The Department of Social Care is in the process of undertaking a review of the standards that govern the quality of care provided in child day care centres. 
 
The Regulation of Care Act 2013 places a duty on the Department to monitor the quality of care provided in regulated care services.  Another duty relates to the Department encouraging the improvement in the quality of care provided. 
 
The purpose of the review is to ensure the standards are current and in keeping with best practice.  The new standards will provide clear information to child day care providers on what is required from them.  The standards will be of interest to parents as they provide clear descriptions of what their children can expect when they attend day care. 
 
The revised standards are available on the Government Consultation page found here http://www.gov.im/socialcare/consultations.gov . 
 
The Minister for Social Care Hon Howard Quayle MHK commented:
 
“The review of child day care standards this year provides the public, various agencies and child day care providers an important opportunity to comment on the standards and contribute to ensuring standards are relevant.   
 
I would strongly encourage suggestions and views to be given on the proposed standards.  I would particularly welcome comments from parents as they are often best placed to comment on quality and on what they could reasonably expect for the service they purchase. 
 
Equally I would welcome contributions from child day care service providers as they will be charged with responsibility to implement the standards. 
 
These standards are aimed at improving the quality of care and safety of our children when they attend day care centres.  Inspections undertaken by my Department will use these standards to raise the quality of care provided in child day care services and to assist professionals in the delivery of care.”