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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

CM CLUB:May need a bit of advice re SN Mindee

17 replies

PinkChick · 10/05/2007 16:49

had an enquiry from child care plus, little boy age 5 for care during hols 2-3 days per week for 4 hours per day.
he has autism, but she could epand on that ie how it affects him, how severe etc..said his mum would prefer someone with knowledge of autism, but theyd told her there was no one with that training available/on books, so i said i like to speak with her to see if i could help.
sorry to be ignorant, but is there a 'usual' or 'common' charichteristic(sp) with autistic children and what could i do/prepare myself to help me care for him adequatly???
TIA

OP posts:

Katymac · 10/05/2007 16:56

First of all Pickchick - it would be a "mindee with SN" rather than the other way round

I'm off out now - but I'll get back to you later? (if no-onwe else has)

Original poster

PinkChick · 10/05/2007 16:59

i just cant say anything right just now

OP posts:

misdee · 10/05/2007 17:02

oh dont worry pinkchick.

comman charatistic of autism, well every child is different including those with disabilities. Its probably best to speak to the mother and see what works for her ds.

My friends son with autism doesnt like other children crying, so if we hear a child crying neasrby she covers his ears to help calm him.

Booh · 10/05/2007 17:04

I would have put SN Mindee too!

I look after a little boy who is just five who has dyslexia, dyphraxia and autism, but at the lower end of the scale. He does demand A LOT of attention TBH, but I love having him (and his little brother who we think is the same too!)

We have to keep things the same as he does not cope with change at all, so in the school hols he thinks he is still going to school. He has no idea what meal comes next (ie he won't remember having b'fast and that lunch is next) he doesn't understand what tomorrow is.

I answer the same question about 1000 times and he doesn't remember, he also suffers with violent outburst and has to be restrained if he gets upset or more likely confussed!

Talk to the mum and see what you feel

Good luck

crace · 10/05/2007 17:12

It totally depends PC - my son (10) has autism but a mild form. It has gotten "better" (more manageable I should say) with age, and 5 was not fun for us. That was his first year of school and he threw a chair at his pregnant teacher. Also stood on a table, and told everyone to F off. Yes - he was 5.

It isn't much better tbh, but it's a little better. Now I am permanently frustrated with him and the talking back - but then he is 10. He just can't be reasoned with - it's his way, period.

I think you just need to talk to the mum and see what the severity is but I think the people are right - there won't be that many people "qualified" on books.

I will be honest, it is challenging - bt it's only 4 hours a day. Just find out what the little boy is like and would go from there but be honest with her if you think you can't deal, trust me it's ok to say no..

dmo · 10/05/2007 17:20

booth my mindee is the same as yours
it is hard work and i only have my mindee less than 1 hr per day after school
best talking to the parent but the other children you have will accommdate the child with ease and prob may not even notice

SpookyMadMummy · 10/05/2007 17:45

My ASD dd1 likes routine. If you take on this mindee it may take a short while for him to become accustomed to your routine and you need to be prepared for this.

nannynick · 10/05/2007 18:23

Children with diagnosed Autism can vary a lot, due to Autism being a spectrum disorder affecting the mind (hope that's a simplistic way of putting it). Some children with Autism do not speak, while others can speak. Some are toilet trained, some aren't. There are just too many variables to be able to describe a typical child with autism, I feel.

If you post a question over at the Special Needs board , I am sure you will get a variety of replies from parents / carers of children with autism. That may help give you more idea of what you could be facing.

I would say that you MUST meet the child before you agree to care for him. Some children with autism can find changes hard, so from an initial meeting you will get a feel for how well he copes with change and new places, plus be able to find out more about him, what he likes and dislikes.
Does he require 1:1 care? I work with a child aged 4 who is autistic and he really benefits from 1:1 care. If you have lots of other mindees, then you may find it hard. However, the spectrum is large, so some children with autism do not need 1:1 care. So you need to try to find out where about on the spectrum he falls - a possible indicator could be which school he attends, as some children will not be integrated in mainstream education.

Working with children with autism is good fun, but hard work. I do a few hours every weekend, and will be doing a lot more over the summer holidays both on a 1:1 basis and in a group setting (playscheme).
Hope that is of some help.

Katymac · 10/05/2007 18:28

I wasn't having a go Pickchick

I am a childminder with a disability not a disabled childminer (iyswim)

I think Nick has said anything I could have.....(probably better than me)

ThePrisoner · 10/05/2007 20:40

I have minded several children with varying special needs and, as you would with any child, you have to meet the parents and child and see how you all get on. Some of the children have been placements from Social Services, and it has not been possible to meet beforehand - but I always ask lots and lots of questions, and check that any individual child will be OK with whichever other children I may have at the time.

Just because you don't have experience doesn't mean that you are not willing to learn so, assuming that you would like to care for this child, just make sure that you say this.

My own experience with a child with autism was very much learnt "on the job." He started with me, as had been planned, and his mum told me that he was exhibiting some "strange behaviour" and thought I wouldn't want to care for him. His GP thought he might be autistic, which it later transpired that he was. His mum and I basically learnt everything at the same time.

FeelingOld · 10/05/2007 21:06

I do respite care via social services for a nine year old boy with autism during the school holidays.
When I first met him and his mum I asked LOTS of questions, I asked his mum to bear with me but I said I would like to have as much info as possible.
My mindee likes a routine which we go through when he arrives and we stick to it. He also doesn't like too much noise so I have him on the days I don't have too many other children (luckily his mum is flexible, she just needs some time to spend with her other children). Some things we have done have worked, some haven't, just like they do with all children.
Apparantly he goes home with lots to tell his mum which is unusual for him as he doesn't usually talk very much so I must be doing something right

crace · 11/05/2007 06:29

Feelingold - That might be something I would like to do with my own ds, I love him to pieces but I am shattered! How do I get him in a respite program? I don't have access to public funds though, am American on a VISA so no public funding.. but maybe this would be different?

FeelingOld · 11/05/2007 17:47

In my area a new programme started last year where a group of childminders were given lots of 'inclusion' training and then we had an interview and our details were looked at by a commitee made up of social services personnel as well as our inclusion development worker and a number of us became 'approved inclusive childminders'.
Basically this means that when social services need care for children with additional needs there a group of us who are already approved and therefore make the process much quicker. I do not know if this service is available in all areas.
Some times care can be a one off, or like me could be occasional during school holidays or it can be a regular contract.

Not sure how you find out about it all from the parents point of view though.

FeelingOld · 11/05/2007 17:49

When I am needed I get contacted by the childs social worker who arranges it all so if he has a social worker you could ask them if it is available in your area.
If you are prepared to pay for it yourself you could have a look on the CIS website to see if any childminders are listed as being inclusive childminders.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

Original poster

PinkChick · 11/05/2007 20:15

..the mum rang me today introduced her self(very broken english) and said she was looking to bring her son to me 2-3 days, i said yea, great..she said and he is autistic..i said ok, right..so i think it would be a good idea to come round with your son, let him meet me and we can discuss his routines and needs...she asked where i live and asks if thats "in the town"(i assume she has not long moved here from out of area/abraod) and i said no, its closer to xxx..i then said if she bears with me ill check the register and see when im most quiet next week so we can chat and make her son comfortable in my surroundings, she then cut me short and sadi it ok, shell ring me sometime next week to see when she can come and put phone down!???

am baffled????, thought i was doing ok?

OP posts:

tobysmumkent · 11/05/2007 22:24

Message withdrawn

Original poster

PinkChick · 12/05/2007 20:43

thanks tobysmumkent, i think it was probably the distance from them too(although not far, it could have been awkward if she doesnt drive?)

i think he already gos to school(he is 5) as the care was just for school holidays.

OP posts:

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