Management Cluster On-the-Job Assessment: Childcare Services

This practical assignment presents a management cluster assessment conducted by a student within a childcare service setting. The assessment begins with a self-assessment based on the National Quality Standards, focusing on Quality Area 2 (Children's health and safety). It evaluates the service's performance in areas such as promoting child health, physical activity, and protection, assigning scores and identifying areas for improvement. A detailed Quality Improvement Plan is then outlined, specifying goals, strategies, and success measures, including a four-week timeline. The assignment also includes a reflection on the self-assessment process, emphasizing the importance of internal improvements and the development of a quality service environment. Furthermore, the assignment covers the childcare center's policies, including the review and modification of working hours to better accommodate parents' needs. Finally, the assignment incorporates a journal documenting the student's experiences, challenges, and development of leadership skills within the childcare setting, highlighting teamwork, communication, and professional growth.

1
Running head: MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
Management Cluster on the Job Assessment
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
Table of Contents
Task 1.........................................................................................................................................3
1..............................................................................................................................................3
2..............................................................................................................................................3
3..............................................................................................................................................4
4..............................................................................................................................................5
5..............................................................................................................................................5
Task 2.........................................................................................................................................6
1..............................................................................................................................................6
2..............................................................................................................................................7
Task 3.........................................................................................................................................7
1st entry..................................................................................................................................7
2nd entry.................................................................................................................................8
3rd entry.................................................................................................................................8
4th entry.................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................10

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
Task 1
1.
Child care service provider responsible for providing direct care might not undertake
an independent review but must undertake a proper self-assessment to understand the needs
of improvement in service. Self-assessment is needed as it helps in understanding whether the
service meets the standards and the present gaps1. The present self assessment is to be
undertaken through evaluation of knowledge and awareness. A scorecard is to be prepared
based on the selected Quality Area from the National Quality Standards as collected from
feedback from parents of the children and senior level managers, and subjective data is to be
constructed upon self reflection. The aspects of the checklist are to encompass the elements
of the respective quality area. A higher score on the scale of 1-5 would indicate increased
competency.
2.
The Quality Area selected from the National Quality Standards for undertaking a self-
assessment is Quality Area 2- Children’s health and safety2. The following is the self-
assessment of the quality area.
Elements of quality area Self assessment data Score (1-5)
2.1-The health of each child is
promoted
Children are provided with healthy diet
that is nutritious and helps in
development. A balanced diet is provided
as per the nutritional needs of the four
4
1 Laurin, J.C., Geoffroy, M.C., Boivin, M., Japel, C., Raynault, M.F., Tremblay, R.E. and Côté, S.M., 2015.
Child care services, socioeconomic inequalities, and academic performance. Pediatrics, pp.peds-2015.
2 Acecqa.gov.au. (2017). The National Quality Standard. [online] Available at:
http://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-framework/the-national-quality-standard [Accessed 5 Sep. 2017].

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
children.
2.2-Physical activity is embedded
in the programs
Physical activity lies at the core of the
activities of the program. Children engage
with each other and work together to
achieve the set outcomes.
4
2.3-Protection of each child is a
priority
The children need a safer environment in
which they can carry out ther activities.
Risk of harm, such as physical injury, are
to be reduced to a greater extent.
3
3.
The Quality Imporvement Plan for the service is as follows-
Standard element Goal Priority Strategies Success measure Time frame
2.3- Protection of
each child
Enhanced
easy access
to all areas
of the
environmen
t for
children and
reduction of
risk of
harm, such
as physical
injury
High  Provide
access to
furniture and
tools that are
child friendly,
light-weighted
and easy to use
 Keep the
environment
clean and free of
hindrances that
might lead to
All children are
able to access the
environment is a
safe and
independent
manner
Four weeks

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
falls
 Have
non-slippery
floors and tools
4.
The Quality Improvement Plan process has been a crucial step required to be
embedded in the childcare services provided at the unit. The plan has been developed for a
certain timeline based on the present needs of improvement as reflected from the feedback
received. An approval of the plan would ensure that the services are kept on the premises at
an optimal level. The plan is dynamic and might evolve with further receipt of feedback.
Services are expected to integrate the quality improvement strategies and commence after the
suitable allocation of resources.
5.
Improvement in care service delivery on the basis of self assessment of care
provider- a reflection
Name of child care centre-
Date-
It would be a desirable approach to document a reflection on my journey of self-
assessment and quality improvement for my chosen Quality Improvement area, that is health
and safety of children provided with our services. The self-assessment has been important in
carrying out an assessment on my engagement with the service centre at a level that ensures

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
that health and safety of the children are promoted. This would also help in planning future
improvements in allied areas. In my opinion, the most prominent improvements to the
delivery of service are to be initiated from within the scope of service I deliver rather than
from outside. As a childcare provider, it is my duty to understand the flaws and drawbacks
existing within the service domain and develop a corresponding quality improvement plan.
With the present quality improvement plan, I would contribute towards building up a better
service environment for all children.
Thank you for your attention,
Name of student:
Task 2
1.
Childcare services are constantly in the need of setting up policies that are essential
for guiding the actions of all individuals involved in the service process, both service
providers and service consumers. The policies of the present childcare centre ensure that the
wellbeing of the children and the staff are looked into. The centre considers reform in the
policies and plans to integrate changes as per the needs. Reforms in policies can provide
security as well as a peace of mind through the development of mutual understandings and
common expectations3. The centre considers policy development through collaboration and
collection of valuable information for formulating the best suitable plan of action. The living
documents are tested, modified and considered for changes over a particular period of time so
as to match the changing trends. The centre has a robust method of reviewing policies.
3 Aarts, M.C., Burk, W.J. and Riksen-Walraven, J.M., 2016. Group functioning in child care centers:
Conceptualization, measurement, and relation with structural characteristics. Small Group Research, 47(5),
pp.483-509.

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
Annual review of the policies is carried out after analysis of the appropriateness they uphold.
Staff meeting agendas focus on the policies and procedures.
It is to be mentioned that policies are reformed after consultation with relevant
stakeholders. Stakeholders in the present case include parents of children, staff, junior
managers, senior managers and supervisors. Feedback from the respective stakeholders is
collected in a regular manner throughout the year that is elaborately discussed in the annual
meetings. Review of policy is done based on this information. Stakeholder input is
considered as a prime factor for increasing the trustworthiness and quality of the policies and
achieving better outcomes.
2.
A recently reviewed policy that required change and modification was related to the
flexibility of the centre working hours. The previous policy stated that a fixed timing is to be
maintained as the working hours for the centre that is 8 am to 6 pm. A late fee was charged
for encouraging parents to come and pick their children before the closing hours. There was a
need of changing this policy since it was inconvenient for many parents to pick their children
before the costing hours that was fixed. The centre considered flexibility to be embedded in
the service and thus the working hours was extended for another 1 hours, that is up to 7 pm.
This extension was done as necessary on a case-to-case basis so that the work hours of the
parents were accommodated. Nevertheless, the operating hours ensured that the operating
hours did not go beyond the ability of the service providers to devote the required attention

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
and vigour to the children. The change in the policy was communicated to the parents
through email, telephone call and personal meeting.
Task 3
1st entry
28 August 2017
Prior to commencing the placement at the childcare service unit, I have been engulfed
with thoughts regarding the challenges that I might face during my placement and the
responsibilities I need to fulfil to make the placement a successful one. On a personal front, I
believe that I might face challenges in being patient with the children and not rush into taking
harsh decisions. I acknowledge the fact that as a child care provider, my key responsibility
would be to facilitate child development in safe and sound manner. Engaging the children in
learning through diverse activities would be the prime target. At this point of time, i lack
leadership skills to act as a leader for a small group of educators, and I aim to develop skills
such as interpersonal communication.
2nd entry
4 September 2017
The service provided by me at the childcare centre included involving other educators
in the designing, implementation and evaluation of the program set by me. Meetings were
held on a personal basis on a weekly manner in which exchange of ideas and opinions was
the centre point. Delegation of tasks was considered for changes after receiving the feedback
from these educators. Implementation of change in the service was done pertaining to flexible
working hours as it was extended for an additional one hour. The motivated behind this was
to accommodate the convenience of the parents. The childcare centre had the underlying
philosophy of providing a safe and optimal quality service that is person-centred and caters to

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
the individual needs of the children. This was imbibed within my service as I strived to
nurture a child encompassing all aspects of development: cognitive, social, physical and
emotional.
3rd entry
11 September 2017
After the second week of my service, I opine that I have contributed to the functioning
of the team in the care centre. For a childcare service to be prominent, it is imperative that
team work is exhibited. I have communicated with my peers and seniors to understand and
identify how to modify my approaches and delegation of tasks. I have consulted parents
while they are present at the centre to discuss challenges and concerns faced by them. The
team meetings that I have been a part of have had a positive impact on the service
organisation, provision and management. In such meeting, my goal was to raise concerns
regarding any challenges faced by service providers with respect to organisational resources.
Clear communication was very important in this regard. A helping hand was extended
towards all for overall improvement.
4th entry
14 September 2017
In the present journal entry, I would reflect on the challenges and responsibilities of
my work placement from my personal viewpoint. Being a childhood service provider implies
that one needs to wear many hats. I have faced challenges in being flexible in my approach
towards the children as I had many duties to fulfil. The key responsibility I had was to act as
a guide for the overall betterment of the children. Keeping the children in pace with their
respective childhood development milestones was my focus as I gave my best to overcome

MANAGEMENT CLUSTER ON THE JOB ASSESSMENT
external challenges. Learning has been supported by providing activities that are engaging for
the children. Through facilitating learning, providing adequate time for interaction and
providing an appropriate environment, care service has been of high quality. I would also like
to highlight that I have realised that I have developed the needed leadership skills for leading
a small group of educators. Transparent communication skills and readiness to work in
collaboration have been my key skills after the placement. I have developed certain
leadership skills during my placement that would help me in my professional development in
the near future. My roe as a resource provider, instructional specialist, learning facilitator and
mentor has developed through leadership aspects.
References
Aarts, M.C., Burk, W.J. and Riksen-Walraven, J.M., 2016. Group functioning in child care
centers: Conceptualization, measurement, and relation with structural characteristics. Small
Group Research, 47(5), pp.483-509.
Acecqa.gov.au. (2017). The National Quality Standard. [online] Available at:
http://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-framework/the-national-quality-standard
[Accessed 5 Sep. 2017].
Laurin, J.C., Geoffroy, M.C., Boivin, M., Japel, C., Raynault, M.F., Tremblay, R.E. and Côté,
S.M., 2015. Child care services, socioeconomic inequalities, and academic
performance. Pediatrics, pp.peds-2015.