Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre

Risk Assessment Policy

Children at Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre must be supported to feel safe and secure in the education and care environment. This will allow children to safely explore and learn about their world. In order to protect children from harm and any hazard likely to cause injury, Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre will manage risks and implement procedures to maintain a safe environment for children, educators and families.

Early Years Teachers must act in a professional and sensitive manner when identifying risks. They will respond quickly and effectively to minimise or remove risks to promote a safe environment free from harm and respond appropriately when incidents or emergencies occur.

For further information, please refer to Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre’s Safety Manual.

Procedures in Identifying Hazards and Risks

1. Management recognises that its activities and premises may present a health and safety risk and shall identify the areas where control measures are required in order to ensure a safe environment.

2. Hazards will be identified and risk assessments will be completed by management/safety representative as required while subsequent impacts, consequences and existing control measures raised will be reviewed and categorised into high, medium or low risk.

3. Management/Safety representative will subsequently ensure that all hazards identified are eliminated or controlled as far as is practicable so that they are reduced to an acceptable level.

4. Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre will place particular attention on the following:

1. “Hazard” is taken to mean any substance, article, material or practice which has the potential to cause harm to the safety, health or welfare of all staff, children, family and any visitors attending Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre.

2. “Risk” means the potential of the hazard to cause harm in the actual circumstances of use.

3. “Risk Assessment” is based on the linking of the probability of occurrence with the severity of loss and/or injury. Risks are graded “High”, “Medium” or “Low”. This is to ensure prioritisation in the implementation of controls and allocation of resources.

The Manager/Safety Representative will:

1. Conduct a risk assessment to determine potential emergencies that may be relevant to Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre.

2. Ensure a risk assessment occurs prior to outings. See Outings Policy.

3. Liaise with Early Years Teachers to ensure that risk management is part of daily practice and that procedures are developed and maintained to implement policies, record and review hazards.

4. Ensure that health and safety information and a training strategy is part of the induction and ongoing professional development strategy for all Early Years Teachers.

5. Inform families, during orientation and enrolment, about Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre’s Risk Management Policy and the need to maintain all emergency contact details. Written consent will be obtained from families for permission to access urgent medical, hospital and ambulance assistance.

6. Ensure that Early Years Teachers and families are informed of Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre’s Risk Management Policy and Procedures and ensure that Early Years Teachers roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.

7. Ensure that at any time Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre is operational at least one Early Years Teacher holds a current approved First Aid Response (FAR) and paediatric first aid qualification.

Early Years Teachers will:

1. Teachers will identify any potential hazards, rectifying any risks immediately where possible. Any identified hazards that cannot be immediately removed or rectified must be reported to management immediately.

2. Not put themselves or others at risk at any time when seeking to reduce or remove potential hazards.

3. Complete first aid training and professional development to increase their awareness of risk management.

4. Implement emergency evacuation procedures to ensure the welfare of children, families and practitioners.

Updated 12 September 2018