Download ADCC Immunisation and Exclusion from Childcare Policy

IMMUNISATION, MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND EXCLUSION FROM CHILDCARE POLICY
POLICY STATEMENT
Annie Dennis Children's Centre (ADCC) aims to promote a healthy and safe environment in which
children will grow and learn. ADCC is committed to protecting the children and educators through the
implementation and monitoring of simple hygiene and infection control strategies. The application of
preventative measures through an infection control program aims to prevent the spread of infections
and will be followed by all educators, casual staff and other relief staff in ADCC at all times.
RATIONALE
ADCC has a duty of care to ensure that all children, families and educators are provided with a high
level of protection during the hours of the service's operation. All educators will be informed about
their responsibilities to implement and adhere to ADCC’s healthy policies and procedures. In doing so,
ADCC seeks the support and co-operation of parents/guardians and staff.
All the children have the right to develop to their full potential in an environment which provides for
health, safety and wellbeing. Effective hygiene strategies and practices assist ADCC to protect all
persons from and minimise the potential risk of communicable diseases.
STRATEGIES
ADCC will try to prevent the spread of infectious diseases amongst children and staff by implementing
the following strategies:
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Maintaining hygiene practices including undertaking effective hand washing and other hygienic
practices;
Notifying families and educators when an excludable illness or disease is present in ADCC.
Maintaining a record of children's immunisation status
Complying to relevant health department exclusion guidelines
Identifying and excluding sick children and educators with symptoms of infection or disease;
Encouraging and promoting child and adult immunisation; and
Maintaining clean and hygienic environments.
Hygiene
Educators will ensure that a high level of hygiene is maintained at ADCC and that children are
educated in these practices. Of these practices, hand washing is one of the most effective ways of
preventing the spread of infection. Educators will wash and dry their own hands thoroughly and
educate the children to do the same.
Educators and children should wash their hands:
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When arriving at ADCC to reduce the introduction of germs
Before all cleaning tasks e.g. handling and preparing food and eating
After all dirty tasks e.g. nappy changing, toileting, cleaning up urine, faeces, vomit or blood, wiping
a nose, playing outside, handling animals and after removing gloves
Before going home to prevent taking germs home.
Educators will use separate cloths or tissues to wipe different children’s faces and noses. Hand hygiene
will be performed between each child after wiping noses and disposing of tissues.
Educators will use colour coded sponges for cleaning different areas and will wear gloves when
cleaning.
ADCC will use detergent and warm water to clean except where the public health authority
recommends a particular cleaning method for an outbreak of an infectious disease.
Children’s bedding will be washed at least once a week or after soiling.
Immunisation against infectious disease
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Parents/Guardians will be encouraged to immunise their child against all diseases appropriate to
the child’s age. A record of the child’s immunisation status will be kept at ADCC. If the
immunisation status of a child is not complete or up to date, the office will issue a reminder to
families to do so.
Educators will be encouraged to have all immunisations recommended in ADCC’s staff
immunisation policy.
Immunisation information is available in the parent resource area.
Children who are not immunised
Children who are not immunised, do not have complete immunisation record, are immunosuppressed
or who are receiving medical treatment causing immunosuppression such as chemotherapy will be
excluded form care during outbreaks of some infectious diseases in accordance with the guidance
published by the Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, Staying
Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (5th Edition
2012), even if their child is well (NHMRC Guidelines).
Exclusion guidelines for infectious illnesses and diseases
The spread of certain infectious diseases can be reduced by excluding a person who is known to be
infectious, from contact with others who are at risk of catching the infection. The need for exclusion
depends on the ease with which the infection can be spread, the ability of the infected person to
follow hygiene practices and the severity of the disease.
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ADCC's health related exclusion guidelines for infectious diseases will apply to both children and
adults.
Information about ADCC’s exclusion policy is in accordance with the NHMRC Guidelines exclusion
periods and is on display in ADCC’s foyer.
If a child or educator has symptoms or a medical diagnosis of an infectious disease, he or she
should not attend ADCC. A medical certificate is required after contracting an infectious disease ,
which must state that the child/educator is well enough to return and does not pose a health risk
to other people.
ADCC will display in the foyer and display fact sheets to notify educators/families and visitors to
ADCC of exclusion due to infectious disease.
If a child becomes unwell whilst at ADCC, the illness policy will be followed
If an educator is unwell they should not report to work.
If a child is unwell at home parents/guardians are asked not to bring the child to ADCC.
Blood Borne Viruses
It is unlawful to discriminate against anyone infected with blood-borne viruses including HIV, hepatitis
B and hepatitis C. As blood borne virus are not transmitted through casual contact, a child with a blood
borne illness or any other blood borne impairment shall be treated and comforted as any other child
i.e. by cuddling, giving hugs, holding hands etc.
If an educator is notified that a child or the child’s parent/guardian or any other educator is infected
with a blood borne virus the information will remain confidential. Only with the consent of the person
with the virus, or the parent/guardian, can this information be shared with other educators.
List of common conditions that will be excluded from ADCC
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Diarrhoea or Vomiting: A child who has watery stools or vomiting should be kept home and not
return to ADCC until he/she has been free of diarrhoea for 24 hours or in some cases 48 hrs (under
the advice of the Victorian Health Dept). If, however your child has an allergy or condition that
regularly causes diarrhoea, please inform ADCC management at the time enrolment or diagnosis
and provide a letter from the Doctor stating this is the case. Micro-organisms that cause vomiting
and diarrhoea are highly contagious and will spread quickly throughout ADCC.
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Contagious Conjunctivitis: This is an infection of the eyes, characterised by redness, a yellow
discharge and watering. This condition requires specific medical treatment; children should be
excluded until the discharge from the eyes has stopped unless a doctor has diagnosed a non
infectious conjunctivitis.
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School Sores (Impetigo): This is a contagious skin infection characterised by crusted sores that
usually appear on the face. The condition requires specific medical treatment and the child should
be kept at home until the sores have been healed or treatment has started and the sores are
completely covered with a water tight dressing.
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Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex): These are painful sores usually around the mouth, and possibly
accompanied by a fever. The condition requires medical attention if the infection is severe or the
area becomes secondarily infected. Exclusion is not necessary if the child is developmentally
capable of maintaining hygiene practices to minimise the risk of transmission. If the child is unable
to comply with these practices they should be excluded until sores have healed and are dry.
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Hand - Foot - Mouth Infection: This is a highly contagious infection which consists of small lesions
which tend to spread quickly on the side of the tongue or inside the mouth around the cheek
region. Lesions may also appear on the hands and feet, and occasionally on the buttocks. Children
should be excluded from care until all blisters have healed.
Procedure for reporting a notifiable disease outbreak
In some cases, it is required under relevant regulation that ADCC notify the Communicable Disease
Prevention and Control Unit, Victorian Government, Department of Health, of certain infectious
disease outbreaks. ADCC Management will be responsible for making any required notifications and
for implementing any recommended advice or procedures as directed by the Communicable Disease
Prevention and Control Unit.
All families will be notified and kept informed in the event of a notifiable disease outbreak by
displaying a fact sheet in a prominent place in the relevant program and in the main foyer of ADCC.
The information sheet will detail:
 the date
 the date of the first diagnosed case
 the name of the condition
 symptoms of the condition
 recommended treatment of the condition
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the minimum exclusion period and
the date and the number of subsequent children diagnosed after the first case.
Exclusion Procedures
It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that their child is well enough to attend
ADCC. In making this decision parents should be satisfied that children are well enough to participate
in normal activities without requiring special attention due to ill health.
If a child has a fever before attending ADCC, paracetamol should not be used to mask the fever and
the child should stay at home.
If a child at ADCC becomes unwell by developing a temperature above the normal 37.4°C, becomes
lethargic, displays out of character behaviour, or educators possibly identify and infectious illness or
disease the they will:
 Isolate the child from other children, if possible, and ensure that the child is comfortable and
supervised by an educator
 Continue to observe the child for any sudden changes e.g. temperature or rash
 Assist to reduce a child’s fever (if applicable)by:
 encouraging the child to drink plenty of water
 removing excessive clothing; and
 sponging lukewarm water on the child’s forehead, back of neck and exposed areas of skin,
such as arms or legs
 Ensure all bedding, contact toys and eating utensils are separated and disinfected where
appropriate
 In an emergency situation, educators will call an ambulance.
Notifying families or emergency contacts
When children become unwell at ADCC, ADCC management/educators will:
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Contact the child’s parents/guardians. If they are unavailable, educators will contact the other
people who are authorised to collect and care for the child as stated on the child’s enrolment form
Inform the parents/ guardians of the child’s condition, or suspected condition, and ask that the
child be picked up within 1 hour. If the child is not collected within 1 hour, the emergency
contacts will be contacted to collect the child
When a child returns to ADCC after having an illness, educators will make brief enquiries of the parent
and child while the parent is present, to ensure that the child is healthy enough to participate in ADCC
activities.
When a child is well enough to attend ADCC but requires medication, the Administration of
Medication Policy applies.
Medication
Where the NHMRC Guidelines do not recommend exclusion for a child with a certain medical
condition, but that child has been prescribed antibiotics, the child should stay home for the first 24
hours after the course of antibiotics has commenced to ensure that they have time to take effect.
Long term medical conditions
Where a child has a long term medical condition such as an allergy, anaphylaxis or asthma, parents or
guardians must complete a Management Plan upon enrolling the child at ADCC or when the condition
becomes known, in accordance with the Anaphylaxis Policy and the Asthma Policy.
Privacy and Confidentiality
The right of children, families, and educators to be afforded a level of privacy and confidentiality in
regards to their immunisation status is paramount. Educators, students and volunteers should be
aware of ADCC's commitment to maintaining and respecting privacy and confidentiality
Breaches of this Policy
Educators who fail to adhere to the procedures set out in this policy may be subject to
counselling or disciplinary action, in accordance with the Staff Counselling & Discipline Policy.
LINKS TO OTHER POLICIES
Incident, Injury, Trauma, Illness and First Aid Policy
Emergency and Evacuation Policy
Asthma Policy
Administration of Medication Policy
Hygiene Policy
Anaphylaxis Policy
Nappy and Toileting Policy
Hazardous Products Policy
Food Safety Policy
Staff Counselling & Discipline Policy.
LEGISLATION
Federal and State Health and Occupational Safety & Health Legislation
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic)-Section 3(2)(a);167;179;189
Education and care Services National Regulations: 77; 88-96,106; 110; 112; 115
LINK TO NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS
Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety-This quality area of the National Quality Standard focuses
on safeguarding and promoting children’s health and safety.
Standard 2.1 Element 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4
Standard 2.3 Element 2.3.1, 2.3.2
Quality Area 3: Physical Environment- This quality area of the National Quality Standards focuses on
the physical environment and ensuring that it is safe, suitable and provides a rich and diverse range of
experiences that promote children’s learning and development.
Standard 3.1 Element 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES
Parents/guardians will:
 Inform ADCC management and educators of their child’s illness, and
 Be responsible for their personal adherence to this policy.
Educators will:
 Provide parents/guardians with information regarding infectious illnesses and exclusion periods
 Provide factsheets for infectious illnesses or diseases and,
 Be responsible for their personal adherence to this Policy.
ADCC Management will:
 Ensure that all permanent educators are aware and understand all procedures regarding the
management of infectious illnesses and diseases and the administration of medications
 Promote the awareness of excludable infectious illnesses and diseases by regularly discussing
effective hygiene practice
 Display written and visual information for children, families and educators and,
 Be responsible for implementing, enforcing and evaluating this policy.
The Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit, Victorian Government, Department of
Health, is the relevant State government authority dealing with infectious disease outbreaks.
SOURCES
Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, Staying Healthy: Preventing
infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services, 5th Edition 2012, available online at:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/ch55
Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing, Immunise Australia Program- Immunisation
Program Schedule, available online at:
http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/nips2
Date Approved by the COM 20 February 2008
Next review date February 2010
Date 15 July 2009
Next review date July 2011
Approval 17 June 2013
Next review date June 2015