Case Study

You are babysitting for two children, a 4-year-old boy and girl who is 7 months old. You are at their house caring for them whilst the parents are at an evening work function. Both parents smoke and are in the bedroom getting ready when you arrive. Once ready they come downstairs and say goodbye to the little boy and tell you that they have settled the baby to sleep in her cot upstairs. As they leave they inform you they are attending a very important event and they do not want to be disturbed unless it is a real emergency, and that if you do need them to return it will take them about 45 minutes to get home. About 20 minutes after the parents have left, you smell smoke and notice that there is smoke coming from the parent’s bedroom - which is opposite the baby’s room. The 4 year old is with you reading a book and being very clingy as he did not want his parents to go out.

1. What would you do in this situation? Record your response in a series of bullet points that includes:
   • What do you do?
   • Do you move the baby, and if so, when?
   • Do you open the parents’ bedroom door to see if it is on fire?
   • Do you take the boy with you?
   • Do you call the parents or the fire brigade first?
   • Do you leave the house?
   Explain the reasons for each action.

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.