Although
not mandatory, the development process outlined below assists to ensure
that the building will meet licensing standards. The risk otherwise is
that, if the completed building does not meet licensing standards, the
Child Care Unit will not be able to recommend issue of licence.
Licensing officers may also be of assistance in identifying functional
issues that could impact on the operation of the service. It is
therefore preferable for the developer and the Child Care Unit to work
cooperatively throughout the process.
The development process
may vary for new services depending on whether the service is to be
newly built or the building is to be renovated.
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- The developer/service operator makes initial contact with the Child Care Unit.
| - An
officer from the Child Care Unit sends a copy of the centre based care
licensing standards and any other relevant information to the
developer/operator or provides the website details.
| - A
licensing officer from the Child Care Unit may be available for
preliminary discussions (including viewing proposed land or building
options).
| - The developer/service operator formally notifies the Child Care Unit of the project proposal in writing.
| - Licensing
officers will have discussions with the developer/service operator,
architect, etc to ensure that the plans will meet licensing standards.
In order to provide the most comprehensive feedback to the developer,
because of their licensing commitments, it is important the Child Care
Unit staff have a minimum of two (2) weeks to look at plans.
| - During
this process it is important that the developer/service operator is
also following through with requirements such as seeking planning and
building approval from Council.
| - Once
the plans have been satisfactorily finalised (ie; from the
developer/service operator's and the Child Care's perspective), it is
advisable that any changes during the building process are first
checked with Child Care to ensure that the changes do not have an
impact on the building meeting licensing standards.
| - Child
Care will send out a 'Fitness and Propriety Package'. The licence
applicant, any responsible persons, the person-in-charge of the service
and members of the service operator all have a responsibility to
demonstrate to the CCU that they are fit and proper to be involved in a
child care service. This is to be completed prior to issue of
licence. There are slight differences in the checks that apply to the
different roles and because some, such as safety screening, or
obtaining referee reports, take time to process, these areas must
commence well before the service expects to open.
| - Also
at an appropriate time, the licensing officer will send out a licensing
package that will include all the required forms for completion and the
related timelines. Refer to Licensing Requirements.
| - Licensing
officers will arrange to visit the service on a number of occasions
during the construction period to respond to any licensing issues that
arise that were not able to be identified through the planning process.
| - Prior
to a final licence assessment the centre will need to be totally set up
as if the service is about to commence, ie with all the furniture,
equipment, required items on display, etc. Licensing officers will
measure the building, encumbrances (ie fixed furniture, furniture used
for storage or administrative purposes, and items whose primary purpose
is not for children's play) and playground to confirm final licence
numbers.
| - Licensing
officers will write the report and the recommendations regarding the
issue of a licence. These need the approval of the Director, Early
Years, prior to the licence being signed and issued. An initial licence
will be for a period of up to four months. A further licensing
assessment will take place within this four month period to follow up
standards which were not able to be assessed prior to the service
opening, eg; Excursions and Transport, Administration and Records,
Health, Hygiene and Infection Control, etc.
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