Licensing's Latest
Child Care Newsletter
Spring 2013
CHILD CARE
LICENSING
NEWSLETTER
In This Issue
Safe Sleep
Practices
•
Routine
Inspection
Checklists
•
CRC
ID Verification
•
Safe Playground
Use
•
Making Changes
to Your Licensed
Facility
•
You Were Asking
For more
Child Care Licensing
information visit our
website:
www.viha.ca/mho/licensing
Spring 2013
Safe Sleep Practices
In the Fall of 2012, the Community Care
Facilities Licensing program hosted a series
of workshops across the island regarding Safe
Sleep Practices. These workshops consisted
of a presentation from the Medical Health
Officers for each region: Campbell River,
Nanaimo and Victoria. The presentation was
followed by a World Café which gave child
care providers a chance to brainstorm, talk
about their own practices and review ideas
with Licensing staff.
Some key messages from the presentation included:
• Safe sleep practices as they relate to infants less than 12 months of age. These include putting children on their back to sleep, ensuring that cribs are clear of clutter and that the temperature in the room is comfortable.
• Cribs over 10 years in age should not be used. Do not modify a crib in any way.
• The importance of:
► Providing a tobacco-free environment at all times.
► Ensuring that sleep equipment is age appropriate and that the manufacturer’s instructions confirm sleeping is its intended use. Be mindful of drapery cords and other hazards that may be in the sleep area.
► Ensuring sleep surfaces include a firm, tight fitting mattress and a tight fitting bottom sheet.
► Ensuring children are put in a designated sleep area for rest periods. Strollers, car seats, couches and carriers are not intended as alternates to a safe crib or bed for rest periods. When sleeping in an upright position, a child’s head can bend causing their oxygen supply to be compromised.
Some key discussion points from child care providers that were consistent throughout
the region included:
• It is important to discuss safe sleep practices with the families in your care.
• Have consistent sleep routines – it will be a benefit to both children and child care providers. Plan activities around rest time to ensure children are given adequate opportunity to sleep.
• Ensure children are checked for items that may pose a risk to their safety when sleeping, such as drawstrings on clothing, jewelry or hair accessories.
• Check equipment to ensure there are not recalls or safety concerns regarding the equipment.
• Provide a clutter free sleep environment with good air quality and circulation. Do not use pillows, bumper pads or excess bedding.
• Provide direct supervision for young children in care while sleeping.
• Keep exits clear and establish emergency protocols should an incident occur during sleep time.
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When establishing a safe sleep environment for children in your care, it is important to consider both the environment
and the equipment that you are using. Also, ongoing supervision is a key means to ensuring all children in your care
are safe, particularly in their sleep. Child care providers are encouraged to check equipment regularly to ensure that it
is in good condition and to constantly evaluate their napping practices to ensure that each individual child’s needs are
met safely and their need to sleep is accommodated. Adequate and safe sleep is important to healthy development. For
more information, a copy of the presentation and collated discussions from each session can be obtained by contacting
your local Licensing Office. The following websites may also be useful to you:
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/index-eng.php?utm_source=rsa-220-150&utm_
medium=download-buttons&utm_campaign=CHS1213
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/index-eng.php
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/kids-enfants/sleep-sommeil/index-eng.php
Providing Routine Inspection Checklists to Licensees
Those facilities that have been due for a routine inspection in the last few months may have received a copy
of Licensing’s Routine Inspection Checklist via mail or email. These checklists are now being sent out to care
providers up to three months prior to your inspection being due. The purpose of this new practice is to give
child care providers the opportunity to review the checklist in order to be prepared for the Licensing Officer’s
visit. It is the responsibility of the Licensee to operate their facility in compliance with the Community Care
and Assisted Living Act, the Child Care Licensing Regulation and the Director of Licensing’s Standards of
Practice at all times. By providing a copy of the most up to date checklist in advance of your inspection,
Licensing wishes to support success by encouraging Licensees to complete a self-assessment of their facility.
Inspections will continue to be conducted on an unannounced basis a majority of the time. Feel free to contact
your local Licensing Officer with questions regarding this process.
CRC ID Verification
For those operators that require a new or renewed Schedule D Criminal Record Check [the Licensee/Manager and all
residents at a licensed child care facilities that are 12 years of age or older and not a person in care], please be advised
the Vancouver Island Health Authority must verify identification for these individuals and complete a portion of
the criminal record check request form prior to the check being completed. Criminal record checks must be redone
every five years.
In order to complete the ID verification process, at least one primary piece of I.D, along with a secondary I.D. [see
below] must be shown to a Licensing program staff person. One piece of I.D. must be government issued (driver
license is preferred) and display applicant’s name, date of birth, signature and photo.
List of accepted Primary ID:
Issued by ICBC:
B.C. driver's licence or learner's licence (must have your photo)
B.C. Identification (BCID) card
Issued by provincial, territorial or federal government:
Canadian birth certificate
Passport
Canadian Citizenship Card
Permanent Resident Card
Canadian Record of Landing/Canadian Immigration Identification Record
List of accepted Secondary ID:
School ID card (student card)
Bank card (only if applicant's name is on card)
Credit card (only if applicant's name is on card)
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Foreign birth certificate (a baptismal certificate is not acceptable)
Canadian or U.S. driver's licence
Naturalization certificate
Canadian Forces identification
Police identification
Foreign Affairs Canada or consular identification
Vehicle registration (only if applicant's signature is shown)
Picture employee ID card
Firearms Acquisition Certificate
Social Insurance Card (new style without signature strip not
acceptable)
B.C. CareCard
BC Services Card
Native Status Card
Parole Certificate ID
Correctional Service Conditional Release Card
For the most up to date information regarding completing the ID verification process,
please contact your local Licensing Office.
Safe Playground Use
An interesting article appeared in the New York Times in April 2012 about a surprisingly common playground
injury. The article highlighted the risks associated with a parent or caregiver riding down a slide with a child. The
common injury that results from this practice is a leg fracture caused by the child’s rubber soled shoe or foot getting
caught on the slide during the trip down with an adult. The purpose of the article was not to discourage parents or
caregivers from taking children to the playground; however, to spread the word about risks associated with using
the slide with a child on your lap. In order to prevent this injury from occurring, the best solution is to allow a child,
who is age appropriate for the equipment and developmentally capable, to slide alone. With the warm weather
approaching and more time being spent outdoors, it becomes increasingly important to engage children in safe
outdoor play. Not only are Licensees required by law to complete regular checks of their playground equipment
to ensure that it remains safe for use by children in their care, additionally all staff members are required to model
and engage in appropriate and safe play. To view the entire article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/asurprising-risk-for-toddlers-at-playground-slides/?ref=health&pagewanted=print
Did you know … a recent study at UBC found that 87% of the time children did not choose play structures to play
on outside. http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2010/09/10/putting-the-play-into-playgrounds/
Making Changes to Your Licensed Facility
Summer is a popular time to undertake renovations and make improvements to child care facilities. During the initial
Licensing process, the applicant identifies all spaces proposed for use in the facility. Once a Licence has been issued,
if a Licensee wishes to change these areas, there is an approval process that
must be completed. Changes to the physical facility cannot be made until
the Licensee receives written approval from a Licensing Officer.
In order to make any changes to an approved licensed facility space, a
Licensee must submit a plan to the Licensing Office for review prior to work
commencing. This would be necessary, for example, if you were planning
to add, relocate or remove spaces within a family home. Section 10 of the
Child Care Licensing Regulation states:
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Continuing duty to inform
10 (1) Applicants for licences and licensees must notify a medical health officer immediately of any change in the information provided under section 9 [applying for a licence].
(2) Licensees must not make any structural change to a community care facility unless the licensee first
(a) submits plans for the change to a medical health officer, and
(b) receives written approval from the medical health officer.
If you are planning to make changes to your existing facility, contact your Licensing Officer to discuss your plans and
necessary submissions prior to commencing any work. Depending on the proposed changes, you may be requested
to submit documentation such as [but not limited to]:
• An updated indoor floor plan;
• An updated outdoor site plan including existing and proposed play equipment/structures;
• A description of the proposed changes;
• Updated measurements for the child care spaces to ensure they continue to meet or exceed the minimum standards;
• A plan for operations if you intend to stay open while renovations occur; and
• Information about proposed new indoor or outdoor equipment, including manufacturer’s instructions for use.
Once the information has been submitted, your Licensing Officer will review the information and may approve the
plans, require new information if the plans do not meet the minimum requirements of the regulation, or request more
information. Upon completion of the work, an inspection may be required prior to children having access to any new
areas or equipment.
You Were Asking:
Q: What documentation is required for students completing practicum placements at child care facilities?
The character and skill requirements set out in Section 19 of the Child Care Licensing Regulation apply only to persons employed
or volunteers in a community care facility. Practicum students are not considered employees or volunteers of community care
facilities in which they are placed; therefore, Section 19 does not apply to practicum students. They are in the facility for the purpose
of completing very specific curriculum requirements under the supervision of an approved educational institution.
Practicum students should have a valid Schedule F criminal record check through the Criminal Records Review Agency; however,
the responsibility to complete these checks is with the educational institution the student is attending. Licensees who agree to
accept practicum students should confirm a criminal record check has been obtained for the student prior to the student beginning
the practicum placement.
Q: I operate a Group Child Care School Age program. Can a facility temporarily close their licensed school age program for
the summer and use that space for summer camps that do not require licensing under Section 3 of the Child Care Licensing
Regulation [exempt programs]? It would be the same licensee and it’s the same licensed space however, we are naming it a
camp. What warrants a licensed vs. non-licensed camp?
A non-licensed camp could only operate from a licensed space if the licensed program was closed and that licence had been
surrendered to the Licensing Office. A licensed Group Child Care School Age (GCCSA) could close and surrender their licence
each summer and operate a “Licence Not Required” summer camp in the previously licensed space for children provided it meets
the criteria specified in Section 3(1)(d) for exempt programs. The Licensee would need to reapply and obtain a new licence for
their GCCSA in order to re-open the licensed program in September.
A licensed GCC school age cannot go to “not operating” and temporarily close the licensed facility for the summer months and
then operate an unlicensed/exempt summer camp from the same space. If a facility is “not operating”, they are still licensed,
must comply with the legislation for staffing, records, etc., and are subject to inspection by licensing. “Not operating” means that
a licensee is not operating the premise as Community Care Facility and that they are no longer providing care to three or more
persons. Only programs that are exempt from Licensing as per Section 3 of the CCLR would not require licensing.
Q: Is Borax safe for use in child care facilities?
Making “Flubber” can be a popular activity with children; however, caution must be used if using Borax to make the mixture.
Exposure to Borax on its own, prior to being included in a mix; can be harmful. Poison Control has advised that, even if a child
ingests a small amount, it could induce a minor reaction such as vomiting. If Borax is being used for activities in a facility, staff
must be vigilant to ensure children do not have access to it. Use the link provided for information on Borax. Additionally,
non-toxic recipes for “Flubber” can be located on the internet. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924967
Spring 2013
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