Mothers Help or other options advice please?

[KyMaree]

After firmly deciding on being a sahm early on in pregnancy, my previous employers have offered me a part time, work from home job that is looking too good to refuse. So I have given childcare no thought until now and have to make my mind up quickly, so would love some advice. My ds is almost one and we live in a small town with no available nursery spots, am considering a Mothers Help might be an option to look after with him whilst I am working (most likely M-F 9-1pm). Not sure if an agency or employing myself would be easier/cost effective, if anyone has done similar please tell me how it all works? Or is there another option that I have not thought of, also have started trying to fing childminders but am struggling.

Even if using an agency you are still the employer... the agency just does the finding of the person.

Mothers Help would be someone who works alongside the mother. From the sounds of it you are wanting someone to be a nanny (so being fully responsible for your DS) 9am-1pm.

Part-Time nanny position may suit another local mum. Try advertising locally at places mums may gather. It could mean your DS has someone to play with as well, if the person has their own young child - consider how you feel about that option.

Your local Families Information Service (look on your local council / county council website for the phone number) can send you a list of local childminders. The part-time nature may or may not suit them though, as it will be hard for them to sell the 1pm-6pm slot.

I think you are in a good position to offer someone a job looking for their first nanny job as you would be around but working so want someone who has some experience but not neccesarily needing a very experienced nanny.

I would look for someone who wants first nanny job, maybe has a couple yrs as a mothers help or nursery nurse.

you would be looking at paying min wage - £7gross for the above depending on area/

Thanks both for your comments, am starting to see what my options are, just have to decide if I want to go back to work now that I have worked out how :)