can I do this job without being a childminder?

[luciemule]

Hi,

A lady I recently worked for as a doula is now advertising for a nanny as her childminding arrangement from August fell apart.
Basically, she had originally asked me whether I wanted to do it but I said I couldn't because of the hours and having my own children to drop off and collect from school.

Now though, I've suddenly thought that I could do from 9am until 3pm at her house (so as a nanny/babysitter) but the hours before and after, would have to be looking after the child in my house as I have the children to take to school (he would come with me) and then the pick up at half three. I could then take him back with me to my house with my own children until they collect him after work.

This would only be for 2-3 days a week.

Can I do that without being a registered childminder? I know I can be a nanny without being registered with Ofsted in her home but would it be classed as childminding for the other hours in my home or could I do it if she didn't pay me for those hours when he's at my home? (obviously, she could pay me more the hours when I'm at her house to cover the other hours). That kind of sounds dodgy but I know she knows she can trust me to look after him and he likes me and I'm a mummy (which was top of her wish list before).

Technically not allowed as need to be working in her house as a nanny but I do know of several who do this... problem is with the insurance maybe worth calling up nanny insurance and asking about being covered outside the home?

I think you can look after a child in your own home for 4hours a week or something - could you do the before school hours from your house but then take your own children to the work house after school? That might work!

NannyBeth - it's up to 2 hours in a day... a day being 2am to 6pm (as 6pm to 2am is unregulated).

By wanting a higher salary for the hours whilst at the child's own home, if that was discovered then the regulator could try to use that to prove that you were really acting as a childminder.

However, in the situation you describe... how would the regulator know? It would really take someone to tell them.

I've suddenly thought that I could do from 9am until 3pm at her house (so as a nanny/babysitter)

Yes, those hours could be done as a nanny - so having the mum as your employer.

hours before and after, would have to be looking after the child in my house as I have the children to take to school (he would come with me) and then the pick up at half three.

Why would that have to be at your home... could your children not go to the other house?
What about the mornings... a benefit to the parent of having a nanny is that they don't need to get their child up and dressed in the mornings. They wouldn't get that benefit with you, if they need to bring him to your home.

I could then take him back with me to my house with my own children until they collect him after work.

To get around the 2 hour rule... you could just not go back to your house for a while... such as by going to the park, going to the libary, going swimming etc.

This would only be for 2-3 days a week.
Irrelevant to the question being asked.

Can I do that without being a registered childminder?
There are ways around it as said above... but if child is at your home for more than 2 hours, then it may breach Childcare Act 2006 depending on how the payment is viewed.

could I do it if she didn't pay me for those hours when he's at my home?
Yes. But any form of financial payment would be counted, so...

(obviously, she could pay me more the hours when I'm at her house to cover the other hours).
That's where it gets very grey area... as that is financial payment. Though could it be proved that the amount for the other hours has been increased to cover the non-paid hours.

That kind of sounds dodgy
So therefore you already know that it is probably doggy

but I know she knows she can trust me to look after him

But can she trust other people at your home? Are there any other adults living there, or who have frequent access?

and he likes me and I'm a mummy (which was top of her wish list before)

Not sure what being a mummy has to do with it... I'm not a mummy yet I'm great with young children

As Fairimum says, insurance could well be an issue. Nanny insurance covers you for outings but would not normally cover you for taking the children to your own home on a regular basis - contact insurer to confirm what they will and won't cover. Also your household insurance may not be valid if you are using the property as though you were childminding.

Think that's all kind of answered it for me.

Thank you Nannies.

had a look at some nanny insurance site and they still need you to be working towards a nanny qualification.

To be honest, it's a bit slack how I could look after him if I wasn't being paid anything, in my home and nobody would check/bat an eyelid yet if I was being paid, it's regulated.

I'm a fab mummy to my dcs and have over 8 years mummy experience. Unless something terrible happened to my dcs, nobody would check up on the care I provide for them, yet if I am being paid, it would have to only be in the employer's home.

The reason I can't take my own children to her house is that it's so tiny. One lounge, one tiny kitchen and that's it downstairs. It's way too small and they would be bored rigid.

Oh well, If I could afford it, I would do it for free but DH wouldn't let me.

NN you said about her benefitting from me getting the child up/dressed etc, it will be up anyway as they live in a village a few miles from where the child minder would have been and so would have dropped dc off anyway. They need child care as the mummy is off back to work part time so she has to be up, dressed and out anyway.

To be honest, it's a bit slack how I could look after him if I wasn't being paid anything, in my home and nobody would check/bat an eyelid yet if I was being paid, it's regulated.

It's like lots of laws though... consider driving over the speed limit for instance. It's a bit slack how people get away with driving over the speed limit. Like speed limits, sometimes someone does bat an eyelid (portable speed camera for example).
Though I do see what you mean... regarding how you can do it no problem unpaid but once paid it's an issue. However people just won't accept the regulator having the power when it's a mutual agreement between friends without payment changing hands - and Governments have decided that doing childcare at your home (rather than the child's home) for payment is the point where the line is drawn.

They need child care as the mummy is off back to work part time so she has to be up, dressed and out anyway.
But if they have a nanny, then they could leave their child in bed.

If they are looking for a childminder really, how come they would consider you being their nanny... as a nanny will cost a lot more - or would you do it for childminder type cost?

Their preferred option was the childminder but she let them down (not sure what the reason was) and so they would have to get the child up and ready.

Their main wish was that their child was looked after by a mother and the childminder was a mother. Originally she asked me before the childminder but I said I couldn't as the hours were too long for my children.

Oh well, I'm sure she'll find someone.

As a former registered child minder I can tell you that you have to be registered if you mind children under 8 for more than 2 hours a day If you mind children over 8 for any length of time you dont have to be registered In the last few years ive been an unregistered childminder following the rules of course and being free of ofsted has been fantastic .If you decide to be a nanny morton and michel insurance are fantastic and wiil give you all the advice you need

irrelevant now - they have a nanny sorted.
Thanks for info though:)