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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Nanny off with depression

86 replies

FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:04

Our nanny is off with depression having attempted suicide.

I do not want to make things worse for her but am worried how reliable she will be looking after my 3 year old. It's a demanding job and can be quite lonely which could be quite difficult for her. My DD is bright and active so you need to be alert.

She has only been with us for since the beginning of the summer but she's been good until now.

Also, I have no idea when she may come back. I cannot afford to pay two nannies but need reliable childcare or I will be out of work.

Do I keep the job open - not sure how - or give her notice ?

OP posts:
Gigondas · 26/10/2011 18:05

What does your contract say about sick leave?

addictediam · 26/10/2011 18:12

Notice on what grounds? You cant make her redundant as you need a nanny, but AFAIK sacking her for being ill is illegal. What does your contract say about sick leave, pay etc?

lesstalkmoreaction · 26/10/2011 18:28

Is she ofsted registered? if she is they will need to be informed.

Original poster
FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:33

Not ofsted registered and contract says 1 month notice. She has been with us a short time so it is not redundancy.

My worry is the safety of my DD?

OP posts:
scarlettsmummy2 · 26/10/2011 18:34

You can sack her without giving a reason- she has no employment rights until she has been working for you for a year. Or alternatively she could just claim statutory sick pay- you wouldn't then have to pay her also, and could take someone else on. Might seem a bit harsh but it is a risk for anyone self-employed.

Original poster
FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:34

And I am paying sick pay

OP posts:
scarlettsmummy2 · 26/10/2011 18:37

You don't have to pay her sick pay- if she gets a doctor line she can claim statutory, this would be pretty normal (i know as I am doing tis with one of the people on my team who is off for the same reason and has only been with us since july.)

RitaMorgan · 26/10/2011 18:38

Presumably the nanny isn't self-employed though?

Why are you worried about your DD's safety? Depression doesn't make you a danger to children Confused

You need to find out when your nanny is likely to come back, and get a doctor to certify that she is fit to work I think. Is sick pay in the contract? If not just pay SSP and hire a temp.

magicOC · 26/10/2011 18:39

Can't advise on the legalities of it all, but, i'm sorry for your nanny she clearly has some problems in her life and I hope she can get the help she needs, but, to be honest I couldn't let her look after my child/children under the circumstances.

I'm actually a nanny not a mum so I can see it from a different angle, and if this was me you were describing, I would not be shocked if you said you had to let me go.

As horrible for her as it is being made redundant on top of everything else that's going on, she needs time to recover.

Find another nanny. You might have to keep the job open for her and she will go on SSP, but, as I said earlier, no idea legally so.......

Where's Nannynick???? He usually has a pretty good idea of stuff like this.

Good luck.

Original poster
FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:39

Can I ask her to tell me when she expects to be able to return to work?

OP posts:
magicOC · 26/10/2011 18:41

Rita, the nanny attempted suicide Sad

I too would worry.

Original poster
FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:42

And RitaMorgan I am worried about my DDs safety as she tried to kill herself. And I understand she almost succeeded. Would she be focused enough to care for a 3 year old ?

OP posts:
magicOC · 26/10/2011 18:42

OP she should speak to her doc re this. He will probably sign her off anyway

magicOC · 26/10/2011 18:43

Well said Fiona

Original poster
FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:43

I really don't want to make things worse for her but I am worried for DD.

OP posts:
going · 26/10/2011 18:43

It's fine to ask her if and when she is planning on returning to work.

I really feel for her but wouldn't be happy for her to look after my children after a suicide attempt.

going · 26/10/2011 18:44

You have to put the needs of your dd and yourself first.

magicOC · 26/10/2011 18:44

Is she OFSTED OP

Original poster
FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:46

I can't write to her and give her notice in such a state.

OP posts:
MrsMilton · 26/10/2011 18:46

I know sacking her will be a big blow and you will worry about worsening her mental state but.... in the same situation I would absolutely put my DCs first. She may not be a danger to them directly but she is a danger to herself and that would be enough for me. It's sounds tough but I just wouldn't want somebody so clearly unhappy and troubled (and I do sympathise hugely) spending all day with my DCs. Not fair on them and probably not what she needs either - being at home with little ones can be lonely for anyone.

Poor girl though, I do hope she is getting help.

Original poster
FionaSR · 26/10/2011 18:47

No. Not ofsted. Does it matter?

OP posts:
C0smos · 26/10/2011 18:49

I would look for a new nanny. My nanny had some time off after her husband beat her up. I felt terrible for her but was worried about her mental state and whether she was in the right state of mind to look after my DS when she was black and blue. luckily she got rid and is much better now, but you do have to put your child's well being first in these instances.

addictediam · 26/10/2011 18:49

Ahh, sorry missed she'd been working less than a year, i would look at terminating her contract then, or paying ssp and hiring a temp. however attempted sucied suggests she has serious problems to deal with and needs months if not a year sorting herself out. You need to be having some sort of conversation with her.

And in all honesty i wouldn't want her looking after my dd untill i was sure she was sorted and better

mandoo · 26/10/2011 18:50

I think if you are concerned or worried about you child whilst she is in the care of your current nanny, for what ever reason, then you need to be looking for a new nanny. It sounds harsh given the circumstances but your top priority must be your child surely.

RitaMorgan · 26/10/2011 18:50

If she's so ill that she can't work safely then she'll need to stay on sick leave anyway. I'd wait until she is feeling better and get a note from her doctor about her fitness to work unsupervised with a young child before sacking her.

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