How employable do I sound to you? [grin]

[Hando]

Hi all!

Just contemplating a few different options as I have recently resigned from my very boring sales position. I am volunteering at the moment, part time, and working with local families who have children under 5 offering them support and advice int heir own homes.

I'm studing a degree in Social Work and Childhood and Youth (going very well so far) and will be doing this part time for the next four years. I know I want to work with children as I feel that is what I enjoy most and find most rewarding. I am currently on a training course covering safeguarding children, first aid and other child related subjects, which is very interesting. I have a full enhanced crb check too.

I had thought about working in a nursery but not already having an nvq 3 makes it difficult, plus I feel they'd rather employ someone younger (have been told this by anursery manager friend today - they prefer under 21's to avoid paying higher age minimum wage) and I am 25. So I thought I'd post on here and see if you think I would have a chance at finding a local position as a live out nanny.

I have my own daugher who is five, but have no child care problems, plus she is at school full time. I'm kind, patient, intelligent, love playing and interacting with children...and I make the best lego helicopter this side of the Thames!

Do parents employ people like me with no formal childcare experience? if so what sort of wage can I expect to earn (doesn't need to be lots, just livable, I'm more focused on finding a job I love than earning mega fortunes at the moment.

I live in SE London / Kent borders by the way.

Any words of advice would be fantastic!

you could always attempt to advertise as a nanny and may pick up jobs that way, but tbh we used to interview at least 3 nannies each time and tended towards those with experience and quals, rather than just quals... it also doesn't sound too hopeful from a flexibility point of view if you have a 5yo and are studying part time - how would you manage school pick-up and after school activities for your charges?

we have only ever used live-out nannies btw, but in order to cover our 'ordinary' working day, the hours were 8-6, with occasional late evenings with prior notice...

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I am very flexible, able to do early mornings and/or late evenings if required as my daughter is picked up by my partner, so that's not an issue at all. My studying is barely 5 hours a week and I have been working 40+ hours a week whilst doing it, so that's not a problem either.

I just thought perhaps there were parents looking for childcare who couldn't afford a nanny with lots of experience and would find me (I have worked with under 5's in their own homes as a volunteer family advisor, and have raised my own 5 year old too!) more affordable? Perhaps I'm mistaken though.

Why are you not doing the degree full-time?

The only reference to "Social Work and Childhood and Youth" is this mumsnet thread according to Google. What is the actual course title and through which Uni?
How have you met the entrance requirements for that course, given that you don't have a childcare qualification and are not working in a childcare setting?
My concerns over the course are that it will at some points probably involve quite a lot more than 5 hours study a week, plus would be wanting you to be working in a childcare setting and they often don't count nannying... as they want it to be a group childcare setting.

Are you studying through the OU doig a tailored made course in the Social Work and then the Childhood and Youth? Is that what you mean?

nannynick, if she's on about the OU course there aren't many entry requirements I don't believe? I think you just have to be willing to study and produce good work. I'm looking at doing the Childhood Course and that one doesn't require you to be working with children until later on in the course I think, and you can gain a diploma from doing the first years study. Though, imo, 5 hours a week really isn't enough, I was studying a minimum of five hours a week whilst doing my NVQ!

I think there is definitely a market for your services. If you wanted live-in and didn't have a child I would consider you. I'm sure there are parents who want live-out. I don't actually mind the extra child in principal. But, it would complicate school runs and gym memrships etc. in my case.

But, with no experience and a child to bring along you would probably be looking at minimum wage. Not sure if you would be willing to work for that.

I agree that if you're doing it through the OU you may have underestimated the study time. I did a 10 pointer working full-time and it was a killer. The 30 pointer with child at school was more manageable but still more than 5 hours of study a week. Also remember you will need to factor in coursework and exams which means your workload is likely to vary.

How flexible is the Homestart volunteering (assuming that's the organisation you're working with)?

I don't think it's entirely unrealistic for you to get a job - I had my first job when I was 18 and only had my A-levels, Guiding (which came with a leadership qual, 1st Aid, child protection and CRB) and a bit of babysitting experience to go on.

If it helps I am a nanny and have just finished the degree in Childhood and Youth Studies through the OU, part time over 6 years (one 60 point course a year). Their guidance in how long you should spend on it is approx 15 hours a week, I probably did it in 10 but am fortunate to be able to read incredibly fast. I did this while working 50+ hours a week and while entirely possible, it exhausting at times. For this specific degree you didn't need to spend time working in a setting, althought at times you were asked to reflect on time you may have spent in a setting, where applicable.

I think you stand a very good chance of getting a nanny job probably more through advertising privately on gumtree but worth contacting some agencies.

Maybe a before and after school nanny job would be easier to find to start with as these are what many parents find difficult to fill - and then maybe advertise yourself as an ad-hoc nanny for mums needing a break for a few hrs during the day.

but no harm in looking for something more full time

In SE London/Kent with your current experience and working towards quals I would say expect min wage or around £6-£7 gross an hr.

With regards to studying I am sure that can be fit around work I have been working full time the past year (37.5hrs) and doing ad-hoc eve and weekend nanny work as well as doing one masters module per term as well which is around 200hrs study per term (per 12wks) - having a break this term though!!

maybe a mothers help or nanny/housekeeper job would be more suitable to your current experience.

something like this

www.gumtree.com/london/06/47430106.html

Thanks all for your replies, very interesting and they really have helped.

Nannynick, I love reading your posts they are always so, well, thorough! I am doing two degrees back to back; "Social Work England" and "Childhood and Youth Studies" as they have now changed the criteria and two of the 60 pt courses count towards both degees. I have already done some of the work towards each one, so estimate another four years and I'll have both all done!

For the childhood and youth studies you do not need to be working with children at all, which is odd, but I have double checked. I need to do one more placement for my social work degree for 6mths in my last year. So that leaves me free for the next 3.5 yrs to work. I was posting late last night and looking back my posts don't quite make sense.. I do about 5 hours a week study towards each course - so 10ish hours in total. Alot of the course I already have "theory" knowledge of and I am super fast at reading like SuperDuperJezebel (nice name btw!) so get it done a bit quicker than estimated. I'm not planning on taking on a full time 50+ hours a week role. Was thinking more like 3 full days of 4 half ish days, really I'm totally flexible.

Oh and I'm not doing it full time as I don't really want to. Working and studying is much more enjoyable for me and stops me getting bored of reading and essay writing! Plus some income is always handy as I have to pay for my courses.

I have seen parents advertising for part time nannys so think I may contact some and see if I can get anywhere like that. I can't see me having my daughter as a problem, I have close family who do my school run (2 mins from my house) morning and afternoon or I could also do it myself if I nanny for someone in the local area (both local primary schools are opposite each other with staggered times). It's not like I'd expect them to let me bring my daughter along with me.

I would have though that you would have been great for working in a nursery, I suppose feelings differ but personally I find younger ladies a lot more unrelaible than people of your age. You could get a job as an assistant, lots of nurseries ask for a min of level 2 for this or ask that you are at least working towards a level 3, I would have thought that a degree qual would come into this criteria.

Have you thought about doing a playwork course? their are a couple that run for a sort time so you would have a relevant qual faster IYSWIM.

Or another option would be Childminding if you like paperwork

Maybe you could advertise in your DD's school newsletter/grapevine for some part time nanny work. The school run would obviously be no problem if your were taking both/all kids to the same school.

You are doing two degrees back to back... you must be nuts Mind you, some people are better at studying and doing essays than others... you clearly must be very good at doing those - personally I hate essays.

My concern was mostly over the amount of time you would need to spend on study and relevant work experience expected... as you say it does seem odd that one of the degrees does not need you to be working with children at all. Great that you have double checked and have worked out how much placement time you need to spend for the other course.

Part time nanny job I think would be fine for you... something like a 3 day job, so you could spend the other days doing studying and sorting things out for your DD. Getting the work/life balance right is tricky... I tend to work far too much, though seem to do less work now than I did in the past.

Thanks, its my favourite childrens book (Super Duper Jezebel that is!)...

anyway my friend runs a nanny agency, im not sure if im allowed to post the name on here, but she gets a lot of people asking for school run/afternoon nannies, far more than she can find nannies looking for these positions, so it may well be a good market to aim for!

I think I may be a little "sad" int hat I have always loved writing essays. The reading I find boring, but I love sitting down and planning / drafting then rewriting up essays. Oh dear, I think i need to get some more hobbies!

The one that doesn't require placement is the Childhood and Youth Studies one.

SuperDuperJezebel, just being nosey - what ar eyou going to do with your degree?

Im not really sure, i think i will need to do some post-graduate study to narrow the focus down a little as its quite a broad degree. I am considering a PGCE but that would require a lot of saving, otherwise perhaps social work... going to take a year out and decide i think, since my current job will reach its natural end next september, about the time it will come to re-enrol, and i REALLY need a break! Tought i was going to lose the will to live writing my final ECA last month!

I too have considered teaching, but I think social work is the way I want to go if I'm honest with myself. But it relies on me passing my Social Work degree as the Childhood and Youth studies isn't enought to register with the GSCC.

Hi Hando, I'm also doing a degree in Childhood, mine has no placements either. When I was looking for part time work to fit round studying I advertised myself on Netmums and Gumtree. I'm sure if you price yourself a little lower due to not having much experience (£6-£7 an hour? That would be better than nursery work) you'll find work.

Thanks Argento - It's good to hear from someone else who has been / is in the same situation as me. I think I will compose an ad and place it on gumtree and my local netmums too.

Isn't it odd that a childhood degree has no placements, people always seem to think I must be doing something wrong when I explain it to them! That's the main reason I want to get some work experience whilst I study. Then once I graduate, I can say - I have a degre and lots of experience too.. hire me, I'm generally fab!

Hi Hando, are you still looking for a part-time nanny job? We're looking for a nanny 3 days a week over in Lewisham...

if you were in my area I'd employ you - the part time flexibility, common sense of having own child, etc matches exactly with my needs! Maybe I should advertise in my local school for someone like you to solve my current dilemma ;-)