A revised set of minimum standards for registered childminders are to be implemented by the Department of Health and Social Care on 13 October 2014.
The Island first introduced standards for childminding under the Children and Young Persons Act 2001. This Act was replaced by the Regulation of Care Act in 2013 which made provision for mandatory conditions to be a childminder such as a statutory duty of care, competence and skill, and the ability to demonstrate continued suitability for childminding. Whilst these conditions were implicit under previous legislation they are now explicit. This necessitated a review of the existing standards.
The revisions to the care standards take account of evolving best practice in childminding, both on the Island and in neighbouring jurisdictions. For example, the introduction of a new standard relating to the care of children with special needs as well as measures to strengthen the existing standard in regard to safeguarding children.
The standards aim to ensure that all children in the care of a childminder will benefit from a safe and secure environment and that parents can have confidence that their children will be well looked after.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said:
“Government is committed to promoting the welfare and development of all of the Island’s children. The quality of child care in the Isle of Man is generally very good. We want children to thrive and benefit from high quality care during their all-important formative years. We also want child care providers to excel at what they do. These standards will ensure equity, with the reassurance of good quality care no matter which provider a parent or carer opts for.
“Only by setting, evaluating and revising standards and carrying out regular inspections to monitor compliance can we measure the quality of child care provided in the Isle of Man.”
The Department wrote to each of the Island’s registered childminders, providing them with a copy of the draft revised care standards and seeking their views. As well as the opportunity to make a written submission, officers from the Department’s Registration and Inspection Unit met some childminders at their request so that they could ask questions and air their views in person.
As a result of submissions and comments received during the consultation process, the draft standards were amended to take account of views, where this was felt appropriate. For example in relation to portable appliance testing, childminders will not be required to use an external contractor.
The main changes arising from the revised standards are the need for improved record keeping, safety tests for portable electrical appliances, and limits on the number of babies being cared for in a childminder's house at any one time. Childminders will only be permitted to care for one baby under the age of 12 months unless special circumstances, relating to the best interests of the child and continuity of care, permit them to exceed this.
In applying the care standards inspectors will be able to take account of individual circumstances allowing criteria within each standard to be applied flexibly.
Minister Quayle added:
“We recognise that there are differing views on some of the standards. The Department will work with childminders to closely monitor how the revisions work in practice. We have committed to a further review of the standards and further consultation with the Island’s registered childminders after the first year of operation.”
A report on the comments received from the consultation process and the Department's responses is available here. The new care standards are available here. All registered childminders will be provided with a copy of both documents.
Anyone who has enquiries about the new standards should contact either Mr Mark Campbell or Mrs Catriona Bradley at the Department’s Registration and Inspection Unit on +44 1624 642410 or +44 1624 642429.
