Am thinking of using a CM - do I need a contract - does anyone have any?

[EllieG]

She is new at it - is a nanny who has had a baby and so wants to work from home. Does anyone have any examples of a contract I can look at?

Also - I was thinking I should pay 52 weeks per year with 4 weeks paid hol. She has asked about possibly taking unpaid leave. I want to be flexible but I need reliability. What is normal in these circumstances?

Ah - did a search and found one. Should've looked first but was being lazy!

If she is registered, which she should be by law, she will have contracts as she is self employed and sets the terms and conditions of it eg holidays, sickness, pay, etc. HTH

Usually the cm would have a contract that she gives to you as she is self employed and terms and conditions would be down to her rather than you.

Cm's are being encouraged to have 4 weeks paid holidays in their contract. What does she mean by unpaid leave? Extra time off on top of holidays that you may choose? This is fairly norm as she may need time off that doesn't coincide with holiday that you have booked. Just ensure that the contract states them amount of time per annum and notice that she is required to give you.

Am presuming that she has registered with Ofsted as a cm. It is a legal requirement if you look after children under the age of 8 for financial reward.

She can't just 'decide' to work from home. She needs to be trained, registered and insured. She will be self employed and she will provide you with a contract and she will tell you what hours she wants to work, how much she will charge you and what the holiday arrangements are. (I hope this helps - but I suspect not!)

Actually, I think cm's are being encouraged to have their 4 weeks holiday a year paid - so maybe she means any time off over and above those 4 weeks?

If the nanny wants to work at her home, caring for your child there, then she will need to register with the appropriate registration body (Ofsted - England, CareCommission - Scotland, CSSIW - Wales) before she is able to care for your child legally.

As a Registered Childminder, it is up to her to provide you with a contract, which you sign and keep a copy of. You are the service user, her customer.

If she is a Registered Childminder then she is self-employed and does not get any holiday entitlement. Some childminders do charge parents when they [the childminder] is on holiday, though some don't do that - instead if they are shut, the parent's do not pay.

If you want her to be your employee, she needs to care for your child at YOUR HOME (if you are in England, Scotland or Wales) to comply with childcare legislation.

Thanks all. I was aware she had to register before she could child mind, and is not that lengthy a process where I am (Jersey), just wasn't sure about the hols and leave issues. I think she possibly needs to research these things herself and work out what terms she wants to put in her contract.

Jersey law is different to mainland UK, so think you are best leaving her to do the research herself. Jersey Childcare Trust may be able to help her.

She needs to register with Ofsted as a childmnder, even if she currently is registered with them as a nanny. It can take a while as cms have to have an enhanced CRB check carried out - they are also supposed to do several training courses before registration now. I charge full fees for parents holidays but do not charge for my own - what I do is work out charges for a 12 mth period , based on 48wks per yr, then divide charges by 12. That way, I still get paid when I don't have the children. This is all written into contracts - I use the NCMA contracts and other paperwork. Your 'cm' should take advice from her local authority regarding registration and other requirements - childminding is no longer a 'lets work from home while we care for our own children' option as it was a few years ago. There is a lot more involved - we have to provide the same curriculum and complete the same paperwork as nurseries and schools.

Why not have a chat with other cms in your area - you can get their details from 'childcarelink.gov.uk'.

BTW, don't be persuaded to letting anyone care for your child without signing a contract - it's their resposiblity to provide the contract and to give you a copy of it.

nannymick - forgot about Jersey not being mainland UK

Contact local Family Information Services and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

nannyNick - sorry

Thanks that's interesting about the paperwork/curriculum side of things. I hadn't realised. Am not sure she will be a goer actually now - she's intimated that's she's happy to do it on a 'cash in hand' basis, and isn't too fussy about registering. I am, so however good she is with kids, I ain't leaving my girl with someone who can't be arsed to register and wants to dodge the tax man.

Good for you Ellie G! Pity all parents are not so responsible.