ORIENTATION & TRAINING:
Kids Come First has a designated binder for volunteers and students that contain all pertinent operating policies and procedures. All policies and procedures must be reviewed and signed prior to commencing placement. It is the responsibility of the Executive Director or Designate to conduct an orientation session for all new volunteers and students. The content of the orientation would include, but not be limited to:
- Kids Come First’s vision and mission statement, confidentiality agreement as well as all policies and procedures of the Centre.
- Ensure that individual plans and policies are reviewed with students and/or volunteers before they start their educational placement or begin volunteering, annually thereafter and when changes occur to the policies, procedures and individualized plans to support appropriate implementation. Any student and/or volunteers will need to be trained on the specifics of each individual plan.
- Ensure that a vulnerable sector check (VSC) and annual offence declarations are on file for all students and/or volunteers in accordance with the child care centre’s criminal reference check policy and procedures and Ontario Regulation 137/15.
- Ensure that expectations are reviewed with students and/or volunteers including, but not limited to
- how to report their absence;
- how to report concerns about the program;
- Inform students and/or volunteers that they are never to be included in staff to child ratios or left alone with children.
- Appoint supervising staff to the students and/or volunteers, and inform them of their supervisory responsibilities.
- Inform students and/or volunteers of their duty to report suspected child abuse or neglect under the Child and Family Services Act.
It is also the responsibility of the Executive Director or the designate to familiarize the volunteer and students with all pertinent information related to the daily operations of the Kids Come First. It is the goal of the orientation session to make volunteers and students comfortable with the practices and Kids Come First, so that they are easily accommodated into the Centre’s activities.