Health & Safety
Health policy | Emergency medical attention | Custody and Access | Suspected impairment | Suspected child abuse | Emergency preparedness
It is our belief that children must be accorded a safe, healthy and comfortable environment. They must not be subjected to corporal or unusual punishment, humiliation, mental abuse, or punitive interference connected with the daily functions of living at the child care centres or at home.
Health policy
View our Health Policies for all centres. (pdf 120kB)
For more information on immunizations, refer to the BCHealthGuide's Immunization Schedule.
Permission to Administer Medication Form.
Emergency medical attention
In the event of an emergency, the staff will make every effort to contact the enrolling parent, legal guardian or the family doctor. The staff may call 911 and the child may be taken directly to the hospital by ambulance. Parents will assume the cost of the ambulance.
Custody and Access
At the time of registration or any time during the child’s enrollment at Child Care Services, the enrolling parent must notify the Child Care Manager of an existing Custody Agreement. The Manager will ask for a certified copy of the most recent Court Order. If the other parent is not permitted to pick up the child, the Centre will need the custody document with clear access directions. Without a court document, both parents have equal rights to custody and the Child Care Centre cannot accept the responsibility of deciding which parent has legal custody. Information given by the enrolling parent will be accepted unless a court document showing otherwise is presented. While custody documents are being established, the Centre will accept a written agreement signed by both parents confirming who can pick up the child and at which times. If this is not provided, the Centre may inform the enrolling parent that they may not be able to care for the child. It is the staff’s legal responsibility, to the extent that this is possible, not to release a child to an unauthorized person. If there is a custody disagreement/dispute, the Child Care Centre is legally bound to respect the wishes of the parent with legal custody. In order to best support the child in a family conflict situation (i.e. custody, divorce, separation), it is the policy of the Child Care Centre to remain neutral. Therefore we will not issue letters of support/character references to either parent/guardian.
Suspected impairment of authorized pick up person
It is the staff’s legal responsibility, to the extent that this is possible, not to release a child to an authorized person who is unable to adequately care for a child. If staff believe that a child will be at risk, the staff person in charge will: 1) Offer to call a relative or friend to pick up the person and child or 2) Contact the Ministry for Children and Families. If the person is driving a vehicle, staff will explain that driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law and staff is obligated to ensure the safety and well being of the children and adult. If the presumed impaired person chooses to get in the car with or without the child, staff will immediately notify the police. The senior staff person will call the Ministry for Children and Families if they feel that the child is in need of protection.
Suspected abuse or neglect
Reporting suspected child abuse is a sensitive and difficult issue. The law is designed to protect children because they are unable to protect themselves. It is essential that parents understand that educators have a legal obligation to report any suspected child abuse or neglect without notifying the parent. The Child, Family and Community Service Act requires that anyone who has reason to believe that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected, and that the parent is unwilling or unable to protect the child, must report the suspected abuse or neglect to a child welfare worker (BC Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect).
Emergency preparedness
Each of our centres are prepared for an emergency. All centres are equipped with First Aid kits, emergency evacuation plans, emergency exits, sprinklers, earthquake supplies, and comfort packs for the children. A list is given out by each centre outlining the items we would like you to include in your child’s comfort pack. Please return this to the centre.
In order to meet the Community Care Facilities Licensing standards, we also do a daily visual inspection of our playgrounds, a monthly written inspection of our playgrounds, and monthly fire drills.
