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How do you, as a day care owner, ensure you are providing both parents and children with the best possible care? The key worker system should be in place in order that each age group have adequate support and representation within the day care. This person builds critical relationships with both families and children and coordinates information pertaining to their charges sharing it as needed with parents and other staff. The emotional and physical health of the child, and the foundations for their overall development are supported thanks to this consistency and continuity of care.

Settling the child into day care with minimum stress is achieved through regular communication with the parents. The key worker absorbs every jot of information about the child/parent relationship in order that they may use that knowledge to ease the transition to day care. Development plans and progress reports for each individual child are also maintained by the key worker. These help chart the interests and behaviour of the child and any changes therein.

A major aspect of the role of key worker is to bridge the worlds of day care and home. . He/she uses the knowledge gleaned from parents to form a bond with the child which provides for continuity of relationship. Other carers should also form relationships with the child to avoid separation anxiety should the key worker be absent.

A policy defining the key worker role, including summaries in your parent and carer handbooks should be developed if you plan to implement this system. Being that key intermediary figure is an important role and involves incredible commitment and and all staff should be made aware of same. The benefits of this approach for all concerned should be made clear to all parties in your key worker policy.