To think there must be a solution without cutting hours

[Pungifries]

Wondering if anyone has any ideas or advice as am at an absolute loss

I’m a single mum to a 3 year old and work in healthcare doing long shifts (13 hours).
DS dad lives a long way from me and currently only has him one or two weekends a month. He won’t increase this. Currently I have an amazing childminder who has my DS one long day a week, I then do nights on the days my ex has him. I do an extra long day or night when I can get extra childcare from family, but this isn’t regular or dependable. I often use my annual leave to beef up my hours when I don’t have childcare.

Unfortunately my childminder is finishing in sept and I’m at a loss as to what to do. I can’t find another childminder to do such long days, nursery’s round me don’t offer extended hours, family won’t be able to offer regular childcare to wrap around nursery or school. I’ve put an ad on a childcare website with very little response.
I couldn’t afford a nanny.

I’ve worked really hard to get extra qualifications and do get paid fairly well for the hours that I work. However if I moved to a different sector of healthcare, I would probably have to take quite a pay cut, and increase my childcare hours and so costs.
Feel a bit broken. I want to work, the work is there and available but I can’t get childcare. Feel like everything I’ve worked for is going down the drain and I’ll have to find an entry level job elsewhere with more expensive childcare and less time with my LO. Help!

Have you looked at an Au Pair, do you space for them to live in?

Some info on how it works here: www.aupairworld.com/en/hosting-an-au-pair

Ah ok. Thanks for this. I didn’t think of this and those figures look manageable. Have you done this? Do you have to pay NI etc on top?

My dc is at nursery and although they don’t do extended hours , a couple of the staff will come to your house for childminding if you ask them. Is that something you could ask around for?

When I was initially looking for childcare, there’s a website that was quite good, I think childcare.com may be worth looking.

Have you asked on your local Facebook groups if any childminders are available?

@Siennabear thanks. Yes, it’s childcare.com that I put my “ad” on.
I haven’t asked the nursery staff but that’s a good idea. It would only be an extra 2.5 hours. I will try that

Au pair can't be full time but if it's just to do the wraparound times it was a lifesaver for us. Do be aware that they are part of the family rather than hired help as such so they eat with you etc. But if you're up for that and have space they can work really well.

I’ve just been having a look and it seems like it could be an option. I’d still want DS to go to nursery but if the au pair could collect and make his tea etc a couple of times a week, this could be perfect.
To be honest, I’d rather them be one of the family, it would mean DS is more comfortable