines along with carrying out inspections to make sure that home based childcare
centres to ensure that children are getting proper services. Some of relevant aspects are explained
further.
The health and safety of children is an important factor which should be focussed by staff
members working in childcare settings for improving their entire health condition better. It will
provide support to facilitate the accurate development and growth among kids that is favourable
for their future regarding appropriate health condition (Kuehnle and Oberfichtner, 2020).
However, for health and safety, the regulatory body has provided Health and Safety Act at work
Act 1974 which should be followed by every institution including home based childcare centre to
maintain safe environment in organisation and improve safety factor for kids.
The safeguarding, protection and welfare of children includes the criterion of following umber
of guidelines to encourage the employees to protect the children in childcare settings. It includes
the several objectives including making sure health, safety & welfare of staff at work, protect
non-employees against the health & safety risks rising from work activities etc. Meanwhile, it
has been analysed that the objective of controlling the keeping and utilisation of explosive or
highly flammable or dangerous substances.
Equality, diversity and inclusion include delivering equal care and facilities to kids who
belongs to different culture or areas. It is necessary to manage equality among staff members in
order to provide salaries, incentives, opportunities and other benefits at home based childcare
centre. Moreover, the regulatory body provides Equality Act 2010 by considering important
factors like age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy &
maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Question 3
3. Consider the role of regulatory bodies in relation to home-based childcare.
The regulatory body plays an important role in terms of providing instructions to home-based
childcare to provide appropriate care for kids. It includes the criterion of providing the proper
guidelines to carry out various kinds of operational activities as well as procedures. Meanwhile,
it will provide support to deliver appropriate care facilities and support to kids that impact
positively on their growth and development respectively (Busch and Leyendecker, 2019). It
involves the way of providing legislation and encourage to consider all the rules and regulations
in order to deliver desired care facilities for welfare of kids. In addition to this, it consist their
role to carry out inspection in institution of childcare to make sure that every child will get
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proper services with equality. Moreover, it will facilitate to enhance the workplace practices and
policies for motivating staff to deliver appropriate care to kids. The regulatory body put efforts to
make sure that home based childcare are providing care services to children appropriately or not.
Question 4
4. Why it is important to take a balanced approach to the management of risk.
The management of risk can be defined as an important procedure to evaluate the relevant risk a
factors in order to manage the same for providing safe environment for children in home based
childcare settings. It includes the process to identify, evaluate and prioritise of risks followed via
coordinated as well as economical application of resources. It will facilitate to minimise, monitor
along with controlling the probability or effect of unfortunate events. Meanwhile, it includes the
criterion of following number of steps in respect of managing risks while providing childcare
services for their welfare (Pek-Greer and Wallace, 2017). Initially, it consist to identify the risk
factors related to specific case of child and relevant risks related to environment in childcare
centre. Secondly, it includes the way of analysing the risk to understand the aspect of managing
the same in effective manner. Thirdly, it involves evaluate or rank the risks in terms of
prioritising them to solve one by one to reduce the risk factors for ensuring safeguarding of kids.
However, it involves to treat the risk with the help of selecting best solution from number of
alternative methods available.
On the other hand, it has been analysed that balanced approach is all about to manage risk by se
of balancing act between opportunities for learning, play and safe atmosphere. It includes the
criterion of managing the balanced approach that is all more important because f wider changes
in terms of everyday life activities of kids. However, it is observed that management of risk can
be done through several effective methods such as avoidance, retention, sharing, transferring and
loss prevention along with reduction respectively (Keizer and et. al., 2020). It is necessary to
identify hazards and other dangerous factors which are responsible for harming kids, and then
they should be avoided with the help of suitable methods. It is required to assess risk factors after
evaluating them in order to control the same. Additionally, the final step is to review the control
measures to make sure that children will gain secure facilities and deliver safeguarded
environment to them accordingly.
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Question 5
5. Design a leaflet for parents and carers explaining how you will promote a safe, healthy and
secure environment for the children in your care.
The safety and healthy environment is required to be promoted among parents and guardians so
that they can maintain the secure atmosphere at their home. It is necessary to provide knowledge
about different aspects of managing healthy as well as secure environment for kids in order to
facilitate their proper development respectively. However, it has been analysed that promotional
sessions are required to be organised on regular basis in home based childcare for parents and
people of community to make them understand about importance of managing health & safety
for kids (Ward and et. al., 2018). It includes several principles which should be conveyed to
guardians and parents of children in order to promote safe, healthy and secure environment that
are mentioned below.
Initially, it consist the way of considering that safety is an ethical responsibility for people
working for welfare of kids. Secondly, it includes the principle that safety can be considered as a
culture but not a program to gain better outcomes. Thirdly, it involves the fact that management
is required to manage safety practices and policies at home based childcare home as management
is responsible for maintaining the same. Meanwhile, it includes the criterion of providing proper
training and learning to staff members so that they can perform safely while dealing with kids
regarding their welfare. However, it consist the principle that safety is known to be condition of
employment which impact positively on environment of childcare home. It is necessary to put
main policy for managing safety while hiring employees in home based childcare centre which
helps to deliver secure facilities to kids.
In addition to this, it has been analysed that proper information should be provided to parents n
guardians to make them understand that all the injuries are preventable with the help of taking
responsibility of safety along with following desired precautions (Yuda, 2020). It includes the
criterion of providing safety programs that must be site specific with recurring audits of the
workplace as well as prompt corrective action. However, it consist the way to convey
information about safe activities and precautions to manage healthy as well as secure
environment for kids. It is required to encourage children towards healthy habits like washing
hand frequently and eat fruits & green leafy vegetables.
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Question 6
6. It is a requirement that you have procedures in place for administrating medication to children.
Write a procedure for:
The administration of medication includes to follow proper criterion by making decision of
providing accurate medicine with appropriate dosage according actual requirement of child
health status. It includes seven rights to be consider while administrating medication such as
right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right reason and right documentation.
Basically, it is necessary to select appropriate route of providing medication as per specific need
of a child regarding their health problems. However, it consist several routes of drug
administration like parental (intravenous, intramuscular & subcutaneous), oral, nasal, ocular,
transmucosal (buccal, vaginal & rectal) and transdermal accordingly (Yamamoto and et. al.,
2020).
Storage of medication includes the fact that most of the medicines are required to be stored at
room temperature in a cool and dry place. It includes the problem that contact of specific
medication with heat, air, light and moisture nay damage them or modify their actual chemical
formula which may harm on human body. However, it consist the criterion of following three
key components in regards to proper storage of medication such as security, safety and integrity.
Moreover, majority of medicines can be stored at room temperature but away from moisture,
heat, light and air to maintain their actual chemical compounds which is favourable for human
body.
Record keeping with regard to medication is an important aspect to maintain relevant
information which is required legally and it is also favourable for some future purposes. It
includes the criterion of record keeping of providing medication include some of important
aspects which should be mentioned in proper manner. However, it includes the need of
mentioning name and date of birth of the patient along with updating the name, formulation as
well as strengths of specific medicine (Araujo, Dormal and Schady, 2019). It is necessary to
provide information that how often or time the medicines should be taken by client and how the
medication will be taken like mouth or applied to the skin etc. Meanwhile, it consist the name of
GP practice, any stop or review date along with relevant additional information about the
instructions related to specific drug or known for particular drug allergies.
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Question 7
7. Carry out a risk assessment of own home. You should produce 2 separate risk assessments and
support with photographic evidence.
The risk assessment can be defined as an effective method that can be used to determine hazards
or risk factors that has potential harm for children. It includes specific process with respects steps
in order to identify hazards so that their harm can be reduced in context of children. Initially, it is
required to evaluate the hazardous factors and other risk factors that may cause harm to kids.
Secondly, it is required to decide that who might be harmed by specific hazards and how.
Thirdly, it includes the criterion of evaluating the risks along with deciding on precautions for
reducing the relevant harm for kids (Klette, Drugli and Aandahl, 2018). Meanwhile, it is
essential to prepare records of findings elated to risk assessment in terms of applying them for
attaining respective outcomes. However, it involves the final step of reviewing the assessment as
well as update if necessary.
Indoors risks include number of objects which are generally available at home but they are
hazardous in respect of safety of kids. It includes the several examples related to indoor risks
such as sharp objects, dangerous chemicals, choking hazards, stairs & windows, electrical
outlets, doors & furniture, playful pets, health hazards and many more. However, the sharp
objects are mostly responsible to harm kids at home such as blade, knife etc. which are required
to keep away from their reach so that a safe atmosphere can be provided to them. Moreover, it
consist the chemicals like phenyl used for cleaning floor is dangerous for children as they can
drink it by considering as soft drink.
Outdoors risks involve the different types of hazards for children due to which they should
always kept under supervision of elder people to make sure about their safety as well as health. It
includes various kinds of outdoor risks like tobacco smoke, radon, asbestos, combustion gases,
busy road, heighted playing tools in garden, tap water, river, pesticides, allergens, poisonous
creatures and so on (Schröder and et. al., 2019). However, it has been analysed that many of
pinch points and hard edges were founded in playground or gardens which are responsible for
developing several injuries for children from which they should be protected.
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Question 8
8. Summarise ways to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children in relation to:
The maintenance of environment is very important in terms of providing safe atmosphere for
children. It includes the criterion of using more effective as well as efficient practices for
managing secure environment for kids respectively. Meanwhile, it is necessary to follow number
of appropriate steps which helps to maintain safe and healthy atmosphere for kids that is
mentioned here. It is required to identify the potential hazards in respect of eliminating them
from the environment to make it secure for kids. Basically, it includes the way of making sure
that all the staff members are trained properly in regards to maintain safety concerns. It is
required to make sure that all the workers of home based childcare settings has proper equipment
to provide secure atmosphere for kids welfare (Lekhal, 2020). It is necessary to provide visual
safety aids & messages, develop a safety committee along with holding the safety meetings on
monthly basis. It is very important to encourage kids towards healthy habits for improving their
lifestyle to make their future safe and healthy. However, there are some of ways through which
safe and healthy environment for children can be maintained in which some of them are given
here.
Preparing formula feeds is an important way to formulate the appropriate formula of food
which is safe to feed kids at their early age due to that kids are protected from harmful diseases.
It includes the criterion of improving immunity of kids by providing nutritional food for them
which improve health condition of them.
Sterilisation of feeding equipment is must for avoiding different types of infections and
maintenance of cleanliness of baby food which is helpful to avoid health problems for children.
It is observed that sterilisation of feeding equipment are must for safely handling the baby to
reduce risk of infections and other problems related to health in order to maintain appropriate
health status of kids.
Preparation and storage of food should be focussed with the help of taking proper precautions
like washing hands, washing vegetables, using clean utensils and other equipment. It will provide
support to provide safe environment in terms of providing safe food products to kids for their
wellbeing (Klette and Killén, 2018).
Safe disposal of waste includes to the best method of segregation as well as composting which
includes the way of separating waste materials after segregating to reuse or recycle the same. It
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