CM Club: I need a new Policy; could anyone help me write my new policy; actually could anyone write it for me?

[KatyMac]

I work in a team

We can have up to 9 children under 5

Occasionally people are off sick or have family emergencies

Normally we can call someone else in & we cover the children, but atm we are a bit short staffed

We can cover our commitments but if someone is sick at the same time as someone is on holiday we could be caught short

So should we close? Should we send some children home or refuse to have them?

I think we need a policy or maybe a procedure?

Any ideas?

Why would you need to fully close if some carers were still present? Or were you thinking for fairness - everyone has to find alternative care rather than turning away just one or two children?

If you did stay open and have to pick one or two children to turn away for that day, I don't know how you could really pick which ones. Maybe "first in last out" - the most recently contracted parents? Or the ones with the least contracted hours? Or the ones who you know have a viable short-term alternative eg. helpful nearby granny? No matter what you do it would probably lead to grumbles.

If you have designated "key workers" as such, maybe whichever person is off sick/on leave and can't be covered - their designated children?

Oh yes - we do use keyworkers - that will help (as long as one person doesn't have too much time off)

I am also worried about bringing it up with parents - as it has only happened once in 5.5 yrs (& in that case we were all ill - D&V)

I don't have any assistants, but I'd stay open as often as possible. Freqent closures could damage your reputation as well as your finances. While it may seem unfair on the families whose keyworker is unwell (especially where one keyworker is off sick more often than another) it would IMO be even more unfair to send everyone home if it could be avoided.

So mine would go something like this:
Healthy Environment Policy

To ensure a healthy environment for your child, carers are not permitted to come into work within 48 hours of any vomiting/diarrhoea, or while suffering any infectious condition(insert list from your staff contract/handbook) Where possible, we will hire substitute staff to avoid closure. (could add details about your vigorous suitability checks). However, we must ensure that any substitute carer is suitably qualified to maintain our standards and also meet our legal obligations.

We cannot exceed the child ratios as specified on our Ofsted Registration Certificate and Public Liability Insurance Policy at any time. Therefore, if we are unable to find suitable substitute carers to enable us to comply with the legal requirements, we will unfortunately not be able to accept children whose keyworkers are absent. In this unusual situation, there would, of course, be no charge for the time period your child was unable to attend for this reason.

Sorry I have been poorly & I totally forgot I wrote this

Your advice is very good - Thanks

Check with Ofsted and insurers - In NI,if theres an emergency, then a neighbour (unregistered) or another registered childminder can take my kids (even if it puts them over their numbers). Even if it was for a day to give the parents enough time to find suitable alternative arrangements for the remainder of the time the worker is expected to take off. Maybe they could let you have a friend come in - they would stay in communal areas with the kids (to minimise problems with child protection etc) As you say, its so irregular I cant imagine it would be a major issue, but great that you are thinking ahead, and I think the parents would be very grateful that you are being so well organised.