Should I...

[Karmachameleon]

To cut a long story short - have been settling in a LO the past few weeks, due to start on Monday. Mum has not paid a deposit(I didn't ask) & is now not wanting to sign the contract (& pay in advance for month of Feb) because of an issue (I won't get into just yet) I'd initially said I'd charge for settling in on Feb's invoice but now am worried she'll do a runner, should I give her an invoice today for settling in in Jan?

I've turned other possible mindees away because I was already settling in this LO & assumed everything was to go on regardless.

Yes I would, you've done the hours so are entitled to get paid for them now, not wait any longer, or take the risk of not getting paid at all.

Yes invoice her - otherwise you won't see her for dust. And if you have invoived you then have a leg to stand on legally if you later need to get money from her through small claims or NCMA.

thanks ladies. Am wondering if I should remind her of my terms & conditions, & give her a bit of an ultimatum, contrat was due to start first week in Feb, but she now wants to wait and see how first week goes before signing the contract, but that's the point of the settling in process, so am thinking to tell her she must decide today as it's the last day of the settling in period?

I've just been onto the NCMA about a similar issue for myself.

They gave me some very good advice which I will paraphrase for you:

NCMA paraphrase...

You provide a service. You are NOT their nanny/au pair/cleaner/skivvy etc YOU provide the service - its up to them if they choose to take it. Too many parents consider that CMs are their "employees" in the same way that a nanny would be viewed...and this is not the case. CMs set the rules and they are not for negotiation by parents - they are what they are.

I would take that in your case to mean - you tell her the contract starts on 1st feb as arranged, settling in period has now expired and needs to be paid for in full. End of really.

You do mention an "issue" which you haven;t gone into - if the issue is serious enough she may have a point?....I don't mean to pry but have you made a little mistake somewhere along the line that is makign her wary?

HTH - stay strong and remember you are a professional not an au pair they are doing a favour for

Thanks for that nomoreamover !
No mistake of mine, but my DS is taking strain sharing his toys, his mummmy, his house etc. with these LO & has been hitting them. I HAVE been giving him time out & have been consistent, but it's not too effective at the mo. I'm doing everything I can to help him stop this but it doesn't seem to be enough for this mum. No probs with other mum who seems more understanding.

...listen to the niggling little voice inside my head that's telling me to cut my losses and let this one go??

I woldn't look after the LO again until you get paid if she doesn't come back depending on how much money you are owed I would chalk it up to experience.

I'm a childminder and I know how tough our job is and how much we deserve to get paid so I would really try to get the money.

How old is your ds? Has he got some toys he shares and some which are just his own?

I can kind of see the mum's reluctance to sign a contract, is she aware ofthe settling in period meaning she wouldn't have to pay a notice period?

Do you charge in advance or arrears?

I think you need to discuss this properly with her, explain you need a contract signed as you need to be paid for the service you are providing.

My DS's favourite toys are upstairs, if he brings them down he accepts he will be sharing them. DOwnstairs toys are 'mummy's sharing toys'

Hope you get sorted.

Invoice her for the settling in period. If you think its appropriate due to the issue, then invite her for a meeting to discuss. If she wants to continue, she must sign the contract. Depending on the circumstances re your issue, you may decide it is appropriate for this family to extend the settling in period. But include the details of the setting in agreement on the contract. If the arrangement is to continue a contract must be signed and all fees owed must be paid.

No contract + no fees paid = no childcare place

And make it clear she may lose the space if she does not sign a contract (and pay). I can see why she may be concerned about your 'issue', but that's what the settling in period is for. Make sure she knows she can leave at any time during the settling in period.

A parents view:

in theory she should definitely pay for time that you have already worked as issue with your LO is not relevant to this at all. But it seems like your had a specific agreement in place about when she should pay this so you should stick to that.

contract.
You def need her to sign a contract NOW. You may decide that you are willing to have an extended "no notice" period in case the hitting thing cannot be resolved. If I were in her situation I would be worried about this and to be honest I'd like the option of opting out if it couldn't be made to work. But I would def expect to have a contract in place to ensure that I paid for all hours that you work. Also if you decide to take this route then she must understand that it works both ways in terms of notice.

At the end of the day you have to make a business decision about whether you are prepared to accept a no-notice period or whether you feel that you can insist on your usual contract. Remember that if you insist on the usual contract then she may decide to walk away. If there are local cms with spaces she may decide that she doesn't want to be tied into a contract incase you can't resolve the issue. Remember that she has no guarantees that you can sort this out. You have the experience to know that you can, but she does not.

End of the day - whatever you decide you must get a contract signed. NOW!

i would invoice NOW - for settling in i always ask for the money on the day of minding.

i think in this situation i would extend the no notice period by two weeks.

if your ds has some toys he finds harder to share put them away while c/minding.

goodluck