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

CM with complaint against her. Should I be put off?

21 replies

EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 07/09/2006 12:16

i've seen a cm with a good ofsted but who has had a complaint against her. ofsted investigated and she was found to be person fit to care for children (ie nothing came of the complaint). should i be put off? i can see how someone could make a frivolous or vindictive complaint with no grounds...and she seemed really nice but it niggles - am i being over cautious? wondered if anyone had any experience of this?

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Twiglett · 07/09/2006 12:20

what did she about the complaint

and personally yes I would be put off immensely

Twiglett · 07/09/2006 12:22

I didn't complain about my first childminder but should have .. I turned up late once and there were about 7 children there .. would have made DS the 8th .. she was only allowed 3 .. she said that the extras were an emergency and ofsted-approved

bollocks

and I didn't complain about that . .it takes a lot for parents to actually complain I think .. and ofsted inspections aren't worth diddly

Medulla · 07/09/2006 12:23

It really would depend on the nature of the complaint. If I really liked her I would have to sit down and talk to her quite frankly about it too

bran · 07/09/2006 12:28

You could ask her about it and see what she says. There was a childminder on here recently, I can't remember who now, who had a complaint lodged against here accidently (the complaint was actually against another childminder but Ofstead made a mistake). I think even though it was a mistake the complaint stayed on her record with a clearance from Ofstead, so it could be something similar for this childminder.

Marina · 07/09/2006 12:30

I agree with Medulla and Twig. Ofsted are not much cop IMO and might well consider a complaint invalid on an issue that would really bother a parent. I should have complained about my first and only CM too but it doesn't say anything in the guidelines about being a vindictive old hag towards the mum
You have to get her to be honest about what happened and then judge for yourself.
I have to say there are stories of mindees' parents being hugely unreasonable and horrible to their CMs on here weekly Your CM might have had a complaint from someone just out to cause trouble, or with wildly unreasonable demands.

EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 07/09/2006 12:33

i did ask her about it and it happened when she reported something to ss and parents were annoyed and complained about her. parents and cm were cleared. i have no reason to disbelieve her but of course, i don't know her. i can see how this would happen and if it did happen as she says (and i stress i have no reason other than ultra caution - we're talking about my dd here!) i can understand how that situation would arise. i just wondered if anyone had had a complaint against them and had an opinion on whether ofsted only investigated serious allegations and weeded out spurious complaints (although i assume they investigage all complaints and it's just bad news for the cm that a groundless complaint stays on her record).

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Medulla · 07/09/2006 12:36

If the the original complaint to SS was unfounded you can understand why the parents were angry with her. Why didn't she talk to the parents first before going to SS? (Maybe she did?)

serenity · 07/09/2006 12:37

I know of a CM with a cleared complaint on her file. She got into a dispute over pay and the parent made some overblown complaint when CM told her she was going to take her to Small Claims court. CM was cleared, but the complaint's still on her file.

I'd ask the CM outright what it was for, and see how you feel from there. It would be a pity to lose out on good childcare over something she's been cleared of.

serenity · 07/09/2006 12:38

sorry, xposts, just ignore me

EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 07/09/2006 12:42

you're not meant to alert the parents if you have concerns and go to ss - and i can see why. i can also completely understand why the parents were upset ... but also part of me thinks she did the right thing if she was concerned and i'd rather have a childminder who was on the case than lax... on the other hand, utter nightmare to be reported to ss.
frustrated and childish wail 'why is everything so complicated'. sorry.

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Medulla · 07/09/2006 12:47

Blimey CM seems to be a complicated business. I have no experience of it at all so excuse my ignorance. I would be horrified if CM went straight to SS without speaking to me first but if that's what they are supposed to do!

PeachyClairHasBadHair · 07/09/2006 13:21

Personally, it wouldn't worry me a jot if that was what it was for. I'd rather have a Cm who cared enough about the child and had the balls to go to SS than one who allowed a child she believed at that time to be at risk to possibly remain in a dangerous situation.

I would also suggest it's a likely story, as a lot of petential parents would be out off by SS being mentioned, so doesn't sound 'concocted'

Alsi believe it's very wrong that this can happen to a cm, that they should have to consider how it affects their career prospects before going to SS

EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 07/09/2006 16:15

yes, i agree peachyclairhasbadhair. it's very unfair that something like this can look bad on the cm's ofsted. they must have to think very carefully before contacting ss - this is why i was inclined to believe her. tbh i feel a bit bad posting about it as she did come across as honest and caring..but it's been a long search for childcare and i'm on a hairtrigger for worrying! as it happens we have just been to see another cm who we've asked to take dd as she had a cracking ofsted, a great set up and was much closer to us than the cm with the complaint. phew. the search is over (i hope, will believe it when contracts signed!).
thanks to all for opinions and advise. mn-ers really are invaluable. x

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ThePrisoner · 07/09/2006 20:20

It will be of no consolation whatsoever, but I know of a childminder who had so many complaints made against her over the years that it defied belief that she was allowed to continue minding. These ranged from "minor" issues like regularly being over her numbers and how she was with the children (in public), but included not strapping children into her car, and smacking.

Complaints were made by other childminders and parents she minded for. We would tell Ofsted when she would be at any particular place (like toddler group) but, apparently, they were "unable" to investigate that sort of thing. They would ring her up, she'd say that everyone was vindictive, and that was the end of that!!

The smacking issue was raised by several previous parents, and I actually minded one of her ex-mindees - and he told me some sorry tales (I was the first person he had told, and he'd been told not to say anything. Thankfully, he allowed me to tell his parents). Ofsted said that the complaint couldn't continue unless parents involved Social Services or the police!

I also know of several minders who have had "properly vindictive" complaints made against them and, even if they've been agreed as vindictive, they have remained on file. Some of them were really really nasty, but unfounded. A parent is obviously going to think "no smoke without fire". The system stinks.

However, I did have some literature through recently that said that the system was changing and, if I remember correctly, that proven vindictive complaints would not be put onto our inspection reports. They would have to remain "on file", just in case.

ThePrisoner · 07/09/2006 20:21

Oops, sorry, that was a bit long!

Iceorlemon · 07/09/2006 20:51

May i just add? cm I know personally and admire,took on new baby,2 weeks trial at parents request,all went well signed contract, cm charges month in advance.After 4 days parents move to new cm (50p an hour cheaper) cm sticks to her guns, parents refuse to pay!!! About a month later ofsted on doorstep investigating reports of hygene and safty! cm distraught has to respond to complaint. IT was taken no futher. ofsted officer was actually lovely(sure they,re not supposed to be) BUT that is now on record and must be told to all interviewed parents in future if they ask!!!!!

ThePrisoner · 07/09/2006 22:01

I've heard so many similar stories

EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute · 07/09/2006 22:13

it does seem like a bad system. i do feel for the cm i have met and am amazed to hear of the cm who had many complaints against her and yet nothing was done. i hope it does change.

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mummybunny · 08/09/2006 16:26

I know a CM who was accused of hitting a child after she asked the parents for much - overdue payment. She is a lovely CM and I would trust her with my own, but she now has the complaint on file, even through she was utterly vindicated.

Iceorlemon · 08/09/2006 18:43

This makes me so sad for really good cm's who just cant handle the nastiness and finish! I know we need a system for complaints but its so open to abuse? Surely if a complaint is found to be ungrounded it should be thrown out completely not even mentioned on file? The powers that be must realise that these things happen

babydales · 08/09/2006 18:53

Bran I think you will find that you were talking about my case. Thanks for remembering. I was mistakenly accused of mis handling a childs behaviour. It was a case of mistaken identity as I wear an easily recognisable uniform and the complainant took my name off my uniform and complained to Ofsted, even though the complaint was against another childminder sitting at the next table, the complainant thought we all worked together and that I was in charge. WRONG. I was investigated by the SS and Ofsted who both agreed it was the other childminder. However, the complaint was put on my record. This would have affected my business considerably because this is exactly the sort of situation that I feared would happen. People thinking badly of me. It took me two weeks to get the allegation REMOVED from my record, and if anyone would like to get theirs removed then email me on [email protected] and I will tell you how I did it.
TP you are also correct as from September 1st 2006 unfounded complaints will no longer be registered, this is only for complaints investigated from this date and does not mean that all unfounded allegations already on record will be removed. A resolution to get past allegations removed will be debated at the NCMA conference in November.And probably a fat lot of good that will do. Anyway rant over. If you are concerned about a complaint against a childminder then ask them about it and even ask parents of children she cares for and other childminders if they know about it. Check her out as best you can and go with what you think is right.

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