What is a responsible person in child care?

A responsible person is the individual legally required to be on-site and in charge of a child care service while it operates. In Perth Metropolitan child care services, this role is held by one of three qualified designations: an approved provider (the owner or operator of the service), a nominated supervisor (appointed by the provider to oversee daily operations), or a certified supervisor (a staff member who holds formal supervisor credentials).

The responsible person is accountable for ensuring the service meets all regulatory requirements, including child safety, health standards, and staffing ratios. They must be present and accessible to make decisions, respond to emergencies, and maintain compliance with legislation. This role ensures there is always a single point of responsibility and authority at the service.

In practice, a responsible person may be the owner at a small family day care setup, a centre director at a long day care facility, or a designated staff member at a community preschool. They cannot be counted toward required staff ratios while fulfilling this oversight function. If the nominated supervisor or certified supervisor leaves the premises, the approved provider must assume the role or ensure another eligible person takes over to maintain continuous responsible oversight.

This designation exists to create clarity about who holds ultimate accountability for the service's operations and compliance with child care legislation and National Quality Standards.