Childcare Blog

A guide to working as an Au Pair in the UK

2009-04-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

Au Pair UK

Working as an Au Pair in the UK is a great way to make a long term visit to the UK affordable and possible.

What can you expect when working as an Au Pair in the UK?

Accommodation:
When working as an Au Pair in the UK you will arrange to work with a family who need help with their children and household. You will be given a room, or sometimes an annexe in the family home as part exchange for your help.

Salary:
In addition to the room or annexe you will be given food, access to household facilities (subject to agreement) and regular income to cover expenses on average £40 to £60 per week. The amount you receive to cover expenses will be modest as your room and board have been provided.

Lots of free time:
Au Pairs working in the UK can work up to 5 hours per day for a maximum of 5 days per week. The maximum hours per week for an Au Pair working in the UK are 25.

Exposure to family life in the UK:
By living with a family in the UK you will become involved in their daily life. Although an Au Pair chooses to work in the UK it cannot be assumed that the family will be British, an Au Pair can choose to work with a family from another culture and experience that culture in a UK setting.

Exposure to the English language
While out and about an Au Pair working in the UK will certainly have every opportunity to brush up on their English. An Au Pair may even choose to attend language classes to help them along.

What can a family expect from an Au Pair working in the UK?
In exchange for room and board an Au Pair working in the UK can provide very valuable support to a family. If a family has a spare room it can be an affordable way of getting that very much-needed extra help.

Tasks and responsibilities can include:
Cleaning
School runs
Baby Sitting
Help with homework
Cooking
Teaching the children their language
Laundry

It is not usual or advisable for an Au Pair working in the UK to provide sole charge care to small children.

If an Au Pair working in the UK has agreed that driving will be included in their responsibilities then they must bring an appropriate passport with them.

When discussing the terms of engagement it is advisable to be clear of everything that is agreed and to get the details in writing, details such as:
Hours of work
Remuneration (what currency, when and how it will be paid)
Responsibilities (create a job spec or weekly rota/job list)
Accommodation (what private space will the Au Pair have?)
Access to household facilities (what can the Au Pair use and how much e.g. telephone)
House rules (e.g. visitors, loud music, alcohol, smoking)
Notice period
Holiday

Some helpful tips on employing an Au Pair to work in the UK:
Take up references in writing and verbally if possible
Validate the authenticity of the referee
Confirm that the Au Pair is authorised to work in the UK
Confirm the identity of the Au Pair

Some helpful tips on seeking work as an Au Pair in the UK:
Ask to speak to a previous Au Pair/Nanny if possible
Avoid families who ask you to send money in advance of your arrival
Avoid families who ask you to contact their ‘travel agent’ to arrange travel
Agree the terms for your return home; either at the agreed end of the engagement or earlier if things do not work out

For information on authorization to work in the UK visit:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf28pbsyouthmobility

Summer Nanny Jobs

2009-03-17T03:08:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have worked as a Nanny but I remember that one of the highlights of working as a Nanny is the freedom to get out and about with the children. Being stuck in an office just wasn’t for me; trips to the park and river with the children always broke up the working day.

Children should have access to play and explore outside in all weathers the whole year round, however the freedom to get out and about with the children can be at it’s most enjoyable in the summer.

The need for childcare changes during the long school summer holidays. The wraparound care that parents rely on in term time is often not enough for working parents. Some parents manage to juggle with the help of friends; family and using their annual leave creatively. However this approach to summer childcare can leave everyone feeling frazzled. If at all possible solving your summer holiday childcare needs with a summer Nanny job will create that sense of calm and consistent care. It will also mean that you can use your annual leave for a well-deserved holiday.

So who are you likely to find looking for summer Nanny jobs? Students are probably the most likely applicants, if you can get a student who is studying childcare this would be good, however childcare courses tend to be vocational so most childcare students are in full time employment already. Another possibility is childcare students who have just qualified. Childcare courses do tend to be modular, so it’s not the case that all students qualify in the summer, but inevariably a good number will naturally qualify in July. You may also find Nannies who are looking for a new position that will take on a summer Nanny job to bridge the gap between jobs. You may also find a number of applicants for summer Nanny jobs who are not studying childcare or qualified as a childcare professional. In this case you can consider their experience, reasons for looking for summer Nanny jobs and references. You may find that unqualified applicants will accept a lower salary. Whoever you consider to fill your summer Nanny jobs remember to be vigilant in your recruitment and selection procedures. You will find helpful resources on the www.available2work.com resources page.

Finding a Nanny for your summer Nanny jobs does not need to be too challenging, why not try:
Placing a card in your local shop window
Approaching local colleges and universities
Placing your summer Nanny jobs vacancy with an agency
In addition to this www.available2work.com is a website created exclusively for the childcare community. It provides a unique service for temporary as well as permanent recruitment of childcare staff including Nannies.
To find out more simply visit us. If you would like to register it will only take a few minutes.

The safe choice? Booking a local Baby Sitter

2009-03-17T03:03:00.000-07:00

When looking to hire a Babysitter the reality is that Babysitters will only usually consider local Babysitter jobs because of the issues surrounding safe travel home, late at night.

Babysitter jobs do not offer enough pay to warrant the costs involved in long travelling to Babysitter jobs. In addition to this Babysitter jobs usually finish late at night and it is safer to be travelling just a short distance when returning home. The risks carried by being out alone late at night coupled with the possibility that the Babysitter may be driving while tired would cause concern for any responsible Babysitter and Babysitter hirer.

When I have attended Babysitter jobs the family often express concern that I am okay travelling home at the end of the night. Therefore as Babysitter safety is such an important issue, we must do all that we can to promote the Babysitters safety.

What steps can we take to promote safety at the end of Babysitter jobs?
If the Babysitter does not have a car:
Consider offering a lift home, I would recommend a male drives a male Babysitter home and a female drive a female Babysitter home.
Provide a cab ride home as part of payment; always use a reputable cab firm
Call a cab that the Babysitter will pay for themselves, or go halves!
Check that their mobile phone is charged and working
If a Babysitter decides to walk home alone late at night, this will be their choice, but I would do all I could to discourage this, including refusing to book them again if they do not ensure their journey home is safe.

If the Babysitter does have a car:
Watch them from your front door until they have driven off in their car.
Check that they know their route home
Check that their mobile phone is charged and working
Check that they are not too tired to drive – do they want a quick coffee before driving home
Ensure they thoroughly de-ice their car if required

Above all of these safety steps I highly recommend ensuring that all Babysitters only work as a local Baby Sitter.

If they only have a short journey:
They can take their time and not rush, minimising their risk of accidents
They will spend less time travelling, reducing the risk of any incidents
Any concerns over providing a lift can be minimised by a short distance
Any concerns regarding cab fares are minimised by a shorter journey

While this may seem a bit much, nobody would like an injured Babysitter on their conscience. However ultimately the responsibility does rest with the Babysitter.

So if hiring a local Baby Sitter is a big step in promoting safety and therefore responsible hiring, how do you do this?
Ensure that you only use local ways of seeking a local Baby Sitter.
Cards in local shop windows
Ask friends and neighbours
Join a local Baby Sitter circle
Join an agency

Agencies can be costly; an alternative to this is a new online childcare recruitment service www.available2work.com this site is designed to provide flexible solutions for the large variety of childcare jobs, including finding a local Baby Sitter.

Available2work.com helps you find a local Baby Sitter by allowing you to post your vacancy or search CVs by your postcode or area.

Until the end of April 2009 all membership and vacancy posting is free, so why not take advantage of this great offer, it only takes a few minutes to register.

Find a Babysitter

2009-03-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

Finding a Babysitter can be a daunting task, often more intimidating than choosing full time professional childcare. This is because full time childcare is often registered with Ofsted and monitored by local authority, and is almost always undertaken by a professional with relevant qualifications and checks.

A Babysitter can be the neighbour’s fifteen-year-old son or daughter, quite a decision to take with your own child’s sole care while you enjoy a well-deserved night out!

Who seeks Babysitter jobs?
All ages for a wide variety of reasons, from a teenager wanting to subsidise their earnings, support their studies or begin a career in childcare, to a young Mum wanting to earn extra money while caring for their own children right through to the retired pensioner, who loves children. However as stated above a Babysitter is often unqualified and often quite young.

So what steps do you take when trying to find a Babysitter?
• Always interview a potential Babysitter
• Read the Babysitters C.V. – ask to keep a copy
• Always take up at least 2 references, I would recommend following up written references with a telephone call
• Avoid relying on personal references, friends and family will rarely be objective
• Ask for any certificates of relevant training (originals)
• Allow the Babysitter to meet your children, so that you can observe their interaction with your child/ren
• Have a written set of questions to ask each applicant in the interview
• Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right don’t book the Babysitter, even if you are friends with the Babysitters family
• Agree (in writing) the terms of engagement
• Try to make the first time you use a Babysitter a short booking or arrive home earlier than intended, as a sort of spot check

How can you find a Babysitter?
Firstly I would recommend that you find more than one Babysitter as you may find if you only have one Babysitter he or she may not be available for some of your Babysitter jobs.
Places to find a Babysitter
• Place a card in your local shop window
• Look for cards placed in shop windows by Babysitters looking for babysitter jobs
• Ask friends and neighbours
• Join a Babysitters agency
• Ask local day nurseries or nursery schools if you can put up a card advertising your Babysitters jobs to their staff
• Ask around at your local schools
• Join a Babysitters circle – this is where you trade your Babysitting within a group of parents in exchange for Babysitting
• Register with www.available2work.com to find Babysitters or advertise your Babysitter jobs
Babysitter jobs etiquette:
• Always be clear about the time your Babysitter job is to start
• Always keep your booking or provide maximum notice if cancelling, preferably at least 24 hours
• Always leave your home clean, fresh and tidy – never expect your Babysitter to do housework, unless this has been agreed at the interview (you would probably have to pay extra for additional domestic duties)
• Ensure you have the basic refreshments in - tea, coffee, sugar and milk (do not leave alcohol for the Babysitter to drink)
• Always leave a contact number and make sure you can be reached at that number the whole time you are out
• Always pay the Babysitter at the end of the evening, do not ask to defer payment
• Always try to arrive back by the time stated, if you are running late always call and let your Babysitter know
• If you do arrive back late pay the Babysitter extra
• Always stick to the agreements made as the terms of engagement and discuss any amendments

Good Babysitters are hard to find. If you find a Babysitter that is safe, trustworthy, reliable and that your children like, look after him or her so that you can fill your Babysitter jobs with confidence.

NANNY SERVICE

2009-03-16T03:06:00.000-07:00

available2work.com is a new childcare recruitment website which aims to offer the ultimate Nanny service, becoming the leading online childcare community. While it intends to cater for the whole childcare community, it began by focusing on providing a Nanny service.

What does available2work have to offer as a Nanny service?
• Permanent job finding service
• Temporary job finding service
• A professionalrating facility
• An online diary
• Useful documents
•A discussion forum
• A Blog with helpful and interesting articles

How do each of these work to ensure that available2work is a useful Nanny service?

Permanent job finding Nanny service:
Once registered (selecting permanent work search) you can build your profile to promote yourself to employers, which can be matched to employers search selections: you can also search for jobs. Any matches made by you or employers will lead to the option to make contact by email.

Temporary job finding Nanny service:
Once registered (selecting temporary work search) you can build your profile as above, however you will also be given the ability to complete your availability for work using a unique diary facility. The employers search will include dates of their vacancy, if you match the dates as well as other search criteria you will be presented as a candidate to email.

Professional rating facility Nanny service:
For any candidatewho works on a temporary booking via available2work.com employers will have the opportunity to rate and review the temporary staff member on the website, providing an online referencing service. This means the more positions you work and get good ratings for the greater benefit your career will experience.

Online diary facility Nanny service:
As described above if you wish to use available2work as your ‘office’ for finding and managing your temporary work, keeping your diary up to date will enable potential booking parents to match your availability to their childcare needs.

Useful documents Nanny service:
On the www.available2work.com resources page you will find resources that will help you in your Nanny job search, such as a template contract of employment. All these documents are free to download and use.

Discussion forum Nannyservice:
Our discussion forum is called childcare chat and it is just that. Our aim is that all members of the childcare and parenting community will use it to discuss childcare issues. Nannies can meet other Nannies, provide support and share ideas.

The available2work.com Blog Nanny service:
In addition to the resources page there are a growing number of helpful and informative articles on the Blog. Have a read and if you want to comment you can do so on the Blog or in our childcare chat discussion forum.

Available2work.com is owned and managed by Kim who has worked as a childcare professional for over16 years. She began as a registered childminder and until recently was working as an Early Years Consultant, Kim is passionate to see available2work.comprovide a genuinely useful Nanny service. If there is something you would like to see covered in the discussion forum, Blog or resources page simply go to www.available2work.com and email her, she will be delighted to hear from you.

Choosing childcare Nanny vs Nursery

2009-03-11T03:13:00.001-07:00

Deciding on which kind of childcare you will choose can be a daunting decision. What are the pros and cons of each option and which kind of care will suit you best?

Below are some thoughts that will help you consider the options of choosing a Nanny or nursery.

Good luck with your decision making?
Convenience
Nanny pros: A Nanny will come to your home and work outside the usual hours that a nursery opens.
This means no packing bags in the mornings and travelling to nursery before your workday starts.
You can also enjoy returning straight home from work to your child who is fed and settled ready for bed, if this is what you would like.

If your child becomes unwell at nursery school or school, your Nanny will be available to collect your child for you, with limited delay.

Nanny cons: When your Nanny calls in sick or takes annual leave you will need to find your own alternative childcare, often at short notice. This can cause problems if the Nanny requires long-term sick leave or maternity leave.

Nursery pros: A nursery is typically open 50 to 52 weeks per year, at consistent hours. You can rely on the nursery to provide a consistent and reliable service.

Nursery cons: You will have the added daily preparation, packing and commute on top of your career demands. Often nurseries ask you to provide bottles, nappies etc.
If your child becomes unwell at nursery you will need to leave work to collect your child.
Accountability

Nanny pros:
You can enjoy a personal relationship with your Nanny, which is based upon trust and regular communication.
You can make arrangements to have surveillance in your home, for peace of mind (we recommend you do this with the Nannies knowledge).

Nanny cons:
In most cases a Nanny will have no accountability. They will have sole charge of children and spend large amounts of time in the family home with children unsupervised.
In America they have a system like our ‘How am I driving’ signs. A sign is attached to the child’s buggy asking – good Nanny? With a phone number for members of the public to report any concerns.

Nursery pros:
As nurseries employ teams that work together there is a high level of accountability.
The Management Team within a nursery should be holding the staff team accountable with good staff management systems. Hopefully if a staff member provides unsuitable care a colleague will report them.

Nursery cons:
Just because children in nurseries are being cared for by a team rather than an individual, this does not guarantee that children are receiving the care that you require. Often a team working in a room have a culture and colleagues can support bad practice as well as good practice.
In addition to this the management team are often struggling to keep up with the paper work responsibilities, leaving the staff team working largely unchecked.

Quality of care
Nanny pros:
You have complete control over the childcare provider chosen to care for your child.
You set the requirements and establish the job description.
The care provided will be in the child’s own home with personal focused attention.
If the family has only one child the child will enjoy 1 to 1 attention.
Nannies enjoy a role that is flexible and facilitates responding to the needs of the child.
If the child becomes fractious in the house the Nanny can decide to take the child on an outing, without having to consider the needs of any other children.
You can have control over your child’s diet, as you will have done the food shopping and can give clear guidance to your Nanny.

Nanny cons:
There are no governing bodies controlling the standards of Nanny provision.
It is difficult for a Nanny to develop professionally with little motivation to do so.
Once qualified a Nanny has limited access to expensive further training or qualifications.
It is also difficult to release Nannies from their daily jobs to attend training.
Being a Nanny can be a lonely job, as a Nanny works alone loneliness can impact their professional performance.
Nannies do not have any on going requirements to meet; the care is then subject to the Nannies training and ethos.

Nursery pros:
The government has invested a lot of resources into raising the standards of nursery care.
Every term nurseries receive a list of training courses provided by their local authority, designed to meet the training needs of the nurseries within their area. These courses are either free or heavily subsidised, along with subsidies for arranging cover staff. In addition to training, further qualifications are supported with heavy subsidies often from 80% to 100% of the course fees for nursery employees.
Nurseries have regular staff meetings providing ongoing in house professional development.

The government have provided a curriculum that all nurseries are required to follow. Nurseries are required to provide evidence that every child is receiving the care and education set out in the curriculum.

Nursery cons: Nurseries comply with child to adult ratios.
Children aged 0-2 yrs = 1 adult to 3 children
Children aged 2-3 years = 1 adult to 4 children
Children aged 3 years + = 1 adult to 8 children

Often staff are taken up with cleaning, organising and paper work, so these ratios do not reflect the level of contact children constantly receive.
Because nurseries are legally required to meet the adult to child ratio’s the Management Team can feel forced into employing staff that that do not meet their expectations, this can lead to a poor performing staff team.
The care can be impersonal and feel institutionalised.
You will have little control over your child’s diet, and sometimes the children are not given what the menu states.

Continuity of careNanny pros:
A committed Nanny may stay with you for years.
Often Nannies maintain contact beyond their employment.

Nanny cons:
If your Nanny hands in notice to terminate employment, it could have a devastating effect on the children, coming to terms with saying goodbye and getting to know a new Nanny.
You will also face the pressure of finding a replacement.

Nursery pros:
Regardless of staff turnover there will always be a team of childcare professionals available to care for your children.
Nurseries implement a key worker system, this means that although there are a number of carers in the setting one staff member will take special responsibility for your child’s needs.

Nursery cons:
If a nursery has a high turnover of staff or high level of staff sickness, the continuity of care will be compromised.
A variety of new, cover and agency staff can be disruptive for children.

Relationship Nanny pros:
As the Nanny works in your home caring just for your children, hopefully you will enjoy loyalty, with a real commitment to you and your children.

Nanny cons:
The relationship can become too personal and emotional. You may find approaching any problems with your Nanny very difficult.
The boundaries between professional and personal can get confused.

Nursery pros:
The relationship with a nursery will be professional. The nursery should have a policy setting out their approach to parent/carer partnership. You can ask to read this policy, along with all their other policies.

Nursery cons:
You may feel that you are just another parent/client and find that the relationship is impersonal.

Cost Nanny pros: If you have more than one child a Nanny could work out less expensive. You can negotiate on the salary and what services will be included.
The Nanny will sometimes provide domestic duties in your home, which is an added bonus.

Nanny cons:
If you only have one child you may find a nursery more competitive. As an employer of a Nanny you are legally responsible for the tax, National Insurance, annual leave, sick pay etc. This can all add up and prove to be quite a responsibility.

Nursery Pros:
Contrasting to Nannies if you have more than one child a nursery can be expensive. However you have no employee responsibilities, so no additional costs or responsibilities. Nursery care is funded by the Nursery Education Grant (NEG); this funding starts from the beginning of the term following your child’s third birthday. You do not need to do anything to claim this, the nursery will deduct this from your invoice.

Nursery cons: If you have more than one child the cost can really mount up. You could be alarmed at short notice by a letter informing you that a nursery is putting up its fees. You will have little say or opportunity to negotiate.

To summarise Nanny care:
Can be personal and homely, while unaccountable.
Nursery care: Can be less homely but accountable.
I do empathise with any parent trying to decide which childcare to choose. It is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make. I have worked in childcare for over 16 years seeing many children happily enjoying the childcare that their parents have chosen.

May I make one further childcare suggestion, that of a registered Childminder who could offer a combination of the best of both the Nanny and nursery.The care is homely, but all the professional support that nurseries benefit from are available to Childminders. A Childminder does not need to be qualified, but they will be required to attend training and undergo an Ofsted inspection before registration.They will be inspected by Oftsed regularly (usually every 2-3 years). Childminders are required to meet a variety of care and educational requirements and provide evidence of this in the same way that Nurseries are.Please remember after all the research and questioning, trust your instincts and if you find you are dissatisfied with the childcare option you have chosen, you can change your childcare. With support, children can be very adaptable to change.

What is a Doula?

2009-03-11T03:13:00.000-07:00

What is a Doula?
Working as a Doula is said to be unlikely to make you rich but be a very rewarding career.

A Doula can work with a Mother and partner providing emotional and practical support throughout pregnancy, Labour, birth and postpartum. A Doula is not a medical professional but is an important support at such an unpredictable and emotionally intense time of life. Services that a Doula may provide include:
• Explanations of medical procedures
• Emotional support
• Preparation for labour, including writing a birthing plan
• Massage
• Support with coping with pain
• Support with discussing needs with medical professionals
• Positioning support during labor and birth
• Supporting the birthing partner to be able to best support the mother
• Help with breastfeeding preparation and the initial care of baby
• Take records of the birth – written, photographic etc Professional

The Doula role is a professional role, parents will be expecting a professional service that will support and enhance their experience. As labour and birth is unpredictable a Doula will be required to remain calm and supportive even in times of extreme stress and concern.
A Doula will need to be self-aware and remain objective, separating their own feelings and beliefs from the choices of the Mother and circumstances of each family they support.

It would be advisable for a Doula to have a written contract with each family to outline the services that will be provided and the fees.

A Doula will need to be extremely flexible. A call from an expectant Mother can come at any hour, saying that she has gone into labour. The Mother will expect the Doula to remain on call for an agreed period of time around the labour (usually from 38 to 42 weeks pregnant).

To support a Mother and her partner a Doula will need to be a good communicator. This includes listening, it is vital that a Doula understands the Mother’s needs and wishes and can help her communicate this.

Be patient and caring, being with a Mother in such a special time of life is a privilege.

A Doula’s care will be invaluable in helping the Mother remain calm and cope, making the most of the miraculous experience. Labour can take a very long time, sometimes more than 24 hours. A Doula will be required to forego sleep and remain by the Mother’s side assisting and supporting.

Self-employedIt is usual for a Doula to work as self-employed. This means finding their own clients, managing the workload and completing annual tax returns.

For information on working as self-employed, please see the resources page www.available2work.com Getting started.
There are no legal requirements for a Doula to be qualified, but experience would be essential without any training. It has been said that a Doula never stops training as each labour and delivery can be so different. Some Doulas begin by assisting family and friends with their pregnancy, labour, delivery and postpartum care. It is not necessary for a Doula to have experienced labour themselves, but it could be viewed as an advantage. For training there are a number of courses that can be attended. To begin finding clients with available2work.com register as a Doula and create your profile. As working as Doula is temporary work we provide you with a diary in your available2work.com account, so that potential clients can match their needs with your availability.

What is a Mother’s Help?

2009-03-11T03:12:00.000-07:00

Any parent juggling home and children would welcome additional help, some on a part time and some on a full time basis.

This is exactly what the Mother’s Help role is all about. In fact in this day it could be a Mother’s, Father’s or carers help, as it isn’t always the Mother who is at home caring for the children.

Working as a Mother’s Help is great way for people who want to build a career in childcare. It is a good start, as it will require little or no sole charge care of children. You can therefore develop your confidence in caring for children with the support of the children’s own parent.

No qualifications are required to work as a Mother’s Help and with experience you could progress to working as a Nanny or qualify while gaining experience in your Mother’s Help role.
A Typical Mother’s help role will involve working in the family home alongside the main carer. Duties performed include:
• Housework
• Shopping
• Cooking
• Assisting with caring for the children
• Possibly some sole charge care
The Mother’s Help role is not a highly paid role, but it is a role that can be very limited in responsibility, compared to other childcare roles.

What are the highlights of the Mother’s Help role?
It can be very enjoyable and rewarding working as part of a family providing very much needed help and support. A Mother’s Help can enjoy the relationships with the children and family knowing that they are making a difference to a family that needs support.

What are the possible challenges of working as a Mother’s Help?
This role is not for everyone who has a desire to work in childcare, it can be very hard to develop your role and way of working when you are under the close supervision of the children’s own parent. Relationships and boundaries can be challenging, it can be very hard to keep professional when you are working closely with a parent in their own home, assisting with the care of their children.

Why do parents employ a Mother’s Help?
It can be for a wide variety of reasons.
• To help coping with a new baby in addition to ongoing responsibilities
• A large family with lots of children to care for
• A parent working from home
• A parent that is unwell or has a disability
• A parent that is bereaved
• To help care for a child with a disability, illness or special needs
• To help a family coping with separation or divorce

What skills and qualities make a successful Mother’s Help?
As you can tell from the list above a Mother’s Help can be recruited in very sensitive circumstances.

To fit in with a family and meet their expectation of providing support you will need to be:
• Very patient
• Non-Judgemental
• Discreet (respecting confidentiality)
• Organised
• Flexible
• Confident
• Able to take direction
• Perceptive
• Confident communicator

If you possess these qualities and would like to work as a Mother’s Help, go to www.available2work.com and register for employers to find your profile.

Childcare Jobs

2009-03-11T03:11:00.000-07:00

There has never been a better time to work in childcare with such a variety of opportunities.

The government have in recent years recognised the importance of the role of the childcare professional, who invest in the foundational years of life. In respect of the importance of our role, the government is investing ever-increasing focus and resources into the early years provisions at central and local levels.

There is nothing greater than watching children grow and develop as a result of your care and input. Working in childcare offers a role that brings continual rewards and measurable success along with the joy of building relationships with children and their families.

There are many jobs in childcare that offer a wide variety of working experiences. I personally found working as a Nursery Nurse in a full day care nursery didn’t suit me and left me feeling that I had made a mistake choosing to work in childcare, however a new job in a sessional nursery school, suited me perfectly and gave my career a new lease of life, I have never looked back since.

Historically working in childcare offered little opportunity for professional pride. Childcare professionals would dread the question “so what do you do for a living” to see blank faces when they say, I’m a Nanny or Nursery Nurse. People have had the impression that all we do is wipe noses, puree food and change nappies. It has been assumed that working with children requires no professional skill or expertise.

Whether you are a Childminder, Nanny, Nursery Practitioner or Pre-school teacher working as a childcare professional means you are professionally investing your time and skills into the most precious little people in the world.

Years working in childcare have proven to me that childcare is a job that requires great skill and professionalism to be performed successfully and that all ‘childcare professionals’ should be proud of their role.

In this time I have seen the significant changes, which have left some childcare professionals disheartened by the increasing pressure of requirements. The requirements do definitely create pressure but also give us the opportunity to rise to the challenge and show that we are a profession to be respected.

Working to policies and procedures:
We can no longer leave policies and procedures on a shelf gathering dust, this document must be a living document, which clearly guides professional practice and is regularly reviewed.

Accountability:
Ofsted can now visit to inspect childcare providers without any notice. Providers can no longer make changes prior to an inspection to create a false impression of meeting requirements. Inspectors now have a greater chance of gaining a true insight into each provision. Which will be published.

New grading:
In view of the new unannounced inspections, it has been recognised that some provision achieved the previously highest judgement of Good under false pretences, so a new grading of Outstanding has been introduced. Any provision that has achieved Good and or Outstanding in an unannounced inspection can be very proud of themselves in leading the way of true professionalism.

Curriculum:
The Early Years Foundation Stage has seen the way forward in demonstrating that Early Years care is organic and progressive. It is requiring some adjustment, but the new curriculum offers a structure that promotes a professional approach to child care and development.

Professional development:
Registered providers have access to a wide variety of heavily subsidised training from short one-day courses to a training route to the new professional status.

Nannies:
Unfortunately Nannies do not benefit from the accountability and requirements stated above, however parents are becoming more discerning in their understanding of the Nannies role and where before Nannies were regularly employed without any contract of employment or Job description, this is now changing. Hopefully one day Nannies will also be required to register and have access to all the professional support that registered provider’s benefit from.

Nanny Agencies, on the High Street and now online!

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Nanny Agencies have been bringing families and Nannies together successfully for decades.

Traditionally Nanny Agencies will provide a full service of advertising vacancies, interviewing candidates, vetting candidates and matching candidates skills and experience to families needs for either temporary or permanent staff. This comprehensive service can be expensive though, often in excess of 10% of the successful candidates annual salary.

Recent years have seen the emergence of the Internet taking up an important role in Nanny recruitment and job hunting.

A quick search on the internet will lead you to Nanny Agencies who use the internet as a shop front for their local office based service or providing extended services via their website to provide online recruitment solutions.

Alongside the Nanny Agency presence on the Internet, you will now find websites that specialise in exclusively providing their childcare recruitment services online as a viable alternative to the traditional Nanny Agency, such as www.available2work.com.

Are Nanny Agencies and online services in conflict? Or is there a place in the market for the traditional Nanny Agency and the online solutions?

While competition between businesses can always create conflict and the loss of business, I believe that both kinds of service provide a partnership that benefits the recruitment needs of the childcare community as well as a partnership that enhances the services that Nanny Agencies and online services provide. As the Director of www.available2work.com an exclusively online childcare recruitment website I would suggest that Nanny Agencies can benefit from the emergence of the online childcare recruitment services.

While a Nanny Agency is the more expensive way of finding staff, the service is comprehensive to both families and Nannies. Recruiting someone to care for your precious children can be a very daunting prospect for parents; a Nanny Agency provides a human point of contact for ongoing advice, support and reassurance. As stated above the Nanny Agency consultants will vet candidates on the employer’s behalf, although the decision to employ an applicant provided by the Nanny Agency will always rest with the employers.

An exclusively online service like www.available2work.com does not offer the ongoing consultation but it is vastly more affordable, saving hundred’s, even thousand’s of pounds. The online service is the perfect solution for the family who feel confident in managing their own recruitment search. The online service is not completely without support though as www.available2work.com provides resources that offer useful advice and documents, along with a discussion forum for families and Nannies to discuss issues and provide support. In addition to this, members are invited to email the Director with any specific requests for advice or support.

For Nannies seeking employment there are no financial restrictions on using Nanny Agencies, as Nanny Agencies cannot charge Nannies for helping them to find work. However it is in the Nannies interest to use every available outlet for job seeking to find the most suitable position. With this in mind it is advisable for Nannies to use the services of Nanny Agencies as well as using the online services of childcare recruitment websites like www.available2work.com.

With Nanny Agencies providing a comprehensive and personal service and the online service providing affordability mixed with a variety of support resources, every parent seeking childcare and every Nanny seeking work has their need covered. In this way Nanny Agencies and online services dovetail, meeting both ends of the spectrum to meet the recruiting demands of the Nanny community.

Further opportunities for partnership:

Running a Nanny Agency is a very demanding business with high running costs. Marketing their vacancies on top of all the daily running costs of the business can place a lot of financial pressure on the Nanny Agency and it’s ability to survive in this climate and provide the quality of service that it’s clients will expect. In order to attract Nannies to the positions that are on the Nanny Agencies books, the Nanny Agency needs to advertise their vacancies as wide as possible.

Therefore an important role for online recruitment services is providing the job board facility for Nanny Agencies to promote their vacancies. This is an important part of the partnership that can be developed between Nanny Agencies and sites like www.available2work.com. Agencies that do not have a strong web presence can focus their marketing budget on traditional forms of marketing and benefit from cost effective job posting on sites that have or are developing a strong web presence in the childcare recruitment community.

www.available2work.com differs to any other childcare recruitment website as it offers maximum flexibility. It caters for the wide spectrum of roles in childcare and is tailored to assist with permanent and temporary recruitment needs, this is a unique mix.

Nanny Agencies can benefit from marketing their temporary vacancies as well as their permanent vacancies in a very cost effective and affordable way.

There is every reason for Nanny Agencies to benefit from the emergence of the online recruitment solutions and continue to offer their personal and comprehensive service to families and Nannies alike.

What about a Nanny Share?

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Need a Nanny but feeling the pinch?
The current financial climate is leading to more parents returning to work, while being faced with the challenge of balancing their income with the demands of childcare costs. A solution could be a Nanny Share!

What is a Nanny Share? A Nanny Share is an arrangement that involves more than one family employing the same Nanny. This could be families that require a Nanny part time and share a Nanny who would like to work full time. Or more than one family sharing Nanny care full time.

This can be a very effective way to make Nanny care affordable as families can share the cost of employing the Nanny. The average cost of employing a Nanny full time in the South East of England is £21,233 pa but can be as high as £31,200 pa, while in other UK areas it can cost an average of £15,600 pa but can be as high as £18,200 pa. This is a significant portion of any family’s income. So, for example if you have one child and the other family also have one child you could look at a financial arrangement that equates to a 50/50 split. On the salaries above that is a significant saving of potentially up to £15,600 pa.

What are the benefits of sharing a Nanny?
• As stated above, potentially significant financial savings
• Additional company and friends for your child or children
• Affordable care in or near your home
• Possibly light housework completed for you
• Flexible childcare
• Personal, homely care

What are the potential pitfalls of sharing a Nanny?
• Disagreements with the family you are sharing your Nanny with
• The impact of the other family no longer requiring the Nanny share
• Opposing childcare ethos between the families e.g. discipline or diet
• Combining holiday dates
• Agreeing which home the Nanny works in
• Finding a family to share a Nanny with
• Compatibility between the children
• Agreeing outings and how these are financed

Another big consideration when sharing a Nanny is the quality of care. The more children an individual Nanny is caring for the greater the quality of care can suffer. The viability of sharing a Nanny will begin with how many children you have yourself. The government have set ratios for registered care (child minders and Nurseries) to the following:
Children aged 0 to 2 years old 1 adult to 3 children
Children aged 2 to 3 years old 1 adult to 4 children
Children aged 3 to 5 years old 1 adult to 8 children
In registered care these adult to child ratios are strictly adhered to and often require some careful consideration when there is a mix of ages. When considering a Nanny Share it is advisable to follow these ratio’s yourself and be very honest with yourself regarding what you sincerely believe your Nanny can cope with.

Steps to take when entering into a Nanny Share:Begin your recruitment for a Nanny share and or Nanny Share family
• Advertise locally
• Register with an agency
• Ask your friends and neighbours with Nannies if they would like to enter into a Nanny Share arrangement
• Register with available2work advertising your requirements
• Discuss entering a Nanny Share agreement with your current Nanny
To help avoid misunderstandings:
• Agree a job specification / description with your Nanny and Nanny Share family
• Always have a contractual agreement in place detailing the terms of employment and financial agreements
To help you draft your contract of employment you can visit the resources page of www.available2work.com for a master template.

Baby Sitter Jobs - working as a Baby Sitter

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Baby Sitter jobs are a great way of earning extra money. Working as a Baby Sitter is a flexible form of work that can be enjoyed by a very wide variety of people for a number of reasons.

From a teenager wanting to subsidise their earnings, support their studies or begin a career in childcare, to a young Mum wanting to earn a living while caring for their own children right through to the retired pensioner, who loves children.

There are no qualifications required for taking on Baby Sitter jobs, however when working as a Baby Sitter you are providing sole charge care for vulnerable little children and often babies. This is a great responsibility and every step you can take to be prepared and reassure parents that their child will be safe with you will enhance your chances of building a client list.

Steps you can take to reassure parents:
• Train for a paediatric first aid certificate
• Provide some voluntary Baby Sitting to gain experience and references
• Have a set of questions that you always ask parents when beginning work with them, to understand the children’s needs
• Ensure you have a basic understanding of child development and care needs (you can read some of the many books on the market)

Ways of finding Baby Sitter Jobs:
• Place cards advertising your services in local shop windows
• Offer to Baby Sit for friends with children
• Join a Baby Sitter circle
• Join an agency
• Register with www.available2work.com

How to make a good impression:
If you are working independently as a Baby Sitter you will probably be required to attend an interview with the family.

When attending an interview please bear in mind that even though the Baby Sitter Job can be viewed as casual work, choosing who will care for their child is a very sensitive and important decision for any parent.
• Always arrive a little early, and then wait before you knock, to ensure you are on time. As the interview will be at the family home you do not want to be too early
• Ensure you are appropriately dressed, smart, clean and professional. However not too formal
• Take a copy of your C.V. to leave with the family
• Take a portfolio of your references, if you have any thank you cards from families include these
• Include any certificates of relevant training
• Take proof of identification and working status (passport is the best choice)
• Have a list of questions that you would like to ask to establish the needs of the family and children
• Listen carefully to the families needs and take notes
• Be clear regarding your availability

Baby Sitter etiquette:
When you attend a families home as a Baby Sitter there are some do’s and don’ts that will help you build a good relationship and rapport with the family and to achieve repeat work:
• Offer to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for your first booking free of charge to allow for introduction to the children and their routine – if desired
• Always telephone the family in advance of the Baby Sitter job booking to confirm that they still want you and that the details of the booking have not changed
• Always arrive on time – not early
• Take your own supply of snacks
• Do not make use of any food or drinks at the family home unless you have been given permission, however even with permission don’t get carried away – stop at just a couple of biscuits
• Ensure you stick to the parent’s instruction regarding the children’s needs
• Tidy up any mess you make well in advance of the parents expected arrival i.e. wash your cup up
• Always have change on you so that you can provide change when parents pay you at the end of the night
• Always ensure you have contact numbers so that you can contact the parent/s
• Always call the parent/s immediately in an emergency
• Always give the parent/s a full handover of how the evening went before leaving
• When the parent/s arrive home leave promptly
• Do telephone parents occasionally to find out if they need any Baby Sitter care
• A nice touch is to find out the children’s birthday’s and send birthday cards along with Christmas cards
• Agree the terms under which you will provide the service e.g. how much notice do you require for cancellation

Follow these steps and you will hopefully enjoy a happy list of clients offering repeat bookings.