To find it worrying that so many people suggest fostering and childminding to those who are desperate to earn money?

[AlternativePerspective]

Obviously there are often people on here who are desperate for work and whose lives don’t fit in with having a full-time job e.g. they have school-aged children etc.

The standard jobs being advised tend to be along the lines of “take in ironing/get an evening job/get a part time supermarket job.” All of which are valid although taking in ironing has become somewhat of a cliche over the years but more increasingly I have seen posters suggest to OP’s that they should become a childminder, or “have you considered fostering?

While I think it’s fair to say that most childminders do become childminders in order to fit earning a living around their own childcare needs, it definitely takes a certain kind of person to be a childminder,and a decent childminder goes through a lot of training etc to ensure they do the best job. It certainly isn’t an occupation anyone should take up on a whim or out of desperation.

Ad fostering should be seen as a vocation not an occupation. Ad while foster carers do get paid, the idea that people who are desperate for work, and money should take on fostering the most vulnerable members of society as a way o make money is awful.

I've never seen anyone suggest fostering as a casual 'earn a few bucks' sort of job.

My mum fostered as a job, to earn money that is, when my sister and I moved out. She fostered teenage girls, some of whom she still sees decades later. She wouldn't have done it if she hadn't been going to get paid. That doesn't mean she wasn't any good at it.

I think childminding is a good option for women who can't get a job because of childcare issues.

There are a lot of hopes to jump through and it's not well paid but it's an option that's worth considering.

Being approved for fostering is a long process and involves lots of checks and questions to ensure motivation is genuine.

I am a social worker in a smaller agency and would not suggest people enter fostering for money.

It could be something people who are transitioning from a job might not have considered before and I would always suggest people do some research before choosing fostering. That said it is a rewarding career with highs and lows. There is a huge need for foster carers right now.

if anyone reading this is looking for advice I would be happy to answer any questions.

Where on earth are you seeing people suggest fostering as an easy way to make money!? I think you're making this up.

I've never seen fostering suggested but I have seen child minding suggested where the poster is lacking in qualifications and/or childcare.

I agree with you about the childminding, OP.

I doubt many people who are desperate for money would have a spare bedroom so that they could foster in the first place.

Childminding thing annoys me too. Its quite a long process to get approved and you need to have qualifications and do various courses etc.
The ironing thing actually annoys me too. Many people want their ironing picked up and delivered. You also need insurance in case you scorch someone's designer shirt. People who send their ironing out want a professional service and a high standard, not generally someone who just irons for their family in their kitchen whilst watching Corrie.🙄

The child minding thing always makes me eye roll. Although it might explain why a previous neighbour ended up doing it despite being totally unsuited to it.

Not forgetting all the foraging for food stuff.

Even getting a supermarket job isn't quick or straightforward. You have to get past the online questions where the computer can say no before even getting a possible interview. Plus it's not 'stacking shelves' at a lot of places, you have to be able to do everything and have brilliant availability.

I've never seen fostering suggest but YANBU about the childminding.

It's not a profession to be taken lightly. I certainly wouldn't want to send my child to a CM who wasn't doing it because of a genuine love of children. There's quite a lot of courses etc. that go with it as well. It definitely isn't isn't easy option.

Set up a cleaning business always gets me as well. Being a cleaner is a pretty responsible job and cleaning to a standard worth paying for isn't something everyone can do! I know I'd make an absolutely shite cleaner!

I was a childminder and it took around a year to qualify and be approved, end to end. That was pre-pandemic so probably longer now if there is a waiting list for inspections. Your own children count in your ratios too which can impact how many others you can take on depending in their ages, you also have to consider their feelings around sharing their space/home/mum with mindees. Initial set up can be expensive too if you don't already have various bits that you need - safety equipment, age appropriate toys/equipment/activities, admin stuff such as a printer, and so on. All training and registration costs come out of your own pocket too.

People suggest childminding as if the person they're suggesting it to could open their business that same day.

I've nit seen fostering suggested but I have seen people suggesting renting out a spare room/taking in a lodger, including advising the OP to move into their DC bedroom in order to free up a bedroom for this because overcrowding and potentially invalidating your tenancy agreement and/or home insurance is a great way to make cash.

I’ve not seen fostering suggested but I’ve seen childminding suggested and I agree OP

Hopefully the posters that have had this suggested to them realise how it's not going to work at all.

I was at a council meeting once it was when cuts to fostering fees were discussed. Some of the foster parents sounded like they despised the children in their care (and I mean DESPISED) I really hoped children's services was taking note of those people.

Its a tough job and shouldn’t be done by anyone other than someone focussed entirely on helping children.

Childminding, I agree. And the taking in ironing/a lodger. I wonder what planet these people are living on

But never seen fostering suggested as a means of making money. Where are all these "many" posts that you see OP?

I've never seen either of these suggested as a way to make money. Usual suggestions I've seen are matched betting, doing surveys from home or transcription.

People have suggested childminding to me several times. It’s usually older people, I think starting up as a childminder used to be much easier.

But childminding availability is what stifles people returning to work.

Areas in poverty need all the support possible to get people enabled to work.

Working on building up child minding capacity in run down areas would be a way to start the process of regeneration.

Unless you're telling me childcare is now so complicated to register for that the process needs reviewing and streamlining.
And perhaps the surestart centres would have been better employed producing child minders.

There was outrage on another thread about DBS checks for home schoolers. We shouldn't be frightened of finding out whether people are fit for the job they're suggesting they take on. So home schooling being fairly similar on a base level ... The care of children within the family home.

We want the best for children. Yet can fail them completely by allowing them to grow up in unemployed households.

Barnardos in partnership with SureStart Childrens Centres used to train childminders in deprived areas/areas with childcare shortages and that training was free. Government cuts did away with it.

Matched betting for people in need of money😦. Isn't that irresponsible?

Is there any evidence showing the success of the Barnados work?
Who normally provides training for childminders?

The childminding annoys me. Its not a quick process to become registered. Its very through and takes so long. The paperwork you have to prepare is complicated and even once registered, the job is by far an easy money maker. People seem to think that you can just wake up, decide to be a childminder and be full and earning by the end of the week. That is nowhere close to how it is

I think most of the childminding suggestion is purely made in an attempt to prove there is an option. Just like telling people to move area.

Yes it's technically an option, but would not be practical or affordable to the person in financial difficulty.

Childminding is never going to be a quick fix short term solution but it could be a viable plan to someone who's struggling to get back into the workforce and they are unable to find suitable work locally and/or are restricted by lack of childcare.

If they become the childcare, if they are suitable of course, they solve their own problem and will provide a much needed service to someone else in the local area who could well have the same problem.