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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you would hire me?

27 replies

Bananapancakes3 · 27/03/2019 18:38

I’m looking to work as a babysitter over the next few months and have joined a childcare website but feeling a bit put off by the experience people are looking for.

I’m 19, happy to do regular or one off babysitting in the evenings and at weekends, school pick up/drop off, taking to activities, help with homework etc

I have experience babysitting but mainly for cousins and neighbours rather than in a professional childcare setting.

I have a car so can provide transport.

Would anyone be (hypothetically) happy to hire someone like me or would you always rather have a childcare professional?

Thanks

OP posts:

justthecat · 27/03/2019 18:40

If I felt you and my dc got on well and I liked you,then yes I would

Anothertimesoon · 27/03/2019 18:41

Where are you based? I actually need a babysitter/childcare

Justonemorepancake · 27/03/2019 18:42

I would. Get your DBS check and a first aid course and you would look better 'on paper'

Hollowvictory · 27/03/2019 18:43

Yes if dbs check

EmeraldShamrock · 27/03/2019 18:45

Yes I would, first aid would stand to you.
I am not sure if you can get police clearance? A employer or course provider needs to apply for garda vetting cert in Ireland.

OldAndWornOut · 27/03/2019 18:49

Yes.
You sound exactly what I'm looking for.

happyasasandboy · 27/03/2019 18:50

Yes, I would. Where are you?!

Original poster

Bananapancakes3 · 27/03/2019 18:53

Glad to hear this is something people would be looking for! Based in East Midlands. I will look into a dbs check and first aid training course.

OP posts:

Divgirl2 · 27/03/2019 18:54

Only if DBS checked and first aid trained. If you can't get DBS checked then a police check would do (I imagine you can submit a subject access for them these days).

Nurseornot · 27/03/2019 18:57

Yes I would if you were DBS checked and the paperwork was verified by the site. I was just looking in to getting someone, but although the sitters have the paperwork, none of it is verified by the site so I'm still a bit wary since I don't know what I would be looking at exactly and I don't know if it could be easily faked.

shopaholics · 27/03/2019 18:59

Sign up to the rolling dbs check thing - you pay a set amount each year and your dbs records can be accessed any time with a reference number - it could help with reassuring parents that they always have the most up to date info possible.
I've found parents are way more trusting of people over 18 than under for some reason so you're lucky in that sense.
A lot of childcare sites have people advertising wanting childminders but on babysitter rates so be careful there - I normally just advertise on local Facebook pages and then rely on word of mouth.
Sounds like parents would be happy to at least give you a chance based on what you've written so good luck!

Original poster

Bananapancakes3 · 27/03/2019 19:05

Oh that’s another question! How much would you be happy to pay for babysitting or a regular pickup/drop off? Thank you to everyone for their responses so far

OP posts:

BackforGood · 27/03/2019 19:09

I wou;d, but only if I knew you / you were recommended by someone who knew you well, that I trusted.
This might be a difference between me hiring a babysitter and someone going to a website / agency though ?? Maybe if you go through an agency or website, you expect more boxes to be ticked, but if you know the person then things like formal qualifications are less important ?

NWQM · 27/03/2019 19:14

Are you in a position to volunteer somewhere & get some experience?

Have you checked out your car insurance for drop off and pick ups?

Honestly if we were approached in the right way we would think about it as a couple of nights a week it would be a godsend.

I do think there could be a real market. We'd rather our 2 did their activities than after school club. If you had the right checks and a professional 'luck' I'd be interested.

Professional look could just be a Facebook page. A printed t-shirt / polo to create a uniform and helps I think. They are not expensive and you'll need work clothes.

In terms of rates we pay minimum wage.

arethereanyleftatall · 27/03/2019 19:21

I would hire you but I would expect to pay less for you than a professional.
Round my way, teenage babysitters (ie no car, no dbs, no anything) get £5 ph, a proper childminder gets £10ph for babysitting, and everything in between depending.

Original poster

Bananapancakes3 · 27/03/2019 19:28

@NWQM sorry if this is a daft question but what would I need to check about my car insurance? Is it different is you’re doing school pickups?

Also when you say minimum wage would that be the minimum for 18-21 year olds?

OP posts:

arethereanyleftatall · 27/03/2019 19:41

'I do think there could be a real market.'

What an odd thing to write. Of course there's a market, babysitters/childminders/nannies/au pairs are used all the time.

SarahBeeney · 27/03/2019 19:43

Yes I would. I have two teenagers that look after my two regularly, I'm a musician so work most evenings and weekends. Musicians and actors especially always need babysitters at funny times and it's impossible to use a nursery as every week is different.

Justajot · 27/03/2019 19:46

I would, but through word of mouth, not a website. We have a few teenagers locally who seem to have built up a clientele of families through word of mouth.

Stinkycatbreath · 27/03/2019 20:05

You dont need a uniform you are offering babysitting not after school club. You would need business insurance to be able to take children in you car. I babysat for year and made a packet as a student.You sound like you are asking the right questions. God luck

Drizzlehair · 27/03/2019 20:09

I probably wouldn't unless you were recommended by a friend.

I can get someone highly qualified on sitters.co.uk for £8 pm, years of experience as a nursery manager, nanny etc. I wouldn't want to save a fiver for the sale of someone without a proven track record. You could be anyone.

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear, just being honest

arethereanyleftatall · 27/03/2019 20:10

Agree re not needing a uniform.

What happens where I live;

Someone writes on our local Facebook page
'Hi. My names x, I'm 19; and looking for some babysitting work. I'm available x. I charge £6ph.'

Someone responds, within 2 seconds,
'Yes please, I need a babysitter Saturday night.'

Someone else responds, 3 seconds,

'Yes please. Could you do Monday 17th.'

Etc etc

arethereanyleftatall · 27/03/2019 20:11

And I don't know anyone who asks for a dbs for a babysitter.

hibbledibble · 27/03/2019 20:28

After-school nannies are like gold dust. Unless you live in an area with very few working families,.you won't struggle to find work. Register on childcare.co.uk

When I worked as a babysitter pre children I had a CRB and all the families asked to see this. I had also done first aid training and provided references. I would hope that no one would allow you unsupervised with their children without a CRB/dbs.

Original poster

Bananapancakes3 · 27/03/2019 22:23

Oh just remembered, I’ve also done volunteering in a nursery! I was only 15 so not sure if that makes a difference but I have worked in that setting before

OP posts:

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