Function Of The Day Care Key Worker

As a day care owner you want to provide parents and children with the best possible care. Ideally, each age group within a day care should have a key worker who supports and represents it. This person builds critical relationships with both families and children and coordinates information pertaining to their charges sharing it as needed with parents and other staff. This way consistency and continuity of care is maintained which is vital for supporting the foundations for their development and ensures the emotional and physical well being of the child.

The key worker communicates regularly with parents from the outset ensuring that the child settles into the day care with minimum upset. The key worker absorbs every jot of information about the child/parent relationship in order that they may use that knowledge to ease the transition to day care. Additionally, they are responsible for maintaining progress reports and development plans for each individual child. This way any changes in the behaviour or interests of the child will be noted.

A major aspect of the role of key worker is to bridge the worlds of day care and home. . He/she uses the knowledge gleaned from parents to form a bond with the child which provides for continuity of relationship. Other carers should also form relationships with the child to avoid separation anxiety should the key worker be absent.

If you have a key worker system in place at your day care you should develop a policy explaining how it works and include a summary in your parent/employee handbook. Being that key intermediary figure is an important role and involves incredible commitment and all staff should be made aware of same. The policy should ensure that all parties are aware of the benefits of this approach and what they can do in order to support the keyworker.

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