Childminder with fake paperwork

[luzt]

I am going back to work and we have been interviewing millions of nannies, babysitters, paying visits to nursery and etc, than we found this childminder on a certain childcare website and just reading her profile we felt like choosing her. First time we payed her a visit we were sure she was the one for us and we have been meeting and visiting her constantly to settle our 2 month old and getting t know her and her child better and we have no doubts that she can provide the childcare that we want even though she became a childminde recently and our child will be her first mindee (she is a former nursery teacher and babysitter). But there is one little thing...She is renting and her landlord refused to give her permission to childmind in the flat. Her child is starting school now and she does not want another job as she wants to take her of him. She is desperate to move out but got no money for deposit and firts month rent upfront so she faked a pemission letter from her landlord and will childmind whitout his permission until she got enough money to move out. She was honest about this first time I called her to enquire..So, what to do now...

onimolap, that is a good point, I will have to research on this

i would say, that if she has faked the permission from her landlord and presented it to Ofsted and insurance to gain her registration/documentation - it will be considered fraud for starters - and could potentially have her registration revoked with immediate effect - leaving you with NO childcare. I would say that it will also void her insurance - so she will be working without insurance - again not a good situation for a professional childcare provider.

Not to mention, what IF the landlord finds out that she has faked permission or is running a business from her (his) premises. she could be evicted - again leaving you with no childcare.

A professional childcare provider that has gone to this degree of deceit (although I understand her desparate reasons perhaps) is not a good start is it.

However, at the end of the day, its up to you whether you use the childcare as offered or not. You need to weigh up the pros and cons - (to recap) ie/ leaving your child with someone with invalidated insurance, could have her registration revoked with immediate effect (and its NEVER a good idea to lie to Ofsted), potential immediate eviction, potential very peed off landlord who could take her to court for fraud.

If she can lie about this and fake something so important - what else might she do in the future.

I agree with onimolap and pippin.

If she has used the fake letter to get Ofsted approval and insurance then both those will be void and can be revoked at any time.

She is also commiting a criminal offence and I doubt Ofsted would look too favourably on that.

if the landlord found out she was watching a your baby she could always say that she is watching a friends child and recieving no reward therefore not childminding and you could just back up her story

cheryl - what about accounts - surely this childminder should and will be keeping proper accounts. otherwise on top of everything else she will be defrauding the system by not keeping proper accounts.

what about if the parent is claiming tax credits

she still could and should do that but as a landlord they would not ask for access to the childminders accounts and if shes claiming not to childmind then he wont say let me see your account/bank statements as he as to right to anyway. would only be if a problem with insurance because of injury and it all came out then they may investagate and look and see if payment was being paid but between childminder and landlord then if they stick to the story then landlord cant prove otherwise. dont no maybe im wrong but who knows. landlord may not no that written permission was needed before being registered so he could believe that she applied for it got it through then asked him and said no so she said ok i wont do it then

yes but there is a papertrail. so its just digging herself deeper and deeper in the web of deceit surely.

the fact remains though - the minder should NOT be doing this for all the reasons myself and others have expressed.

IF something happened and 'it all comes out' then she could feel the weight of Ofsted and a few other organisations come down on her. She could be banned from caring for children full stop. Not to mention the parent has no way of claiming for an accident as insurance is not valid. Bit like an uninsured driver pranging your car - and we all know the crap that causes.

cherry you are missing the point - the Landlord doesn't have to prove anything.

If he believes the minder in minding with his express prohibition he will simply evict her.

If he is vindictive (and he is certainly likely to be pretty pissed off) he might well give ofsted a call and let them know what she is up to.

Ofsted will investigate. It is perfectly plausible that they then might refer the matter to the police - especially if the mindee appears to be further lying by denying what she is doing.

I would be running fast if I was the OP!

'if the landlord found out she was watching a your baby she could always say that she is watching a friends child and recieving no reward therefore not childminding and you could just back up her story'

Since when is LYING acceptable? I am shocked to see you say this!!

Fraud, lying... NOT things a respectable and professional childminder would EVER consider doing.

It is unfortunate that she is in this predicament.. but her predicament will only worsen should she dig an even deeper hole and start practicing illegally.

I wrote on your other thread not realising you had posted twice here is my original response

Could you ask her to register as a home childcarer for you?

information on childminders

information on home childcarers

that way she can work at your house and you can still use tax credits or vouchers as she is registered with ofsted still

The other option is to allow her to work without permission which is likely to mean her insurance is invalid and you could end up up the creek without a paddle if her landlord ever finds out because even with a contract he could still refuse and she may jeopardise her tenancy and deposit by doing it.