The primary role of the Practice Mentor is to ensure the Educators associated with the Family Day Care Service offers inclusive, nurturing and learning environments for children, and can meet all the State and Commonwealth legislative requirements. Under the Commonwealth funding, the Family Day Care Scheme is required to commit to the National Quality Framework, identify the areas of improvement and work in collaboration with all participants to achieve quality learning outcomes for all children accessing the Family Day Care Service.

• Selection and recruitment of suitable Educators
• Assessing the Educator’s home to ensure it meets the standards for the safety of the children
• Interviewing the Educators, families to ensure they understand the nature of the work which an Educator must undertake.
• Induction and Orientation of Educators into Family Day Care and its expectations of At Home Family Day Care Scheme.
• Providing information about and access to Training and Professional Development opportunities
• Supporting Educators in providing a quality service by conducting regular home visits and support through other forms of communication.
• Ensuring the home continues to meet the standards by first and final home safety checks and monthly visits.
• Providing leadership in curriculum decision making in relation to planning for children.
• Ensuring all members of the Educator’s home including the Educator and regular visitors who have contact with children have a current ‘Working with Children’ Positive Notice at all times. (Blue Card)
• Ensuring the Educator is aware of the legislative requirements in which they must operate.
• Consulting and engaging Educators in Policy review and implementation.
• Working in respectful partnership with Educators and families.
• Administering timesheets and paying Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to Educators on behalf of families.

Information provided From Family Day Care Association Queensland. 2014