CM CLUB - WWYD with this on a contract re: notice of whether or not needed.........

[SugarSpiceandAllThingsNice]

I am putting together a new contract for one of my mindees as they are taking on extra days. There is 1 day a week they will not require me but are paying for the space anyway as it was the only way I could do the other days they wanted. Of course I will be available to care for mindee on that day as I'm being paid however I think I need to have some kind of notice to GUARANTEE being available? I.e. I could be somewhere and they could call wanting me at last minute but it may not be possible (I can't just sit at home in case they need me one day, the lo's grandparent with have them that day so it's very unlikely I'll be needed). What do you think would be reasonable to request for notice? By a certain time the night before maybe? 24 hours? What do you think would be fair?

Of course if they call and I'm at home then I will of course take them, I just think I need something in the contract just in case.

TIA

TBH if I was a parent and paying for that place, then I would expect you to be available. At least I would expect you to be able to get home within half an hour iyswim

I would expect any parent that needed you to call you the day before

PanicPants, I disagree with you, childminders have a life too you know, why should she sit in the house on the offchance that she's needed. Are you saying that on that day of the week she should not travel more than 30mins from her home?

Well it's only because they insisted they'll never need me and I'm working on filling the space so they don't need to pay for it. I would probably be here anyway and if not, be very close by. It's just that, for example, I am pregnant so to save messing them about on other days, will try and get my appointments on that day. In fact, that day of the week they won't need me is the ONLY day the midwife works at my surgery anyway so I ALWAYS have to make appointments for that day. It's no problem if mindee is with me from usual drop off time as they could just come with me (parents fine with that), it's just if they call and I'm at the appointment or something, I wouldn't be able to take mindee til I got back iyswim. As I say, it's very unlikely I'd be needed and parents would be fine with me having something in the contract, I just can't guarantee to be there at a drop of the hat

FFF2 - thanks, I must day I don't plan to just sit in on the off chance as they insisted I shouldn't be needed Also, I'll be advertising on emergency childcare database and if used, would refund them that portion of the fee. I HAVE to take the child if I get a booking from that system so actually, I think I need to have a set time the night before to enable me to update the database if I end up being needed by the parents.

That's a tricky one.. The are paying for the spot to remain open for the other days, but I wouldn't expect you to be sitting waiting for the phone to ring either! I would expect the night before as enough notice however, illness with grandparent etc, as fair notice.

Or you could just drop the fee for that day and just rely on ad-hoc/emergency care? I must say I would love to have a day off as my pregnancy continues and I might drop my one day a week p/t so I can rest up.

crace - no way can I afford to drop the day I'm afraid. The mum was desperate and without going into details on this thread, I actually changed mindees etc purely to suit them so if I drop the fee, I will have lost out for helping them. Plus, it's double rate as I did have 2 kiddies on that day before.

I supose it depends on the situation. If they aren't going to need you and DON'T mind if you aren't going to be available that makes a difference. BUT they are paying you. Otherwise whats the point in them paying you?

PP - it's really difficult, I don't really want to go into the ins and outs of why they are paying on here for certain reasons but most of the CMs on here know all about it. Lets just say I did the parents a favour by offering what they got. I know it sounds off but believe me, I was doing more of a favour for them!

Well ok then, we'll leave it at that

I know I'm sounding cagey but I'm being careful after I fell out with my own parents recently due to something they read on MN Under a different name of course

I would say minimum 24 hours notice, but explain as long as possible. I suppose you'd have to say something along the lines of 'in the unlikely event that I am not able to take mindee,I will of course re-emburse that days fees.'

Ooooh yeah i forgot this was this sisters thing. Gotcha. I would say as much notice as possible, 24 hours seems reasonable?

Mo, that sounds good too.

That's sounds cool. I think I'll say 24 hours notice but if I can't do that day for some reason, I will refund. I will however let them know they are welcome to still ask at last minute and if I can, I will, I just can't guarantee - sound ok?

Perfect! Chances are it'll always be OK, but you need to cover yourself.

That's it, just wanted the cover