Please help me to help my staff

[Olena]

I am a new owner of Child care Centre. LOVE to be working in this industry, but it is very first my own business. I have a director and I relay on her in many areas .
She insist currently that I have to employ extra staff member to cover the time for educators to do their 2 hours programming and observation.
A previous owner had have and extra staff and director never were asked to go to work on the floor.
I have enough full time employed staff for ratio and we have two casuals happily working for us.
My question is: is that a good ( common) practice that the Centre has extra permanent full time staff member to cover Programming time for staff?
What would be the management tool like to provide educators with those two hours out of floor? ( Director should work in the room, staff should take the paperwork home,
roster should be done different way?)
I would like to create comfortable atmosphere at work for my staff , and do not expect them take paperwork at home. However I don't feel that only an extra employee is the solution for providing programing time.
Any suggestions please?

[Lorina]

In my previous centre my director worked on the floor when it was necessary. If staff called in sick and no casual's available, during parent meetings, to cover lunch if necessary and programming time. It was good for the director to get some time in the room with the kids and to get a sense of what is happening etc. It also enables us to chat about what we are doing within the room, what children are involved in etc. since she is usually in the office. If you work out a weekly roster for programming time in which the director can cover shifts then I think this should be fine. Depending on how many rooms you have, you can do 2 hour programming time a day for each room. You can talk to the director when the best time is (probably after lunch, less busier), so she can step in the room. I don't think it's necessary at all to get extra staff to cover programming time when using the director to cover the ratio. I understand that the director may have a lot to do within the day but 2 hours goes pretty fast and I'm sure it can be arranged.

In regards to paperwork being taken home... NO... It's unfair... Staff should be given the time allocated within the Regulations/Award to complete necessary documentation at the centre. If you do not give them the time it's not their fault and they shouldn't take anything home to complete. Work should stay at work... Sorry but I completely refuse to complete paperwork at home... However, if you were to pay them for completing paperwork at home, it's a different story!

At the end of the day, the director works for you and it's your choice whether or not you need more staff. It's your business you're trying to run... Even though you are new, you will fast learn the ropes and the ins and outs. Just make sure you stay current with all the latest industry information (regs, policies, laws, nqs etc.) and be involved in the centre. Get to know all the staff, show interest in their rooms and what they are doing, go to staff meetings and reward them (have a eat out night at each staff meeting).

It's going to be a fun ride! Hold on tight!

,
L.A

[Olena]

Hi Lorina,
Thank you for your reply! It helps to me a lot. ))
Yes, I completely agree, that it is unfair for staff to take paper work home. I was not aiming such a solution. Just heard from other centres that educators are taking it home quite often.
definitely will learn and enjoy my new experience )))