Indicators for quality institutional care & alternatives for children

·Developing the Indicators of Quality Institutional Care& Alternative Care
The Consultation was commended on 29 December, 2006. The framework of developing Quality Indicators for Child & Protection of Children within Institutions and standards for Alternatives Care was developed. Literature study is underway and that includes studying indicators which has already been developed by Saarthak and QIC&AC core groups. The work continues for the next year
Quality institutional childcare is not possible without having high standards for maintenance of the physical environment and care taking arrangements at the institutions as they go a long way in enhancing the growth & development of the child being cared for in the institution. The Delhi state core group for QIC&AC have had a year long series of discussions and have arrived at the following Indicators of child care that are to be followed in order to have quality institutional care possible.
· Developing Quality Indicators of Child Protection through Child Participation
To ensure rights of survival, protection, participation and development of children, we all work hard to ensure these rights but we not able to get children's perception on various aspects. Thus, QIC & AC (Quality Institutional Care & Alternatives for Children) organized a workshop / exercise with children to evolve the Quality Indicators of Child Protection through Child Participation on April 30th, 2007. The workshop has 30 Children participants from different NGO’s working on the issues of children in Institutional and Non-Institutional Care

LOCATION:
· The location of the home should be congenial with natural surroundings,
· Within the community, which gives the child opportunities to socialize.
· The children should feel emotionally secure.
· It should be well connected by various modes of transport and
· Located near technical &vocational institutions so that the children are able to receive the benefits of instruction and training from these.

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE:
The core group is advocating the concept of having small cottages/kutirs as compared to larger institutions. The adequacy of the physical facilities in comparison to the numbers of children in each home is the consensus of the group members.

Adequate space
· For free movement
· Safe,
· Well lighted and
· Ventilated.
· Playground/adequate open space where provisions for a variety of activities like running, jumping, climbing, sand play and gardening etc. could be made available.
· A lot of flowers and shrubs may be placed along the boundaries to make the home look colorful and attractive.
· Floors should be swabbed daily and frequently with a disinfectant.
· Walls should be clean, plastered, bright and stimulating.

DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
· Provision for safe and clean drinking water. An adequate number of water taps should be fixed at a low level for children.
· Adequate number of toilets and bathrooms taps washing areas that are regularly cleaned with disinfectants.
· The institution should have proper drainage system, arrangements for disposal of garbage and protection from mosquito’s and flies.

SLEEPING AREA:
· Adequate space & bedding should be provided to children to sleep as per the seasons. These should be cleaned regularly.
· No. of beds in ratio to no. of children
· No. of child per room

CLOTHING:
· Colorful dresses should be provided instead of the uniforms that should be washed and changed daily.
· Clothes should be age appropriate
· School uniforms----3 sets
· Evening dress----3 sets
· Night dress-----2 sets

STAFFING PATTERN:
The well being of children depends on the type of people that are being appointed for taking care of the child.
· Does the child perceive them as parents, uncle, aunts, siblings or officers?
· The presence of an emotional bond between the child and the caregiver can cater to the child’s rights to participation in his development plan.

The important variables are:
· Child- Care giver ratio: Te number of childcare personnel at the agencies must be adequate to take care of the basic needs of the children. The recommended child-caregiver ratio varies according to the requirements at different ages.
For children below one year the recommended ratio is 1:3 (one care giver for every three infants)
For children in the age group of 1-2 years-----------ratio is 1:4
For older children----------------------------------------ratio is 1:8

· Female staff is recommended for the homes with children of below 3 years
· Mixed staff -------------------------------------------------3-12 years
· Modern “Father figures”-----------------------------------12-18 years
Who can play their games & share life in their terms.


CARE GIVER ASSESSMENT:
Periodically caregivers may be assessed using the following indicators
· Frequency of touching and picking up children: with/without distress
· Vocalization with the child: during feeding/bathing/changing
· Eye contact during vocalization
· Active play: with /without toys
· Responsiveness to distress of the child: immediate/delayed
· Hugging and cuddling
· Singing and story telling

MEDICAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES:
· Regular Medical inspection of the child once a week by the pediatrician
· Growth monitoring by maintaining weekly records by the paramedical staff
· Recommended tests---VDRL, Hepatitis, HIV, Hemoglobin, TORCH, Electrophoresis and x-ray chest.
· Documentation of milestones
· Physiotherapy
· Counseling
· Mental health plan

TOYS, PLAY MATERIALS & STIMULATING ACTIVITIES:
· Display of toys & play materials which are age appropriate
· Cleanliness of toys
· Art & craft activities as per the age for older children
· Use of music as per age
· Radio, T.V. Tape recorder
· Story books
· Posters & painting on the walls
· Cultivation of hobbies
· Swings, Slides, Cycles

DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS
· Working in small groups as per their age
· Tapping their Creativities
· Expositing them to daily house hold chores
· Providing them with opportunities for exhibiting their skills

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
· Behave like guardians to the children at the institutions
· Inviting the community members at the cultural programs
· Sending the children to community schools, clubs, competitions
· Providing training & rehabilitation opportunities in the community
· Help the community in identifying families at risk of disintegration
· Refuse charity in forms of seeking food or ration on account of rituals


RESURRECTION OF HOMES
· Homes that are in a condition waiting to be demolished or whose infrastructure is about to fall shall be rebuilt on the patterns of Small cottage homes.
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