Unregistered CM - could it work?

[herbaceous]

Hello there

I'm going to be starting working again at the end of March, two or three days a week, and am looking for a childminder who can preferably work flexible days. I've seen a couple ? Ofsted registered - but neither were inspiring (one just left the telly on, loudly, while I was there, and her huge dog slobbered over the gate into the kitchen). Both were a bit far from my house.

I've found another lady via childcare.co.uk who lives just round the corner. She's an ex-teacher, and has enhanced CRB checks, but isn't Ofsted registered. She looks after her grand-daughter, and two other children two afternoons a week, so is already illegal I realise.

But if she's good, should I consider her? I'll check she knows first aid, nutrition, etc, and that her house is safe and clean, but is there anything else? What does public liability insurance actually do? Should I insist she has it?

Don't use her - full stop.
It all depends on whether any of the children are under 8? If not I don't think it's illegal but should still set alarm bells ringing.
Childminding without being registered with OFSTED could lead to prosecution. She's also likely to not be declaring income and paying tax and NI? D
on't know what your position would be as the parent re possible prosecution on either of those fronts?
Doubt if you could insist on PL insurance as she is not legal. Without it you can make no claim when your child is hurt or worse in her care.
Has she told you why she won't register?

weeellllll.....

1. its not illegal if shes not getting 'paid'

anyhoow...
you wouldnt be able to use your tax credits/chidcare couchers for this childminder which may evidently make your outgoings a little higher.

you could use her as a babysitter???? this means she can not have your child for more than 16 hrs of the week.
you pay minimum wage (£5.78 i think) but this could work out more expensive as childminders charge about £3-4 phr.

Have you thought about other types of childcare??? a surestart nursery? a private nursery where you can apply for busy bees vouchers...tax credits can cover up to 80% of the costs.

thats a great point to make notabully - why isnt she registered...why is she not a teacher anymore?? is she retired? does she get a pension? want extra income therefore wont declare it?? as I said if your not going to 'pay' her then there isnt a problem. But i would be wary as to why she isnt registered..it doesnt take much, costs about £52 quid and then your done...you could infact ask her to put her name down on the voluntary ofsted register???? see what she says.

Hello

Just back from seeing her, and it seems she isn't really setting herself up as a childminder - just looking for a bit of extra babysitting as pin money. But it wasn't really what I was looking for, so the decision was made. She was also worryingly lacking in first-aid knowledge. She said her grand-daughter nearly choked on a piece of apple, and that 'accidents happen'. Hmm. She also charges £10 an hour!!! Also, small flat, that smelled of smoke and was strewn with ornaments at baby height. So... no.

She used to be a teacher in Bulgaria, but is finding it hard to do so here, as the system is so different.

I wanted a childminder rather than a nursery as DS is only 7 months, and seems to small for the bustle of a nursery. But maybe that's my best option...

Someone who is actively advertising themselves as a childminder but freely admits to not being registered? Alarm bells.

I third asking her why she's not registered - is it deliberate or does she just consider that what she's doing so far doesn't make it "worth it"? Caring for a grandchild doesn't require registration anyway, and if she only has two other children two afternoons a week then that's not exactly a full-on schedule. But if she's willing to take on your child for 2-3 days a week as well and still not register with Ofsted then that's quite concerning.

As well as the things you've mentioned childminders will be checked out by Ofsted with CRBs, social services checks, health checks and references. Fine she says she used to be a teacher, but what about other members of her household? Ofsted have to carry out CRB and social services checks on any adults living in, working on or regularly the premises. Childminders are required to keep records of things like allergies, medical conditions and emergency contacts, they are limited in the number of young children they can care for at any one time to prevent them having too many children at once, and if they breach any of the welfare requirements the law requires them to meet you can complain to Ofsted who will investigate.

If this person is actively promoting themselves as an unregistered childminder she is at best a woman who wants to care for children but who can't be doing with the "hassle" of formal recording keeping/paperwork and having a three hour long inspection every three years. At worst she's not even willing to meet the basic welfare standards for providing childcare in her home.

x-posted with the OP; sounds like you made the right decision.

If she is advertising to care for children under 8 years old in her home for payment, for periods of at least two hours, then she is "childminding" according to UK law. You picked up concerns about this woman's first aid knowledge just from a brief visit - I would really encourage you to give Ofsted a ring on 0300 1231231. They don't swoop down on people and slap them with fines - they would probably initially just send her a letter asking what sort of childcare she is providing to advise her if she needs to be registered or not. If she does then they'll ask her to apply for registration or to alter the care she provides (eg babysitting in the child's own home, which would be fine).

How about getting in contact with your local FIS and asking for a list of childminders in your area? Do you know anyone who uses a childminder and getting word of mouth recomendations. Ask at children centers if they know of any childminders?

I am so glad that you have not gone with a un-registered carer (she is not a childminder) - as you have found, no first aid knowledge, no insurance etc (quite apart from she is defrauding the system).

Hope you find someone suitable.

I've got a list from the FIS, but it's slightly arduous finding out where the CMs are, as the only info it seems the FIs is allowed to give is which schools the CM can pick up from, rather than addresses.

I've tried the local children's centre, but it seems to be staffed by people who work 30 minutes a week, every other month, as the person I need is never there, and doesn't return calls.

Word of mouth is indeed the ideal way, but most of my friends have babies the same age, so are in the same boat.

I'll get there, I'm sure... it's just a bit demoralising thinking you've found someone ideal, then knowing as soon as you walk through the door that it's not right, but having to stay for 30 minutes or so for appearances sake!

£10 an hour and all going straight in her pocket

Hope you find someone soon. Also dont forget if you find someone registered your working tax credits could go up.

Mmmm she should be able to teach here straight away. As she trained within the EU her qualifications are directly applicable to the UK system without needing to do an OTT course.

I would be suspicious.

And for £10 an hour you could get a pretty good nanny!

www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxcare_providers/list_providers/(sort)/datesort,desc/(type)/1,31/(typename)/Childm inders will give you the code name of the childcarer - what they do -childminding in this instance and the latest inspection reports. Then you click on the 'name' and you can read the latest inspection.

If you want details of childcare providers in your area, you can call Childcarelink on 0800 234 6346, or visit its website at www.childcarelink.gov.uk. Once you have found a childminder through here, you can search for her reference number and look at her latest report.

You could get an amazing nanny!!!!!

sorry ill put that link in for you...

www.childcarelink.gov.uk.

I'm being dense. The childcare link only gives code numbers, while the directgov site only gives names. How does one match up the two?

Christ. This is so ridiculously difficult. Try to get one through children's centre. No reply or interest. Get list from council, with no email addresses, so only way to find out where they are is to phone up. (But on the directgov website, with the same register, they have email addresses.) Then see if they're any good by trying to cross-reference name from one website with code number for another. Hope they have a vacancy. Gnnnnnn.

What area are you in? Maybe Cms here could put you in touch with ones locally?

where do you live maybe someone on here can help / lknows someone who can?

That would be great! I'm in Walthamstow, north east London. Ideally, I'd like someone within walking distance, or at most a short drive. (I'm in the bit euphamistically referred to as 'Walthamstow Village').

Loriamah Grace are Childminders located in the London town of Walthamstow. Loriamah Grace can be contacted on 020 8531 4436.

7 Phoenix Cl
Walthamstow
London
E17 5YD

I think your better off herbaceous to get the unique reference of the childminder listed on Ofsted website, then call childcare link for the name and address.

Or contact the National Childminding Association....or even better as ive done it for you...

You can search for your nearest childminder using the National Parent Know How Directory. This is an online directory offering parents and those working with them the ability to search for information about childcare and families services in both their local community and nationally.

This can be accessed via the DirectGov website or the Information for Families website (external links).

Both websites will provide the same information but the way it is presented is different.

Please please don't use the childminder, CRB's just mean they haven't been caught yet in my ex nanny's case.
Ofstead registration means they are prepared to go through the process and haven't got anything to hide IME.

Typical of the CC staff!!! As for FIS - they should be able to do cross-searches and provide you with a list of minders in specific areas.
Check the childcare section of direct.gov

have you put a notice on www.childmindingforum.co.uk

Again check on childcare.co.uk
netmums notice board (you could always post your own message)

what area are you (bit of a long shot and I probably won't be able to help! lol)

I know its all for the protection of childminders...but the cross refernencing thing is a pile of w*nk really aint it!

You should just be able to log into NCMA and search childminders!

Have you tried entering childminders in .... (where you live) into Google? I'm a childminder in West Sussex and a lot of the calls that I get come from parents who have done that and my web site has come up. Also have you tried your local childminding group if there is one to see if they run a vacancies scheme? I run one for my area and its a good source of minders names and also they should be able to tell you the area that they live in. As for the un-registered childminder stay well away,as others have pointed out she will not have any insurance, first-aid training or a CRB check for both her self and any one over 16 who lives in her house.

herbaceous - please can you complete the Contact Us form on the childcare.co.uk website, so that the website owners can remove this person's details. Just give the info of what their username is on the site and what you found when you visited.