1.8.2.4: Observation of Staff

Observation of staff by a designee of the program director should include an assessment of each member’s adherence to the policies and procedures of the facility with respect to sanitation, hygiene, and management of infectious diseases. Routine, direct observation of employees is the best way to evaluate hygiene and safety practices. The observation should be followed by positive and constructive feedback to staff. Staff will be informed in their job description and/or employee handbook that observations will be made.

RATIONALE

Ongoing observation is an effective tool to evaluate consistency of staff adherence to program policies and procedures (1). It also serves to identify areas for additional orientation and training.

COMMENTS

Videotaping of these assessments may be a useful way to provide feedback to staff around their adherence to policies and procedures regarding hygiene and safety practices. If videotaping includes interactions with children, parent/guardian permission must be obtained before taping occurs. Desirable interactions can be encouraged and discussing methods of improvement can be facilitated through videotaping. Videotaped interactions can also prove useful to caregivers/teachers when informing, illustrating and discussing an issue with the parents/guardians. It gives the parents/guardians a chance to interpret the observations and begin a healthy, respectful dialogue with caregivers/teachers in developing a consistent approach to supporting their child’s healthy development. Sharing videotaping must have participant approval to avoid privacy issues.

If the staff follows the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct, peers are expected to observe, support and guide peers. In addition within the role of the child care health consultant and the education consultant are guidelines for observation of staff within the classroom. It should be within the role of the director and assistant director guidelines for direct observation of staff for health, safety, developmentally appropriate practice, and curriculum. For more information on the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, go to http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home

REFERENCES

1. Nolan, Jr., J. F., L. A. Hoover. 2010. Teacher supervision and evaluation. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.