Childminder who is a recovering alcoholic

[connedbird]

Would I be unreasonable to make Ofsted aware of a person who has recently registered as a childminder but who has also recently been referred to AA following a recent mid day alcohol abuse episode which resulted in her children being temporarily removed by the police?

She has a sponsor and is attending AA meetings/ following 12 steps, so is by all accounts happily getting her life on track. Social services have deemed her suitable to continue looking after her own children on the understanding that she continues with AA and doesn't drink around the children. Also that she leaves her partner due to DV from both sides which she has done.

So, I don't want to be a bitch... but having left my own children with childminders from babies, I feel like it would be something I'd want to know that Ofsted had had the chance to assess before my children were left with a minder.

Wondering if I should even stick my nose in... maybe my own concerns about leaving my pfb DD when she was small are clouding my judgement.

Would SS have made Ofsted aware anyway?

What are your thoughts??

[Pico2]

Ofsted can contact SS and the police to get official information once you report this. They won't have to rely on what might be hearsay. All you will be doing is providing them with the opportunity to have complete information. The accuracy of that information will be down to their contact with other agencies and the decision will be Ofsted's.

[Thebodyloveschocolateandwine]

As An ex cm and recently applying up rejoin the register I would be astounded if that wasn't picked up.

Are you sure she's actually registered.

daisy Vanessa George was a worker in a very busy nursery setting. There are very bad nurseries as there are bad cms.

[Pico2]

What's the problem with what myrandom has posted? Many parents don't choose CM for that reason - that in many cases CM work alone so there is no potential whistleblower if their care isn't adequate. It's just one of the factors in the decision making process for childcare and parents decide how important each factor is to them.

[Thebodyloveschocolateandwine]

Anyway she will need a health booklet signed by her GP and trust me they have to record any ongoing health issue or consultant referral so don't belive she can possibly. R registered.

The whole process takes about 9 months for new cms with college courses, first aid and safe guarding before you even begin.

You need car business insurance too if you drive. How dill she get that?

[adsy]

The problem is that there seems to be a number of people on MN who have a very negative attitude towards cm's. The vast vast majority are caring, professional people but you will always get someone who says things along the lines of they saw the CM having a coffee and chat at playgroup therefore all CM's are lazy and neglectful.
CM's seem to stir up way more feeling than nursery workers who statistically are far more likely to abuse a child.

[insancerre]

Google the contact details for the lado for your area
The lado or local authority safeguarding officer will be able to investigate your concerns

[connedbird]

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine because all of this has only emerged after she had already registered. She has been drinking heavily for years but I would imagine that she hasn't told her GP.

[Myrandomfamily]

Thank you thebody! Don't be so ridiculous -
I didn't say anything offensive!

Vanessa George was VERY unusual. And nurseries have adjusted their policies accordingly.

[Tanith]

Presumably then, Daisy and Myrandom, you wouldn't use a nursery either. After all, one had its registration suspended only yesterday and a staff member arrested.

[Myrandomfamily]

I meant pico sorry!

[jackydanny]

The point is, if myrandom won't use a child minder for that reason would she not call police if she was a victim of crime? Seek medical treatment for injuries? Let her child attend school? Because there are alcoholics in a these fields.

Back to the OP, you have a duty to report if this has happened in the interim (interview, DBS, treatment)

[Thebodyloveschocolateandwine]

Yes though my parents picked me because I wasn't a 19 year old college kid and spent the day gossiping to other similar age workers.

They also liked the fact get I was a qualified nursing sister, done lots of child care related courses and was the key worker.

Each to their own. .

[adsy]

And nurseries have adjusted their policies accordingly as have childminders.....
you do realise that cm's work to exactly the same set of regulations and inspections as nurseries, don't you?

[Myrandomfamily]

Tanith if you want my honest answer I feel anybody working effectively alone and in their own home has potential to cause harm.

That's not offensive: one of my jobs is a home care assistant and I have ample opportunities to abuse the elderly. I don't because I'm a nice person and obviously most childminders are. I wouldn't be offended by somebody saying 'I feel uncomfortable having a carer looking after my mum, and I'd prefer to have her in a nursing home.' Why would I?

It's acknowledging the opportunity not saying 'all childminders abuse their charges'.

[connedbird]

My children's childminder was the most fantastic thing to have happened to our family. I used her for six years (DD was 6 weeks old when she first went there) and she became like a mother to me in the absence of mine.

I was also registered myself, albeit briefly! I have a great respect for childminders and have found them to be generally excellent care givers. So this isn't a childminder or OFSTED bash. I think as I say it was just very unfortunate timing for this person and potentially a misguided career choice at this time in her life.

[Myrandomfamily]

Nursery staff don't work alone, childminders do.

You do realise that's my source of worry don't you?

[MysteriousCircusZebra]

Yes report it. Obviously.

[Thebodyloveschocolateandwine]

But you mentioned not just alcohol abuse but domestic violence and Ss imput.

It's inconceivable that none of this involved her Gp.

[Tanith]

I work with my husband.
Other childminders work with husbands, mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends. Many of them meet up.

You're making some pretty sweeping assumptions here.

[connedbird]

Sorry Thebodyloveschocolateandwine it probably has involved her GP - but she is already registered so at the time when she had the health booklet signed and had her CRB check etc. the SS and police/ GP etc. weren't aware of the problem in any way.

[adsy]

Nursery staff don't work alone, childminders do
you know, in my village I know nearly all the children who go to childminders as I see them out and about in the community nearly every day. I chat to them , play with them, have them round to my house with their CM's and would be in a good position to know if they were unhappy / distressed.
The local nursery however, I never see their children as they are in all day. Who knows what goes on behind closed doors, eh?

[Thebodyloveschocolateandwine]

Nursery staff still abuse though. So do teachers and doctors. Absolutely nothing to do with working Alone at all it's intent and wanting to.

If you go down that route you are taking a big risk because get is not necessarily safety in numbers.

[DaisyFlowerChain]

No childcare choice is without risks.

I'd use a nursery after choosing the best one from viewings just like a school. I'd not use a lone childcare provider in any instance. The main reason being that nobody is watching them and can report or step in. It's not the only reason but one of the main.

Upto others if they choose to use one, it's personal choice. Everyone has their own criteria re child safety.

[Myrandomfamily]

Tanith sorry but that would make me feel even more uncomfortable to be totally honest.

In any case stupid thing to argue about as I know there are
Excellent childminders!

Tonight I am going to work to see vulnerable and forgetful elderly people and I could easily take advantage of them:
I wouldn't be remotely offended by someone deciding not to opt for home care because of this.

It's no reflection on me as a carer and my view is no reflection on you or anyone else as a childminder. I just know I would not want my children spending most of the day in somebody else's home without supervision .

[connedbird]

Can I just say - I'm not suggesting she would abuse any child. It's just the alcoholism, i.e. the risk that she would have a relapse and become intoxicated while she had the children in her care, that bothers me. I guess in a nursery setting that would be more obvious and spotable than if she was on her own with the children at home.