The OSHC service is an integral part of the whole school service and should be addressed in the same way as other school services.

A principal who is managing an OSHC service must understand the requirements and expectations of the community in relation to the service.

Instrument of authorisation

The governing council must ensure that there is an instrument of authorisation (PDF 202 KB) about the extent of the principal's responsibilities with the OSHC service.

Principal responsibilities

It is the principal’s responsibility to:

• understand the requirements for quality in an OSHC service and the associated roles, responsibilities and views of all stakeholders in the service
• meet with the staff at the service to see how they work and organise how you will communicate with them about the service
• seek feedback from children and families who use the service
• visit the service when it is operating visit or network with other OSHC service.

As outlined in the OSHC policy (PDF 187 KB) and the Provision of out of school hours care (OSHC) services on department sites procedure (PDF 376 KB) principals must:

• assist the governing council to comply with Australian and state legislation, regulations and standards, including the National Quality Standard, the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations
• ensure that the quality of care being offered is in keeping with the values, principles and policies of the school, governing council, community and the department.

Staffing

Principals are responsible for:

• managing non-teaching staff employed by the school governing council
• line management and performance and development of the OSHC director in accordance with department policy
• ensuring all staff are employed under the appropriate award classification and have a contract of employment that is consistent with the relevant National Employment Standards
• ensure all staff have
  • a current working with children check (WWCC)
  • the current and appropriate certificate for Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care (RRHAN-EC)
• providing information for audit, statistical and reporting purposes and to inform policy and resource development for South Australia where required
• including the OSHC director in individual education plan meetings for children under the Guardianship of the Minister
• providing a copy of protective practices for staff in their interactions with children and young people (PDF 3 MB) and managing allegations of sexual misconduct in SA education and care setting guidelines   (PDF 946 KB)
• ensuring the director completes the managing allegations of sexual misconduct training and facilitate a professional discussion regarding the key areas of both the protective practices and managing allegations of sexual misconduct documents to confirm a thorough understanding of these matters.

Complaints and grievances

Policy and procedures to manage complaints and grievances must be developed and implemented in accordance with the education complaint policy (PDF 359 KB) .

The reporting incidents page has more information about dealing with complaints.

Financial management

The principal must:

• table the OSHC financial reports and budget at each school governing council meeting
• ensure the OSHC service operates financially independent of the school
• ensure that appropriate employee entitlement provisions are maintained
• prepare and present the annual OSHC budget including proposed fee to the school governing council for approval
• ensure that appropriate delegations are minuted, recorded and practiced (annually)
• approve payroll, goods and services orders, and payment of invoices
• sign cheques and authorise EFT payments
• execute contracts.

Policies and procedures

Principals must ensure that operational policies and procedures of the service are developed in accordance with departmental policies and Regulation 168 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations.

Records management

The principal must:

• keep comprehensive staffing records to meet their legal obligations
• protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals by ensuring that all records and information about individual children, families, staff and members of the OSHC advisory committee and school governing council are stored in a secure place and are accessed by, or disclosed only to, those people who need the information to fulfil their responsibilities or have a legal right to know
• ensure that members are aware that schools must manage, store and dispose financial records, certificates of insurance and other information regarding the operation of the OSHC service in line with the information and records management policy (staff login required) (PDF 138 KB) .

ICT access

OSHC employees working in a school governing council managed or third party provider operated service can request access to the school’s internet (WiFi or static) to aid in service delivery at no cost.

The OSHC director will request individual access via the principal. The school’s ICT support delegate will create a unique account for the employee.

The department’s ICT Cyber Security Standard (PDF 490 KB) must be provided by the site for the new user to review. The ICT Acceptable Use Acknowledgement (staff login required) must be printed and signed by the new user prior to provisioning of access. Signed acceptance is to be retained by the site.

The provisioning process is managed locally by the school.