To think if you are doing a childcare apprenticeship..

[LycheeBubbleTea]

That you should be prepared to do nappies and not refuse to do soiled ones?

She sounds like a teenager in her/his first job, thinking it’s like being an (indulged) kid at home who can get out of doing certain chores. It really is the OP’s responsibility to disabuse her/him of this notion.

Your posts are very unclear.

Are there any conversations actually happening here?

Do you actively tell her "it's your turn on the rota/you need to change x's nappy?"

Does she actually verbally refuse to?

What happens after? Do you tell her it's part of the job/she has to do it/it's part of her coursework? Or do you just let it drop(either after the conversation or as soon as she pulls the faces and shakes her head)?

I think I would have a more general discussion with the apprentice about their attitude towards the children they are helping to care for - is it sufficiently caring and respectful?

Of course no parent/carer enjoys changing dirty nappies, but we do it swiftly, thoroughly and without excess comment (important point - I'd be very cross if my child was being changed regularly by someone pulling faces or saying "oh that's gross!") because it's our role to make sure that the children we care for are happy, comfortable, as unstressed as possible and have their dignity protected. Managing their bodily functions in a caring, cheerful and dignified way, and teaching them eventually to do the same and not to be afraid to speak up and ask for help, is a really important part of the job. It's integral to promoting their welfare.

Maybe they're only interested in caring for older children in the future, and therefore don't think they need to learn how to change nappies?

Agree they should be doing it anyway though. It doesn't sound like you've actually spoken to them properly? When they shake their head, just say "come on then, let's get it over with! I'll be there to help."

Of course they should be doing all aspects of the job however in my setting apprentices aren’t allowed to do personal care, no nappies and no changing of children if they are wet or have wet play. They also aren’t allowed to be alone with a child.

This too though. I was an apprentice in a nursery for a few weeks before I decided it wasn't for me and we definitely were not allowed to change nappies either.

I was changing my own kids nappies at that age just saying

Just tell them they have to do it as part of the job. Presumably you are in contact with their college/tutor- being it up with them. I’d say they aren’t fulfilling parts of the role properly and the apprentice ship will have to be reviewed

You should speak to whoever is in charge of the apprenticeship e.g the college or course. It’s not just the refusal (which isn’t ideal at all) but also shaming the children. If these are toddlers they can pick up on her attitude (which stinks more than the nappies!).

Tbf poo is horrific isn't it ? I mean she isn't refusing she's pulling a face and being a but sarcastic. I worked in childcare for 20 years and still sighed when I had a poopy nappy or worse an "accident " in pants🤢

Give her a bit of slack .and even agree with her it's not great but part of the job.

The OP used They/them in their posts. 2 subsequent posters started said She/her. Thought I would counter that assumption that childcare staff have to be female.

Oh the op did say they I obviously .jumped straight to she! Oh dear 😳

Tbf I know a couple of teenagers who have done the childcare apprenticeship. Both were adamant at the start they weren't going to do nappies. By a few months in both were doing nappies with no issues.

This is far too sensible a post for MN 😆

Haven't you told them that refusing isn't an option because it's part of the job?

Yes so, when its discovered a child has soiled, I will say do you want to do a nappy (she has been shown how to do them) and obviously she needs to take part in all aspects of the job and get the experience not just pick and choice but she will just wrinkle her nose and shake her said and say no. But she also showed pretty early on that she didn't want to be doing any nappies, especially soiled ones and tries to avoid this part of the role. I'm not the room leader/mentor so I can't really say anything to her directly but I was just shadowing and helping for a few days, showing her certain parts of the role and the routines of the room

Yes they are never left alone but are able to do nappies in our setting

Why would you say "do you want to do a nappy?". It's part of her job.

If someone asked me if I wanted to do the less pleasant bits of my job I'd be like lol no thanks.

Just tell her to change the nappy.

She was shadowing you and yes you could have said something to her directly, of course you could.

The whole idea of her shadowing you is to learn from you.

There's your problem, you are posing it as a choice

"Do you want to do a nappy?"
No, of course she doesn't if theres another option.

Tomorrow, be matter of fact. Give direction and positive enforcement and lots of chivvying on as she does it and narrate her way through.

" Ah, it looks like Sarah needs her nappy changed. Right, I've got her, you go put the gloves and apron on and you can change her. It's alright I'll be right next to you. Right, thats it chat to her and make eye contact... Great yep, it's probably easiest for you to take her tights completely off and pop them back on after. Great, yes they can be wriggly you are doing a great job......."

Just because she's been shown doesn't mean she has the confidence yo do it, you might find lots of chivvying and praise to get the first one done will work wonders and then future ones will be far easier.

Your choice of language is so important. The best advice I was ever given by my mentor is "don't say please", 'please is a choice',
"Please can you put the chairs on the table" - there's wiggle room if they don't want to
"Put the chairs on the table, thank you" - no wriggle room, you expect the instructions to be followed as you've already thanked them.

"Right, your turn to do this one - here's the things"

Immature and unprofessional. People are far too soft on young learners these days.

@LycheeBubbleTea talk to your manager and ask them to assign them someone else to shadow. No offence meant to you, but you're not the right person for this.

First of all, you don't ask if they want to, you tell them. It's part of their job. If they refuse , you again tell them it's part of the job and if they have a genuine reason, then they have to discuss this with the manager . Then you bring it up with the manager. If you’re not willing or able to do this and take a firm line, like I said , request she gets assigned another person.

I'm a TA and get shadowed a lot by new staff and while it's awkward and uncomfortable sometimes, they are there to learn the job and get stuck in. It's not pick and mix.

You're not doing her or you any favours by keeping the status quo. Let's face it, no one WANTS to change a nappy.

To be fair, I think OP has been put in a position she’s not really been trained for.