Childcare for DGC in lockdown?

[londonbrick]

Daughter returning to NHS from maternity leave. Our plan was for me to provide childcare for DGC. I live alone, am under 70 and not in a vulnerable category. I'm also a key worker in a different field & neither of us are working on Covid-19 wards however there is always the risk of coming into contact with an as yet undiagnosed patient.

Will it be ok to provide childcare in this instance? Not seen each other since the lockdown - baby probably thinks I'm flat (from skype connection) & will it be ok to see them before my DD's return to work date just to familiarise DGC with the situation?

Where’s the baby’s dad in all of this?

What's the father got to do with it? Presumably he is also working or not in the picture. Either way, it isn't really relevant to what the OP is asking.

I would do what you are planning OP. You are allowed to provide care to the vulnerable. A child is vulnerable.

Well it is relevant, why can’t the child’s other parent care for them?

And no, children aren’t considered vulnerable in this context

I think the OP wouldn't have bothered to post if the father could do childcare now, surely?

And yes, children are considered vulnerable in this context.

No. In lockdown you are not supposed to be mixing households. My DM used to do my childcare so I could work, she can’t while we are in lockdown

You can choose to identify as a household if you want. It's not for anyone but you and her to decide if that is the case.
In the end the decision of whether you are at risk is one you take. Will you be living together?
Going forward we will have less restrictions in any case.

I think this is fine. I'm a nanny and still working. You're providing childcare. Any chance you can move in for the short term?

If the alternative is a younger child going to a nursery mixing with other key worker children, I'd rather they went to a relative instead less risk for all.

We need to have common sense in all of this to. Weighting up the options of risks to all, the child needs looked after where is the safest place if dad can't do it for any reason.

Who else is there to provide childcare? What other options are available to your daughter?

I don’t think there’s one right answer to this. It depends on what’s the best for each family.

Hugglespuffed - are you a live in nanny? Because unless you are, and therefore part of the household, then you are not supposed to be working.

@notcontent

Why? You are meant to work at home unless you absolutely cannot work at home. The guidance says so.

I'm a childminder and can still childmind for children of keyworkers, therefore, i think it would be ok for you to provide childcare

I jointly run a small voluntary organisation providing extra childcare for healthcare workers. The law states that you can indeed provide childcare to keyworker's children even if this means travelling to them daily and living elsewhere. Obviously it would be better if you could live in the household but that's not always possible.

OP can you live at your daughter's? This sounds like the best option for everyone if possible.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. We cannot do what we do from home. We could consider moving in together. Initially it will be one long shift a week moving up to 2 when DD has run out of A/L. I work 4 shifts a week. We work in opposite directions about 30 miles apart but live 10 mins distance from each other.

@londonbrick I am still working - not a key worker but unable to work at home Full time. 2/3 days a week I have to work out the home. My child’s grandparent looks after them just like they normally do in school holidays. I drop my son to the door and pick him up from the door on way home.

It will be lower risk for everyone bar you than your granddaughter going to a childcare setting with other DC of keyworkers. So, in my book that means it's up to you to decide if you're willing to take the risk on. I don't see the problem, but wouldn't blame you at all either if you decided not to.

Hi @Notcontent no I do not live in as a nanny. And I am able to go to work. I am also able to work even if the parent's are not key workers. Trust me, nannies have been fighting for a clear answer from day 1 but it is allowed.
I have up to date insurance which I've checked and covers me during this time.

We have a similar dillema, OP. DH and I are both working from home at the moment, working around each other in shifts and looking after two young children. Usually, care of our DC is shared by GP's and a childminder. The childminder has closed her business due to a member of her household being vulnerable so not an option. I work in a school and when they reopen I will be expected in, regardless of what (if any) other social distancing measures are still in place. My DP's are very keen to do the childcare but I am worried about whether this will be allowed given the advice about 'mixing households'. We may have to move in with my DP's temporarily.