PF14 Isolation area

Criteria

There is space (away from where food is stored, prepared, or eaten) where a sick child can:

• be temporarily kept at a safe distance from other children (to prevent cross-infection)
• lie down comfortably; and
• be supervised.

Guidance

When a child becomes unexpectedly ill attending the home-based service, there needs to be somewhere for their care to make the sick child feel comfortable, as well as to keep other children from becoming ill until the sick child or other children at the home can be collected and taken home. The child must be able to be supervised. If the child is isolated in a separate room the educator should carry out regular checks every 10 to 15 minutes, as they would do with a sleeping child.

In a home-based setting, it is likely that there would be more than one different place that could meet this requirement (bedroom, study, family room, and so on). Deciding on the best place to use in each situation will depend on:

• the number and ages of other children attending
• the physical layout of the home (and related supervision issues)
• the symptoms of the illness
• how the child is feeling and responding to becoming ill.

PF15 First aid kit

Criteria

There is a first aid kit that:

• complies with the requirements of Appendix 1
• is easily recognisable and readily accessible to adults; and
• is inaccessible to children.

Appendix 1: First aid requirements for criterion PF15

Guidance

First aid kit contents and placement

A list of first aid kit contents can be found in Appendix 1 (note that this is the minimum requirement). The first aid kit should be stored in a place where it is readily available to adults, but is secure and out of reach of children.

Appendix 1: First aid requirements for criterion PF15

First aid kit maintenance

Items in first aid kits will need to be replaced as they are used, and regular checks should be made to ensure that any perishable items are not past their use-by date (once a month or term is recommended). Regular checks are particularly important in the home setting where family members may also be accessing first aid kit items.

First aid identification

First aid kits need to be easily recognisable – so that when an accident happens, any adult at the home can identify it.

PF16 Toilet and handwashing facilities

Criteria

There is a toilet and hygienic handwashing and drying facilities suitable for the use of the children attending.

Guidance

The door to the toilet or bathroom must be able to be independently opened by children and be kept unlocked at all times.

Adequate supervision is important. The educator will need to manage this depending on where the bathroom facilities are in relation to where children are located in the home.

Toilets

• A moveable step and/or a toilet seat insert can be helpful for young children just learning to use a toilet. They can also be easily removed when an adult needs to use the toilet.
• Some families may use potties – if a potty is used, contents must be disposed of in the toilet and the potty cleaned and sanitised after each use. See HS1 Premises and contents are safe and hygienic guidance for information on using bleach as a sanitiser.

HS1 Premises and contents are safe and hygienic

Handwashing

• Liquid soap (rather than a communal bar of soap) can be less messy and is more hygienic when there are several children attending.
• The hot water temperature from household taps can present a scalding hazard to children. Careful supervision is necessary for young children, and older children can be taught about hot water safety.

Hand drying

There are a number of ways children can dry their hands, but some are more hygienic and easier to use than others. Viruses and bacteria spread easily from one child to another when they share the same towel. Getting hands dry is important. Damp hands create damp surfaces, which encourages survival of bacteria, viruses and organisms like Giardia.

Recommended options include the following.

Disposable paper towels

There is a cost involved, but they have several advantages:

• They are easy to use.
• They do not spread infections.
• They are easy to replace.
• They can be used for other cleaning purposes.

Individual towels

Individual towels for the children attending are preferable to a single communal towel for drying hands. Different colours can be used so that young children can identify ‘their’ towel.

PF17 Nappy change facilities

Criteria

Where children wearing nappies attend, there are safe and hygienic nappy changing facilities.

Guidance

Hygiene

All surfaces on and around the change area must be smooth, impervious and able to be easily wiped cleaned and disinfected (a towel does not meet this criterion). Any change mat or pad must have a non-porous covering or be disposed of after each child is changed.

Location

Nappy change facilities should be located in an area of the home that is separate from food preparation or eating areas.

Design, strength and durability

If using a change table:

• check its strength to ensure it is sturdy enough to cope with the weight of the children using it
• use the strap to ensure the child doesn’t roll off, or always keep one hand on the child at all times.

For older, heavier children, a change mat on the floor may be more appropriate than a changing table.

Children's independence and dignity

Educators need to ensure the facilities foster children’s independence as appropriate and protect children’s dignity and right to privacy.

Health and safety of educators

Some change facilities require educators to engage in excessive heavy lifting, hunching over or kneeling. This may result in sprains or strains, so educators need to be mindful of how to manage this.

PF18 Body wash facilities

Criteria

There is a plumbing fixture (such as a shower, shub or bath) for washing sick or soiled children.

Guidance

Sometimes children at the home will need to have all or part of their bodies washed. This might be necessary, for example:

• at nappy change time – if wipes are not enough to ensure the soiled child is cleaned thoroughly
• if a child has vomited over themselves
• if a child has had a toileting accident
• if children become very dirty during play.

Every home will have at least one type of body wash facility available. Showers and shubs are preferred and are more hygienic as a child is not sitting in dirty water. However, if these are not available, fixed baths or baby baths are also suitable for washing sick or soiled children in the home.

Because home bathrooms are not designed for the exclusive use of attending children, educators need to think about how children using these facilities can be kept safe. Cleaning procedures also need to be implemented to ensure body wash facilities are hygienic before and after use.

Things to consider

Specific considerations should include the following:

• How readily can educators provide for the safe and comfortable washing of a sick or soiled child?
• How will body waste and wastewater be disposed of safely and hygienically?
• How will the educator supervise other children while washing a sick or soiled child?