Code of Ethics Guidelines for Observing Children
1). The National Working Party developed the early childhood code of ethics at 1990 with the help of considerable input from the field of early childhood. A new code of ethics was introduced in the year 2003-2006 by the agenda of the code of ethics that was endorsed at the National Council meeting of Australia regarding early childhood in the year 2006, September. The purpose of the code of ethics is to provide effective guidelines to the educators for ensuring that it acts in a professional way with relevant commitments towards respect and maintenance of the rights and the dignity of the families, children, communities and professionals. It is a set of predefined statements regarding the expected and appropriate nature of the professionals of early childhood care (Early Childhood Australia 2018). To summarize, the main purpose of the early childhood code of ethics is to objectify the obligations and the rules that the educators must respect and follow while carrying out their set of duties.
2). The core principles in relation to the code of ethics are genuinely based upon the prized and the fundamental values of the underlined profession, It is essential for the educator of an early childcare service to abide by the Australia’s code of ethics for decision making in the context of ethical responsibilities. An example of how an educator can follow the ethics of developing respectful relationship with the family and the children is as follows (Barblett, Hydon and Kennedy 2017).
Understanding of the unique interest of each and every children and determining their capacity to contribute to the communities. Building up a friendly and an open relation with the guardian with effective communication to share the activities, concern of their respective child and how those can be addressed. To leisure, play and teach the children with the help of play and games for the development of their wellbeing and learning.
3). It is essential for the educator to demonstrate the understanding of the responsibilities and the underlying obligations of their role together with the relevant pieces of knowledge. In the given scenario of the observations of the children without the gin of the parental permission, some of the points that needs to be pointed according to the principles of the code of ethics includes
Duty of the responsibilities related to care
Maintaining of the confidentiality clauses (Boddington.wa.gov.au 2018)
- Recognising unethical conducts and reporting with the means of verbal and non verbal reports.
Furthermore proper identification of the situations of the work environment that needs improvement regarding the meeting of the ethical and legal responsibilities is the responsibilities of an educator. Finally the educators must ensure to act among the boundaries of their designated job role and ensure permissions for gaining parental permissions for children observations.
Reporting Breaches in the Early Childhood Ethical Framework
4) The early childhood ethical framework includes sets of guidelines that relates to the professional codes of the conduct in the workplaces. It is important for all the educators and the staff members to follow the legislations and the NQS that highlights the national laws, code of conduct, service philosophy, EYLF, protocols and procedures. For the reporting breach, issues would be reported if a person fails to fulfil the duty of the care obligations ( Turel, Romashkin and Morrison 2016). Then they could be charged and accused of the act of their negligence and the liability for the compensation of some of the other forms of the penalties related to law. Educators are advised to report breaches to the supervisor in the accordance with the correct and appropriate procedure of the services.
5)
1 True
2 True
3 True
4 Flase
5 Flase
6 True
6) Legal and the ethical issues arise on a frequent basis are often used in the case of similar situations in the context of issues and social situations. In the above context of early childhood ethical scenario and the code of ethics elated to the child care in the Australia, it is the discerning characteristics that differentiate the concepts of legal and the ethical issues (Kennedy, Barblett and Hydon 2016).
Ethical issues are generally rooted in the morals which induce an individual to choose among the alternatives for the evaluation of the ethical that is right of the unethical that is wrong. Ethical issues are based upon the perceptions of the unethical and the ethical act which impacts the individuals or the society. Legal issues on the other hand primarily involve the application of the law principles.
Ethical issues are not punishable by law since they are not governed by rule sets. Legal issues are punishable by law. Legal issues may be unethical at some times and vice versa.
7) Since the role of caring for the children is a significant responsibility, there lie various associated legal requirements within. In the context of the given or stated scenario, the incident would have to be reported to the director or the supervisor immediately by whoever who witnessed the thing (Macmillandictionary.com 2018).
Due to the violation of the legal requirements encircling the fact that the approved provider must ensure that the children working o the computer must be cared and educated adequately, a penalty of $ 10,000 and $ 50,000 in case of individuals and other organisation are imposed by the law. According to the National Quality Framework, it is important for the educator to supervise children closely in situation of high risk of injury just like the case stated above. Leaving a child unattended to work on the computers may invite high risk of injury and hamper the promotion of the learning and the development of the children by the creation of social and physical environments which contributes a positive impact on the children.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
8) Dignity risks arise from the key principles of the Disability Service Act. According to the concept of dignity risks, the rights of an individual in case of learning skills and experiencing offers and taking parts in activities contain some elements of risks. Provition of benefits leads to the gain of self esteem and independence. According to the principle of dignity risks, the educators and the professionals are expected to be cautious and sensible for taking reasonable care and not shield from all the possible risks.
It is the responsibility of the educators to guide the children towards gaining their sense of identity, encouragement and supporting their decisions towards success (Kolk 2016).
To summarize, the dignity risk in child care refers to the children’s right to experience the offerings of the life like new learning skills, taking parts in activities and benefits like gaining self esteem and independence.
9) If an educator repeatedly ignore a child on the ground that the child was unable to talk in English, this act is an example of discrimination and violation f the code of ethics of the Australia which ensures equal
Treatment of the children despite of gender, sex, ability and other social determinant. In the given scenario, the educator would be confronted by a supervisor leading to a warning by the centre head. This heinous act may lead to dismissal (Roberts and Allen 2015). Furthermore the educator may also be provided with anti discrimination trainings and all other staff members will be reminded regarding the importance of the anti discrimination principles that needs to be followed in case of early childhood care.
10) It an offence to use inappropriate discipline to manage a child’s behaviour, as stated by the children (education and care services) national law (NSW) – sect 166. It is essential for the educator to remember and ensure that no child who are being educated and cared for are subjected to any forms of corporal punishments, any unreasonable disciplines. Repeated used of time out should not be used in case of communicating and handling a child since children are sensitive and time out may hamper the smooth and comfort among the educators and the children (Guide to the National Quality Standard 2017). A penalty of $10000 is charged in case of this scenario and furthermore inappropriate discipline with the children tends to hamper the nature and preferences of the child and make him or her ill-mannered.
References:
Barblett, L., Hydon, C. and Kennedy, A., 2017. ECA code of Ethics in action. Every Child, 23(3), p.20.
Boddington.wa.gov.au. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.boddington.wa.gov.au/Assets/ELC_Policy_Manual_March_2015.pdf [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].
Early Childhood Australia. 2018. Code of Ethics Brochure. [online] Available at: https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/our-publications/eca-code-ethics/ [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].
Guide to the National Quality Standard. 2017. [ebook] Australian children’s education and care quality authority, pp.1-201. Available at: https://files.acecqa.gov.au/files/National-Quality-Framework-Resources-Kit/NQF-Resource-03-Guide-to-NQS.pdf [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].
Kennedy, A., Barblett, L. and Hydon, C., 2016. Reviewing early childhood Australia’s code of ethics. Every Child, 22(2), p.10.
Kolk, A., 2016. The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development. Journal of World Business, 51(1), pp.23-34.
Macmillandictionary.com. 2018. breach (verb) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary. [online] Available at: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/breach_2 [Accessed 24 Jun. 2018].
Roberts, L.D. and Allen, P.J., 2015. Exploring ethical issues associated with using online surveys in educational research. Educational Research and Evaluation, 21(2), pp.95-108.
Turel, O., Romashkin, A. and Morrison, K.M., 2016. Health outcomes of information system use lifestyles among adolescents: videogame addiction, sleep curtailment and cardio-metabolic deficiencies. PloS one, 11(5), p.e0154764.