Key information
- Contact with extended family members and others must be approved by the Child Safety Service.
- The use of babysitters should be made in discussion with the child or young person in care.
- The Child Safety Service must approve the use of a babysitters for periods that exceed ten hours within one week.
Contact with family and others
It is important for children and young people to maintain safe connection with extended family members and other people that matter to them (including messaging, phone calls and face to face contact). This must first be approved by the Child Safety Service.
Where possible, you are encouraged to support and enable the child or young person to build or continue these safe connections.
Use of babysitters
The Child Safety Service must approve the use of a babysitter for periods that exceed ten hours within one week.
You can make decisions and exercise judgment when arranging who will be the babysitter for children or young people in your care. Where possible, selecting a babysitter should include a discussion with the child or young person about who they feel comfortable with.
You must ensure that the babysitter knows the child or young person’s routine, medical needs/allergies and appropriate strategies for supporting positive behaviours. You must ensure that the babysitter is contactable, can contact you at all times and knows how to contact Child Safety Service if there is an emergency.
You must always have a plan with the child or young person so that they can contact you or another safe person if they need support at any time.