OOSH staffing - I am the only one!

[siobhanodo]

Hi everyone!

I am currently working at a long day care centre who has never had an OOSH before. I was hired in January (with my employer knowing I have only begun my bachelor this year) as their OOSH staff member. I have no cert 3 or any other training other than having worked at an after school care for 5 months previously.

I was under the impression from my employer that I was going to be hired as an assistant and someone else would be brought in as the coordinator ... this has not happened and I have been by myself in developing the area we are in, thinking of ideas and supervising children (on days i have 15 K-6 children on my own and I am only 20)

We are coming up to being assessed and the bomb of documentation has now been dropped on me. I was not told to do anything before hand and now I have to come up with it all...

can someone offer any advice? Im in desperate need of a wise word!

Very stressed!

[Lorina]

Some questions:

You have no formal childcare qualification other than you're currently working towards your degree?

Have you been made supervisor/co-ordinator of this part of OOSH?

Has any documentation been done? Programming, observations etc? Who advised not to do this?

First up if you have no formal qualification then you should not be running OOSH alone. Dealing with all the responsibility within itself doesn't even cover what you are supposed to be doing since you haven't studied childcare before. Although you are still in ratio with 15 children by yourself however your employer should at least have a diploma qualified for your current position. I'm surprised to hear that you were told not to do any type of documentation, it's going to create a problem with the assessment coming up but it shouldn't be your responsibility as you're not qualified to do so.

I would set up a meeting with your employer and have a chat about your current job role and what your supposed to be doing, also about the documentation side of things and what they want you to do. If they say that it's your responsibility then you can say it isn't because your unqualified for this type of position. You are not having a meeting to argue, just a relax chat about your concerns. It really needs to be done where you can communicate your issues with your employer so you can work them out...

You are not being treated fairly as they are throwing you in the deep end where you shouldn't be at this stage,

You need to get it sorted,

,
L.A

[siobhanodo]

Hi Lorina!

Thanks so much for your reply!

No I don't have any formal qualifications in childcare other than my degree which I'm currently studying.

In my contract of employment it does not say that I am the coordinator or the supervisor ...its never been discussed with me.

No documentation has been done as I was not aware I had to do any and was never advised to do any. I wasn't given any guidance when they opened the OOSH as to what I should do, it was left completely in my hands.

The only thing I am worried about is losing my job if they cannot afford to keep myself and get another person who is qualified to do the position. Our centre is being assessed in early september and I am very nervous about what will happen.

Definitely going to set up a meeting with my staff supervisor and chat to her about this ... she isn't in the office today and I'm not really sure how I can approach this via email in just letting her know what I would like to chat about.

Thanks

Siobhan

[Lorina]

Hopefully you had your meeting by now to sort these issues out! You should of been advised of your job responsibilities and expectations during your interview or sometime during your employment... Anyways, you would really need to get some form of documentation going as soon as possible!

Hope things are a little clearer,

,
L.A

[siobhanodo]

Hi Lorina!

I had a meeting with my staff director and was told just to try my best with the documentation and things. I also shared my concerns about my lack of qualifications and that I am with the children by myself as well as the fact I was hired as an oosh assistant.... I didn't get an answer indicating that either they weren't going to get anyone else in to essentially be the coordinator or not.

Going to try my best but studying a teaching degree full time means I don't have any time outside of work to do this. This assessment is going to be interesting to say the least...

S

[Macoola]

Hi Siobhan

I know this is a bit late but just saw this post and can't believe how simular it is to my situation. I have started working at a new OOSH that just opened up and I was also under the impression I would be an assistant, although I do have my Cert 3. But on the very day I turned up for the interview my now boss sat me down did the interview then left me with the kids on my own and it's been like that ever since. I have asked her about documentation (obs, programming) and she keeps saying eventually we will do that but we don't need to yet. Well this is 7mths later now and still no programming or other documentation has been done. We don't even have polices not that I have seen anyway. It seems that OOSH centres are slipping through the gaps with regards to documentation.

I appreciate your post because it has motivated me to speak to my boss about the situation, I am also very worried about when we will be assessed although we haven't received a date yet.

Thanks

Macoola

[siobhanodo]

Hey Macoola!

It is SO comforting to know that I am not alone in my situation! (although I wish you weren't since I know it is extremely stressful!)
Definitely speak to your boss about the situation and I help you get some answers/help. Unfortunately I can't see my situation changing but I am going to wait and see if the assessment kind of forces my centre to get an OOSH coordinator.

My boss called her cousin who has an OOSH in a day care centre and apparently the OOSH wasn't even assessed on the day, just the day care so she said I may not even be assessed... Thats all well and good to say but I think we will be.

I am just surprised that as a 20 yr old with no qualifications I am an "educator" and am meant to be programming and connecting it to outcomes etc...

It is seriously keeping me up at night!
Siobhan

[Macoola]

Hi Siobhan,

That sucks that you wont be assessed it sounds like the assessment would have been the motivation you boss needed to hire a coordinator. I am glad to know I'm not the only one too. I have no idea if or when we will be assessed but my boss doesn't seem worried at all, she acts like we are exempt from assessment. Anyways let me know how you get on.

Thanks Macoola

[andrewop]

hello
you are welcome here
you should do you duty with full of responsibility
but if you are getting some problem you can say your boss about this.

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