CM: overnight care and sleeping arrangements

[apotomak]

Could somebody tell me what sleeping facilities are required to provide overnight care? Do I need proper beds or z-beds or blow up beds will be fine ... how about a travel cot? Do I need a proper spare room or could I put my children together to make a spare bedroom available?

I am registered for overnight care but in practice have one child very rarely. For an older child, my two go in together to free up a room which has a proper bed (I would obviously clean the room and change the bedding). For a baby I'd put a travel cot in our dressing room. You have to tell OFSTED how you would manage it including what rooms, furniture, equipment etc you would use, which might be different for different child(ren) or ages of children, and have a risk assessment in place. As a general rule, you need to adhere to any manufacturers' instructions/guidelines - so for example if you have a cabin bed that is stated to be for six years plus, you need to follow that guidance. I'd imagine Z-beds would have age limits, but as I don't have any perhaps someone else could advise on that. Probably the most important part of your risk assessment will be how you'd manage an evacuation. If you have mattresses on the floor, or indeed Z-beds, will you still be able to move around freely in an emergency?

I should have said in case you are unaware, that you do need to be specifically registered to provide overnight care, and if it is agreed, you will have your certificate amended to say how many children you can care for overnight and their ages.