1.2:- Explain how a duty of care contributes to safeguarding or protection of individuals.
Having a duty of care is an obligation to a professional, a child and family. Any family placing a child within an early years setting should feel that staff members will take full care of their child and that they will be safe. Any professional caring for a child would be held responsible if the minimum standard of care is not met. “If a duty of care is not met in a role that requires it, then the responsible person can be held accountable for allowing negligence to occur.”
Meggit (2011)
Providing a duty of care to a child is to ensure that they are at no harm. This would mean that a professional would need to be aware of giving the child right amount of attention, watching for potential hazards and making wise choices in the steps taken to ensure a child’s safety. There are legislations that early years setting must take full consideration of when proving a duty of care. Such as the Child Care Act 2006. This act incorporates the welfare standards in which all staff who look after children under the age of 8 should comply with. In September 2008 it became a legal responsible for care givers to ensure that all provisions are met. The welfare requirements of this are that within setting there should be an adult to child ratio.
Every child matters used to be a government requirement but now it is guidance. This framework helps to safeguard and protect children. This framework says that children must be;
Safe
Healthy
Achieve economically
Contribute to society positively
Enjoy life
Safeguarding is very important within any early year’s setting. Safeguarding helps to protect children from malnutrition and negligence. Some safeguarding procedures within my own work placement are signing in and out books and everyday security checks. This means on my arrival I am asked to