Advice on childminders

[stressedmum2]

I have a 1 yr old DS and considering using childminder for 1st time problem is my husband works away for 2 weeks at a time so would only need care for this period and poss weekend. When you get a childminder do you need to use them for a certain amount of time a week as I wouldn't need this.

I work part time as well on 6 week rota with weekend working every 3 weeks which makes life more complicated. Any advice gratefully received as getting a bit confused!!!!!

I would expect that most childminders would want you to pay for the same hours each week, regardless of if you use those hours or not. Childminders are limited in the number of under 8's they can care for, thus your DS will be taking a 'childcare place' regardless of if he is there or not. The childminder may be able to resell that space on the days you do not require - but it may be hard to do that, as effectively they need to find someone who has the opposite shift patten to you.
Some childminders may not want to care for a child full-time and thus may actually like a 2-weeks work, 2 weeks no-work situation... but I feel those childminders are quite rare.

Finding a childminder who can work weekends is also rare... childminders typically have their own children, so weekends are Family time.

Contact your local Families Information Service - www.childcarelink.gov.uk will provide contact details. Obtain your area childminder's vacancy list, then call/e-mail childminders on the list, setting out what you require - and see if any respond.

What childminders offer as part of their service is very varied... many have kids of their own, many don't.

I know many that work weekends and 'unsocial' hours, and others that stick to 8am to 6pm Monday thru Friday.

You might very well be asked for a retainer (eg: 50% of usual fee) to keep the vacancy on days you won't actually use it. Someone else might quite like the time off and won't ask for a retainer.

It's best you contact your local FIS as Nick states above, and phone aroud to some of your local CMs. I hope you find someone soon