Trusting people to look after your children

[Daisy1906]

Hi everyone,

I'm probably one of the few people on here that isn't a parent, nor pregnant. I do however, have lots of friends who have young children and am aware of just how difficult affording childcare is for so many people. This has been at the back of my mind for sometime and I've come up with an idea for a business, which aims to solve (if not completely, then partially) this problem for lots of parents.

I've recently hit a bit of a stumbling block and wondered if any of you on here might be able to help me by answering the following:

When looking for Childminders/Nanny's/Babysitters (etc) (and assuming that you don't know them), what is it that would provide you with enough trust in them to leave them alone with you children?
Is it a good reference? A DBS check? Meeting them first in person? Recommendations from friends? All of the above? Some other things?

Perhaps a better question might be this:

If you went onto a website to choose someone to look after your child, what (if anything) would give you peace of mind that they will be safe?

If there are things that don't answer this question directly, but that you feel might be helpful or relevant in some way then please do say.

Any feedback this experienced community on Mumsnet is highly appreciated!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

D

My 10 month old goes to a childminder. Reviews from the other kids parents really swung it for me, also meeting her beforehand whilst the kids were there to see how she operates. Being registered as well.

Everyone who looks after my DC is either someone I know personally, or a trained professional working within their field, with all the relevant background checks, qualifications, professional regulators, etc.

No way would I leave them with someone I've found on the internet.

Anyone registered with ofsted has dbs, first aid, safeguarding, etc. most settings can also provide visits and references. Local authority sites, ofsted and childcare.co.uk are available to provide all this information. I'm not sure what you're planning to add.

From a childcarers perspective, I meet families in person, at their home, so I can interact with their child/children and get a feel for if we are going to get along.

Occasionally getting paid is a problem, so maybe having some kind of credit check on the parents would be handy. Trust works both ways... they trust me to provide care for children and home, and I trust them to pay the bill.

Parents find me via ChildcareCoUk and local facebook group. In the long past, it used to be via knowing people... I knew people by doing Beavers, Cubs, Church crèche, and thus friends of people I knew would get to know about me.
That can still happen now, someone contacts me because they know someone for whom I have worked.

Word of mouth helps

Agencies

Websites

Yes the above should check the childcarers stuff but sure some don't

As a parent now I would always als to see refs dbs pli first aid and certificates and possibly passport /driving license as proof of identity

I've been a childminder for 22 years and all of my work is from recommendations, I've never had to advertise.All of my families have been with me for a number of years and I've had the children since they were young babies.