Childminder/Nanny confusion

[vicks71]

Hi there, I'm currently looking to recruit a nanny. I've had a few possible candidates who have answered my ad and I'm reviewing them all at the moment. One lady said that she's an ofsted registered childminder. I queried whether she was looking for work as a childminder as what I actually need is a nanny, not a CM. (I currently use a CM but want to switch to a nanny.) She replied that she is looking for work as either, ie in her home or in mine.

So far, so good - but I'm just not sure if there is anything else that I need to clarify with her about this. She's registered with Ofsted as a childminder. Would her looking after just my kids in my home affect this? Presumably she wouldn't be subject to the Ofsted checks etc anymore as she would just be stopping being a CM and being hired as a nanny instead.

Ofsted registration for a nanny would be a plus point for me as I understand (is this right?) that it's needed before you can use childcare vouchers to pay a nanny. But would this woman need to reregister as a nanny? Presumably if she's "opting out" of the CM procedures by working for me as a nanny, then I can't benefit from her current ofsted registration etc.

I will obviously ask her all of this when I meet her but just wondered if anyone had any thoughts.

On a different note (and this probably should be a separate post) - she has a school age child of her own. She hasn't yet mentioned wanting to bring her child along during holidays but she may well do, and in fact, another candidate has asked that (she said she'd reduce her holiday daily rate in light of this) and so I want to be prepared. Is this something that is common? Are there any pitfalls that I should be aware of when considering a candidate who wants to do this?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

To care for children at your home, she would need to change her registration address to your home - which then would mean that your home can be inspected by Ofsted and has to meet the requirements of a childminding premises.

Perhaps send Ofsted an e-mail and ask them specifically about what happens if a childminder childminds from your home (ie. not the childminder's own home) without changing their registration type.

Yes, to use childcare vouchers you have to be using registered or approved care (a nanny who is on the Ofsted Childcare Register is Approved Care, whereas the Childminder is Registered care - least that's how I think it works.)

I think the childminder can re-register as a nanny... but it is a different registration. She should really discuss that with Ofsted.

Have a look through past message posts on here about nannies bringing their own children to work. Some parents expect to pay less, whilst others will pay the same. There are various pros and cons to take into account. Also look at messages on here about Nanny Shares, as some pros and cons will be similar.

Thanks nannynick. I'm not sure I'd want my home to be inspected!

Sounds like I (and/or she) need to chat to Ofsted if I do decide that she is the one (I'm interviewing a few people in the coming week).

I did exactly this, was registered as a CM, changed to become a nanny, all I needed to do was phone Ofsted and ask to be taken off the Early Years Register and just remain on the Voluntary Register. My EY number stayed the same, and I didnt need to see anybody (I was within my inspection period so the could check my First Aid and such were in date).

She can add being a nanny to her registration and add it to her insurance. I started as a childminder and did this. My certificate states I can do both, I have recently been inspected at home as a childminder even though I have no children on role, she was also perfectly happy to inspect me as a nanny but said there was no need and I would possibly get a call the same as any other nannies.
She does not have to deregister as a childminder, she can do both but the only stipulation is that if I have no intention of returning to work as a childminder after 2 years ofsted can force me to deregister as a childminder and register as just a nanny but ofsted said this isn't likely to happen.

Also my EY number is on the certificate and I can except vouchers for both childminding and nannying. I do it all as self employed as I say what hours i'm available so the difference would be that she can continue being self employed for her childminding but if you were to employ her then she can also be employed.
Its all above board and fine with hmrc.

I gave up my CM registration because I knew I didnt want to cm (we had moved house and didnt want to live in a nursery any more).

Thanks for the info ladies, useful to know that the same URN is kept when childminders change or add on the nannying part.

As a registered childminder you can choose to work as a nanny but you would have normally registered with Ofsted as a homechildcarer which means you are working in the parents home.Parents homes are certainly not Ofsted inspected it is only childminders own homes that would be Ofsted inspected.it is right that as an Ofsted registered nanny that you can then use your childcare vouchers.I personally dont see it any great issue in a nanny bringing her own child however consider carefully the costs of this not just in pay but also as the time spent with your children too and whether your own children will be treated any differently to hers. Consider any food her child may eat whilst in your home and also any others costs to you.

Thanks for all the advice everyone - that's clarified things. It sounds like it's less of an issue for her to "switch" from being a CM to a nanny after all, and hopefully I'd be able to go down the vouchers route too.

Much appreciated. Back to the interviews!