Sleep and Settling Risk Assessment

From 1 October 2023, the approved provider, nominated supervisor and family day care (FDC) educator must take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs for sleep and rest of children being educated and cared for by the service are met, having regard to the ages, development stages and individual needs of the children (Education and Care Services National Regulations, regulation 84A).

Approved providers must also ensure policies and procedures are in place for managing sleep and rest for children (regulation 168) and take reasonable steps to ensure those policies and procedures are followed (regulation 170).

To ensure the safety of children during sleep and rest, from 1 October 2023, the approved provider must conduct a sleep and rest risk assessment at least once every 12 months, and as soon as practicable after becoming aware of any circumstance that may affect the safety, health and wellbeing of children during sleep and rest.

The approved provider must make any necessary updates to the sleep and rest policies and procedures as soon as practicable after conducting the sleep and rest risk assessment and keep a record of each sleep and rest risk assessment conducted.

The sleep and rest risk assessment must be conducted for each education and care service or for each FDC residence or FDC venue of the service. Completing risk assessment and management plans is an ongoing part of good operational practice to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of children. One way to support this is by using a system of hazard identification and risk management. This can help identify, assess and manage the risk of harm before an incident occurs.

This sleep and rest risk assessment template is designed to assist approved providers and services in conducting sleep and rest risk assessments. This template is a starting point and should be adapted to meet the individual needs of your service or FDC residence/venue in line with regulations 84A, 84B and 84C.

It is a requirement for services and FDC residences or FDC venues to complete a sleep and rest risk assessment at least once every 12 months, and as soon as practicable after becoming aware of any circumstance that may affect the safety, health and wellbeing of children during sleep and rest.

This document is intended to be an evolving and regularly updated document, to be amended as circumstances change and new hazards arise. Once completed, it is also important to schedule regular reviews of this document to make sure hazards in your service are identified, risks are managed before they cause harm and identified risks are addressed within policies and procedures
(regulation 84B).

 

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CLICK HERE

RISK MATRIX
A risk matrix is a useful tool to use during the risk assessment process. It helps in identifying the level of risk by looking at the likelihood that a negative event may occur, and the severity of the consequence should it occur.
The Guide to the NQF defines likelihood and consequences in a risk matrix in Section 5: Regulatory Authority power.

LIKELIHOOD
The risk matrix includes five levels of likelihood:
• Rare
• Unlikely
• Possible
• Likely
• Almost Certain.

When thinking about likelihood, the approved provider and service leaders should prioritise actions based on ensuring compliance with the minimum legislative standards, particularly those standards relating to the safety, health and wellbeing of children. The following table is a useful guide.

CONSEQUENCE
The risk matrix also includes five levels of consequences:
• Insignificant
• Minor
• Moderate
• Significant
• Major
This considers the potential impact and how it might affect the safety and wellbeing of children, families, staff and the wider community.

 

 

Risks identified from this risk assessment have been addressed within policy
and procedure (regulation 84C) as well as other matters required under
regulation 84C.

This risk assessment must consider these matters:
• the number, ages and development stages of children being educated and
cared for, including at each education and care service and FDC residence
or approved FDC venue of the service
• the sleep and rest needs of children at the service (including specific health
care needs, cultural preferences, sleep and rest needs of individual children
and requests from families about a child’s sleep and rest) including at each
education and care service and FDC residence or approved FDC venue of
the service
• the suitability of staffing arrangements required to adequately supervise
and monitor children during sleep and rest periods
• the level of knowledge and training of the staff supervising children during
sleep and rest periods
• the location of the sleep and rest areas, including the arrangement of cots
and beds within the sleep and rest areas, including at each education and
care service and FDC residence or approved FDC venue of the service
• the safety and suitability of any cots, beds and bedding equipment and
having regard to the ages and developmental stages of the children who will
use them
• any potential hazards in sleep and rest areas or on a child during sleep and
rest periods
• the physical safety and suitability of sleep and rest environments, including
temperature, lighting and ventilation at each education and care service
and FDC residence or approved FDC venue of the service
• for FDC services, that provide overnight care to a child, any risks that the
overnight care provided at the family day care residence or approved venue
may pose to the safety, health or wellbeing of the child.