Lone parent to childminder in Scotland? Anyone trod this path before?

[HerrenaHarridan]

And if so fancy illuminating it a little for me?

The main reasons I want to do it are;

I love small children and the activities you can do with them, the crafts, basic cooking, dr suess books, crazy dancing!

My dd is an only child and I would like for her to get used to sharing her home as if she had siblings, she is very sociable and would love the company.

I live in a bungalow with plenty of space in the right places for kids to play in and just dd to play in it. Also have a garden and a park right outside the gate.

Since my ex left I have been stuck on benefits and I want to be earning my own money but my earning potential is low so childcare costs would pretty much eradicate my wages.

My main questions are;

How on earth so you childproof your home when every toy in the know universe says not suitable for under 3s, even crayons! For my own I just interpret this and supervision required!

What courses do I have to to to be qualified?

I have a dog, she's as childproof as it possible to be, is this likely to be a problem?

What do I do when I need time off for my dds hospital appts, I don't want to mess parents about, Is it possible to bring someone in from an agency?

What happens with benefit transition while I'm getting established!

What have I missed?!?

Thank if you've read all of that!

My DH has recently registered in Scotland so I can maybe help with some of the questions

Childproofing - our playroom is full of toys for all ages. Our DD is 3 so a lot of these toys are aimed at her age at the moment - we put away things which have dangerously small parts, we have some Ikea Trofast which holds craft stuff but there are certainly numerous 3+ toys around. Inspector didn't bat an eyelid. We have socket covers (not the individual ones but one which goes over the entire socket including plugs in it), and a stairgate at the top of the stairs (main playroom is upstairs). A latch on our bathroom door, and all medicines and cleaning products stored high up in there. We've basically created a floor of our house which is the main kiddyzone. They do come down to the livingroom/dining room to eat and this was checked over but it's a very normal livingroom with no particular childproofing going on as they will be supervised at all times in there.

Courses - First aid (red cross do one for under £40) and food hygiene (online city and guild one is ok) if you are providing any food

We have cats - absolutely fine. We have a "pet policy" which covers the benefits of children interacting with animals and how this will be managed in the home. Because of the stairgate they don't get in to the main play area when mindees are around. Parents have to sign this.

I don't know about the benefits transition I'm afraid.

It takes quite a long time. Application submitted November, inspection done in April, approval through days later. Took them ages to sort out the PVG registration (would help if they hadn't kept assuming I was the childminder instead of DH!) which was the main hold up.

Any questions just ask

At them assuming you were the childminder!

Thanks for the info it's give me an idea of where to start looking

Can I ask you a slightly personal silly question?
Does your house still feel like a home?

At the moment - not really! But, we are still settling in to things - our current full timer has only just started and DH hasn't quite got his routine sorted yet so seems to be spending a lot of time downstairs feeding, making bottles, dealing with queries (because we are new and actively advertising) etc etc.

Long term I think it will be ok, but it is very easy for it to take over and I think it's important if possible to have some defined adult/family spaces that don't get taken over with toys. I'm studying towards exams which is causing issues as I need quiet space so I am going to start being a little firmer.

(That's code for he's not spending enough time in the blooming playroom for my liking and is getting his ass kicked upstairs!!)

But - it's not bothering him. I think it only bothers me because whilst I'm very supportive it's not my business if that makes sense. I am contemplating sticking a mini fridge upstairs so that bottles and basic snacks can be in the playroom so downstairs time is limited to meals - I think that will make a huge difference.

Hmmm, yes I can see that would be a difficult one, with you being home also and needing to study.

I'm not really sure I'd be able to create an entirely mindee free space or if that would be as necessary with there only being one adult.

It is a huge deal turning your home into your work place, I worry that I would find the lack if distinction between work and home difficult.

Do you have a napping space separate from the play room?

What is your husband planning to do if he needs to take time off?

Thanks for answering

Our napping space at the moment is DD's bedroom - as she is still young her bedroom is only really used for sleeping and the playroom is right beside it. So we have an extra cot in there. Our current littlie is a buggy napper though so she sleeps when out or in the playroom.

I suspect DH won't need to take much time off - but our contract is that if he is ill or otherwise unavailable then the clients don't pay. There aren't that many things which would need done, which I couldn't do and which wouldn't be suitable to take a mindee to. He has started going to some playgroups which have lots of other childminders so hoping to build up a bit of a backup network that way

Something to be prepared for - and this might just be our area - is that there don't seem to be many people looking to use childminders alongside a standard 9-5 job for under 5s. Around here, there are lots of private nurseries so people with totally standard hours seem to go down that route. The little girl we have is the only full times we have been approached by (or seen advertising on childcare.co.uk). Most are after part time and some people are hideously unrealistic so be prepared for that. I've seen a lot of people working very varied shifts (literally all over the place) who would only need 15-20 hours a week care but because of the hours would essentially fill a full time equivalent.

Yes it's difficult to gauge where the saturation point is. I live on the outskirts of Edinburgh so the range is far and wide but there are also probably plenty of people doing it.

Are you allowed to cover for him if he need to do something? Did you have to be crb checked etc for that?

I feel like a right brat asking questions about time off but it's not what it sounds like. Dd has fairly frequent hospital appts and there is no way I could take a mindee to them

You're localish then - we're in the city centre. I am CRB checked due to living in the house but I actually have a full PVG for something else too so I could cover in an emergency

There seems to be a shortage of childminders around here - all the after school clubs are full to busting and have waiting lists. Looooooong waiting lists.

I'm cm in Scotland too, here goes -
You don't need to totally child proof your home, you do however need to risk assess all the areas you use for cm. Remove hazards you can remove - cleaning products, medicines, alcohol, blind cords etc and be able to state how you'll deal with anything that can't be removed - stairs, plugs, furniture etc.
You'll need a fire risk assessment, have mains wired, interconnected smoke alarms and if you're lucky some hunky firemen will come and check your house isn't a fire risk!
Local council environmental health will come and check your food prep areas - much less stressful than it sounds, I now trade recipes with my inspector.
Child protection, first aid and food hygiene training all obligatory but might be available through your local council or try scma and you can pay with your ILA if you're able to access it. I was registered and working before I did training, but have relevant degree so don't know if that made a difference.
I don't have a dog, but again risk assess and write a policy - shows you've thought about issues and how you'll deal with them.
I've been able to take minded children to hospital appt with my own dd - turn it into a learning exp, unless your dc has something infectious or very private of course.
You may also meet other cm who can help you out if you need time off, or parents may be really flexible - I've been really lucky so far, parents happy for me to take their dc wherever my dc need to be. I always try to balance things though so 20 minute hospital appt is combined with morning at park or museum next to hospital where we wouldn't normally go!
Best thing about this job is flexibility plus you get to play with littlies all day.

Oh I forgot about the smoke alarms - we'd just done a big renovation so ours were mains wired anyway.

The child protection course isn't mandatory in Edinburgh though. We also haven't been inspected by the council re food prep - we have filled in the correct form and it has now gone past the "tacit consent" period

Some appts might be ok physio etc but the more in depth ones I need to be able to concentrate.

Does you house still feel like a home?

I don't like the sound of having my kitchen inspected! I mean, I think it's fine but the idea of some one coming to inspect it well I'm glad statistically said that's not an Edinburgh thing.

The risk assessments must be pretty endless

If you have any choice in appointment times could you work part time - maybe only mornings or only doing after school, or having a specified day a week where you don't work. It might take you slightly longer to pick up the right clients but given how many people want part time anyway it could certainly be an option?

House still feels like home but I have playroom I can shut doors on and pretend its not full of plastic tat! Kitchen inspection was fine, just needed to see I have a fridge thermometer and know basics. I'd cleaned the skirting boards with an old toothbrush and she didn't even look. Risk assessments a hassle at first but after they're done they just need annually updated. Scswis recommend you do child protection training annually - doesn't have to be a course every year, but you have to show you keep up to date with it - so living in Edinburgh won't mean it's not mandatory.

That's a good idea!
If I have a double check with the various depts I may even be able to narrow down one day a week or even one half day a week that I could be available for appts that require my full attention.

Statistically! You're a genius, I may owe you my career and my bra!

A fridge thermometer?!? Why?

Thanks for starting a great thread also a LP here looking into CMing.