Training Outside School Hours Care Staff

P/B • 210mm x 280mm • 96 Pages
ISBN 9781876138233

Before School, After School and Vacation Care

Training Outside School Hours Care Staff was created in response to requests from OSHC Coordinators. Training more and more new staff is a challenging task as the sector grows. In preparation for creating this handbook, the author Roberta Newman surveyed a sampling of OSHC Coordinators to identify what Coordinators want new staff to understand and keep in mind as they begin and continue their work.

The topics explored in this handbook reflect what Coordinators said they want staff to know about:

• how to understand and respond to children’s needs, interests and concerns
• how to build positive relationships with children;
• how to plan for a successful first day;
•  how to provide safe, effective supervision;
•  how to develop and maintain effective service guidelines and limits;
• how to plan and implement activities children will enjoy;
• how to manage conflicts among children; and
• how to make families feel welcome, and more.

Training Outside School Hours Care Staff is designed as a tool for school-age co-ordinators who often have limited resources and time to devote to staff training. With this in mind, each section of the handbook provides interactive questions and scenarios staff can work through independently. Even though staff can use this handbook on their own, it encourages them to share their answers to study questions and other ideas with a supervisor or a mentor as many of the study questions ask staff to think about how they could use the information in their own service. Otherwise, they may not succeed in using the tools in this handbook in ways which are best suited to your service.

Contents

Introduction: Tips for Coordinators on How to Use This Handbook

Chapter 1: OSHC: One of the Most Important Jobs You’ll Ever Have

What Is OSHC all about? A look at an emerging profession
Changing times and the growing need
Where we are now
How the sector of OSHC is growing
What will I gain from working in a school-age service? What do I have to give?
Do I have ‘what it takes’ to work with school-age children?
How can I be a positive role model for school-age children?
What we’we learned about the sector of OSHC

Chapter 2: Who are School-Age Children and What do They Need from Me?

A look at components of  OSHC and how they differ
A look at characteristic traits of school-age children
A look at individual differences among school-age children how you can help them
What we’ve learned about school-age children

Chapter 3: Having a Good Start on Your  First Day at Work

Learning all about your OSHC
Learning about your job responsibilities
Tips for building a positive relationship with children from the first moment
Guiding children’s behaviour and supporting children in learning to guide their own behaviour
What we’we learned about getting off to a good start on your first day

Chapter 4: Some Common Do’s and Don’ts for Staff in OSHC Services

Things to always keep in mind when working with school-age children
Positioning while supervising
Things to avoid doing when working with school-age children
What we’ve learned about do’s and don’ts for OSHC staff

Chapter 5: Developing and Implementing Service Guidelines

Working with school-age children to set guidelines and limits
Helping children take responsibility for their actions
What we’re learned about developing and implementing service guidelines

Chapter 6: Strategies for Planning Service Activities Children Will Enjoy

Planning activities linked to developmental needs and interests
Involving children to develop a child initiated program plan
Making the most of your service environment
Other tips for program planning
Gap Fillers- no – prop games and activities to use on the spot!
Tips for leading games andi involving children in group activities
What we’ve learned about planning and leading service activities children will enjoy

Chapter 7: Handling Problems and Conflicts among School-Age Children

Setting a positive tone from the beginning
Teaching children step-by-step problem solving strategies
Learning to recognise the common causes of conflicts in OSHC Services
Tips for diffusing and reducing conflicts when they emerge
Becoming aware of your conflict management style
Asking for help with difficult problems and conflicts
What we’ve learned about handling problems and conflicts among school-age children

Chapter 8: Connecting with Parents and Families in OSHC

Ideas for reaching out to parents and families as partners with OSHC services
What we’ve learned about connecting with parents and families in OSHC services

Chapter 9: Wrapping Up: Keys to Success as an OSHC Member

Using diverse roles as an OSHC staff member
Tips for success during the first few months

Appendix 1: Answer Guide

Appendix II: Resource List

Index