Help - I'm sick - back-up advice needed asap

[StrawberryMartini]

Woke up in middle of the night with chronic sickness diarrhoea bug and feel shit. Need to call parents asap - have one back-up childminder but she wouldn't be able to take both.

Questions:

I don't charge when I'm sick - do they just pay the back-up childminder for the day at her rates?

Is there any paperwork (have already a permission form signed for situations like today) or can they just drop off at back-up?

If back-up can't take them, should I ring other cms in the area - I don't know any personally?

Thanks.

OK it's not so urgent now - mum of mindee arriving at 8am is going to stay home with him. Will call the other one when I get some advice from you guys!

i work within a group we all have each other emergancy contacts for minddees so when they go to others in sits like this. And I pay the other Cm

sorry that was not a very good answer. children arriving.

parents pay me as normal and i then pay the sub cm.

1. Yes,parents should just payother childminder (hopefully at the same rate you charge). If it's not the same rate you should tell them when you call to point them in her direction.

2. Don't think there is any paper work. As you are not providing the service today. Some other childminder is so any agreement regarding today is between parent and other childminder.

3- Yes, even if you ring around and can't find anyone, I think the parents would appreciate that you made an effort. I know I would!

OK, my back-up cm can't take him - I would feel strange ringing cms that I don't know asking if they can take my mindee for the afternoon - as I'm new I haven't really networked yet. Would it still be ok to do this?

Oh, I thought you knew people you could call on. If you don't know them at all, I think giving the parents a list of numbers to possibly ring would be okay.

Giving parents some other numbers to try should be enough. If I can, I do ring the local childminders I know, so that when I tell the parent I'm closed I can give them the number of someone with a space. TBH no-ones ever taken up an option I've given them, prefering to use grandparents or take time off work rather than use someone they don't know.

If I can't find anyone with space then I just give them CIS phone number and websites like www.emergencychildcare.co.uk.

It is the parent's responsibility to pay any substitute carer, fill in their permission forms etc and you should be clear that putting parents in touch with another carer does not constitute a recommendation. Parent should be made aware that fees, policies & procedures may not be the same as yours.

Hope you feel better soon

how'd it go??

FFR i would make up a list of cm's you know(careful NOT to recopmend, ive had this bite me on the bum!, just suggest parents see/speak to them) and add childcareplus and emergency childcare number too it, then give to every aprent with print out of"in case i am unable to care for your child" and keep a copy incase they(and prob will!) lose it so you can read numbers outt o them..hope youre feeling better??

snap ayla99

Oh strawbs, how you feel better soon {{{hugs}}}