CM Leaving children with someone else while she "pops" out

NO.

There should be risk assessments and criminal record checks made and you should have consented. (I'm not a 'worried' parent)but you pay money for a service. I'm an occupational therapist. I can't send someone else to do my job. Neither should a CM.

what pippin said

and what UPOW said too

JS - 'childminders are a minefield' ????

Here here Pippin couldn't have said it better myself.

No no no, its wrong.
the only time we (minders) can leave children with someone else (other than an assistant) is in a genuine emergency.
If we do have to leave children with someone else then we have to inform the parents at the earliest opportunity.
At the very least, she should have said to you prior to the appointment or rung to you to say.
She has breached her insurance and regulations.
She has put her husband and mother at risk as well.
She has put the children at risk - the qualified first aider was not on the premises etc
you are paying HER to care for your children

If you are inclined to, you could broach it with her in a nice way and tell her it must not happen again
Or you could make a formal complaint as in accordance with her Complaints procedure.

As a childminder myself i find this very unprofessional.
Of course there are times when we have to get an appointment for our children for example - but why could the husband/dad not have taken the daughter.

I'd be upset and annoyed. She should have at least asked you if you minded - I assume that her dh and mum are not listed as co-minders in your contract.

I assume the doctor's appointment was planned and not an emergency - in which case I would expect the CM to do it in her own time or get her dh or her mum to take their child, while she did her job of looking after mindees.

However if you are overall happy with your CM then I think you just need to say that she should not do this again without your express permission.

Is her DH or mother registered as an assistant? Have you signed a consent form to say your DC can be left with said assistant?

If not then CM is out of line, not covered by her insurance and in breach of contract.

Hi, well I think you know what you would have expected? To have been told of the appointment in advance, to have been advised that it was difficult to attend with other children so she would need to arrange for someone to look after your daughters. For her to check with you that you were comfortable about her mother and husband looking after them.

It looks like she has given some thought and planning to this, but she has just failed to let you know.

I would just say, about yesterday, I was surprised to find the girls were not with you. I am grateful for you organising for someone to be with them in a safe environment whilst you were out, but my expectations in future would be that you would let me know as much as possible in advance.

Good luck - childminders are a real minefield!