CM CLUB - Received another complaint!

[childminderundercover]

Although I'm using another name I'm expecting some of you to realise who I am and that's fine. Basically, I received a malicious complaint almost a year ago which was unfounded but I had 6 months worth of hassle because of the terrible inspector who came to see me. Anyway, everything got dropped and she got told off so that's the main thing. The main thing left after that was me wondering who made this awful complaint and why. Anyway, just had a much needed 2 week holiday with the family and whilst away, spoke to dh and said that I'm going to move on and forget it happened etc. Well guess what, a lady from Ofsted turned up yesterday, yes, my first day back at work.

She was LOVELY, knew all about what happened last time and you could tell she didn't believe the string of allegations this time as they were sooooo OTT, she actually said I'd probably laugh when she told me what I'm supposed to have done. So, I showed all paperwork that covered what she needed to see, we chatted, and all is sorted and I'll get a letter. That's it this time thank god.

BUT.....I'm now being harrassed because of this malicious complainant and I can't believe they can get away with keep doing this!! Surely I have some rights eventually, surely I don't have to put up with more and more visits from Ofsted (who are just doing their job, I know!). It's just not fair on the kids is it!

I've had people saying I should get legal advice which I will but I reckon there's nothing I can do. I just wondered if anyone else had been through similar i.e. more than 1 complaint made? Sounds like the same person as last time and this time they could have caused problems with my marriage but luckily dh is here most of the time (as out of work) and was working as my assistant, and therefore knows it can't be true.

Anyway, must grab a cuppa before the kids arrive but any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Ofsted aside ... you must have some legal rights to do with harassment, or something? It's not really stalking. Maybe slander, or libel (can't remember which is which)?

As you don't know who is making the complaints, I doubt there is anything that can be done. Ofsted have to follow procedure, nothing they can do either. Waste of tax payers money.

I am going through a similar thing with our neighbors harassing and threatening us because they don't like the minded children being in the garden. They have already made one malicious complaint to ofsted and we are in the process of pressing charges through the police for harassment as they are threatening to stop individual parents as they leave my house to complain about the children. The police have spoken to the complaints team at ofsted to make them aware that they are investigating the couple concerned. It is worth getting legal advice and also getting the police involved if you feel threatened.

Sorry, no practical advise but wtf is wrong with people? I just don't get WHY people do this sort of thing.

And FM: What exactly is the gripe about the minded children being in the garden?

The world has gone mad!

Have CAT u hun x

We had 6 complaints within 18 mths, bonkers neighbour problem, got prison eventually but it was 3 long years. If I can help you I will.

How horrendous for you, surely you have some sort of legal cover with your CM insurance - worth speaking to them?

FB me if you want to let off some steam chick .x

Are you a www.childmindinghelp.co.uk member?
There's a couple of minders on there who have had the same sort of problem, prehaps put a post on there and someone maybe able to help,
Lots of very experianced & helpful minders on there

Unfortunatly there isn't much you can do about malicious complaints - except be totally upstanding in how you conduct yourself professionally.
A friend of mine - who suffered constant malicious complaints tried to find out who it was using the Freedom of Information Act - and although she wasn't told directly who it was, she mananged to deduce who it was eventually.

Talk to your EY team and get them onside and supporting you.
Its absolutely bonkers that we are so open to malicious accusations and we cannot do anything to protect ourselves or reputation. Its the hassle and anguish we have to go through while Ofsted come a knocking.

I do wish there was some way that Ofsted could prosecute or reprimand someone for making an obvious malicious complaint.

Just think though - what comes around goes around at some point and this person will get their just desserts. They have got to be a very sad, bitter, jealous person to want to make someone else unhappy or attempt to ruin them.

Sending you a hug

Lisa-they don't like the sound of the children playing which is pretty ridicules considering they have 2 children of their own

Is there anything you can do legally via the police?

If you believe that this is part of a malicious campaign against you then you could try going to the police and making a complaint of harassment. The police have different legal powers and would be able to request information like the name of the complainant (if it wasn't done anonymously) from Ofsted or any other agency the person sent things to, and with that evidence they might then be able to take some concrete action.

Thanks for all the replies and sorry I didn't reply earlier (a lot of us had problems posting messages on threads and I was one of those!)

Anyway, I'm being nagged by dh not to be long so I can't reply to everyone individually but just wanted to say a big thanks for all posts, it all helps me decide what to do next

fudgesmummy - you poor thing, I really feel for you. For me I have no idea if it's neighbours or some other nutter, whether it's personal to me, competition, someone who just doesn't like me doing this job near their house - god knows?! I wish you all the best in sorting your problems out!

atwork - not had any CAT through, do you know my email addy?

To those who've mentioned taking legal action, I'm going to contact NCMA and my legal services on the home insurance (we've used before and won a case against dh's work so I trust their knowledge). Yes, I probably can't do anything as don't know who it is but I'll certainly ask, I'd be mad not to check Also, I've been given other advice since I posted which suggests their ARE ways of possibly finding out through other channels, not direct with Ofted. This is what I'll be asking when I get legal advice. Will try the childmindinghelp forum too, thanks

PC - I'm sure you see enough of me ranting on there LOL. Actually, not so much this time as I'm NOT going to let them get to me like I did last year! Made me more determined to never quit childminding!!

pippin - my EY advisor was fully supportive last time, including my fight AGAINST Ofsted which followed - and did I say I WON lol. She can't believe it's started again and will help in any way she can As for FOI act, I'm going to ask certain questions like I think your friend did, in case any of it helps get an idea who it is. I'm just going to get the legal advice first and maybe they'll even write the letter to Ofsted for me?

squirrel - I'm guessing it is some malicious campaign, it must be really although not sure how far they'd take it (seriously though, you should hear the list of what I'm accused of!! ) The Ofsted lady just said the person 'wished to remain anonymous' so I'm unclear as to whether they don't have a name from either complaint at all or whether they are saying they just can't tell me? I need to get this a bit clearer tbh, I do know she mentioned email addresses and how easy it is for people to send from a different address therefore looking like a different person making the next complaint and so on.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted. And sorry again if I didn't reply personally to you, no offense meant!

Cheers x

Did have, but changed my addy, new one is sticky fingers at talk talk dot net

Re: insurance, ours said they would cover if we had a crime number from police - well we had loads - but CPS covered in the end as they brought the prosecution.

It still cost us a huge amount of money for various other bits of paperwork etc. Our EYP's were very supportive but can't actually do anything same went for NCMA their legal team was a bit they suggested we called the police . As Nubbin said if you get a good officer it makes all the difference, although I did find that they were pretty limited in what they could do, from experience I would suggest you try and go for damage limitation ie, find out who it is and ask a community officer to have a word. If they are sensible they will leave it at that, if not put your hard hat on and prepare for the worst. If you mail me I'll send you my phone number. x

This is a lot more common than people realise. Worse still, those who submit malicious complaints do so with complete impunity.

Not that any of this will be any comfort. Stand strong. You have childminders here who give you a big hug and sympathy, and some like me, would have burst into tears and been very stressed out.

When I had my first Ofsted inspection, the first question the inspector asked me was "How are the neighbours with regards to you childminding?"
Luckily, my neighbours are out all day,every day. But it shows that most complaints either come from neighbours, other CMs or parents who have not paid or had a dispute.

"But it shows that most complaints either come from neighbours, other CMs or parents who have not paid or had a dispute."

That is, they are all vindictive. That matches what one former OFSTED inspector told me, so take heart. OFSTED are aware of it all.

new2cm I wouldn't say that meant they were all vindictive. Who's to say that a parent who removes their child and refuses to pay isn't doing so bcause they have a real problem with some aspect of their former Cm's practice? And what if a neighbour happens to see the Cm next door leaving toddlers sat in a paddling pool on their own outside for long stretches of time while they are off on the phone/watching TV/on MN? I don't think you can really group all complaints from former parents or neighbours as automatically vindictive.

It sometimes seems to be forgotten by all parties that Ofsted doesn't actually servce as a complaint service - they're not there to say "yes, Mrs B was in the wrong and should repay you your fees" or "no, Mrs D is quite right and we're going to slap you on the wrist for causing her so much trouble". They use complaints as a basis for investigating whether people are keeping to what the law says they should do, which is their job as a service regulator.

CMUC - Is it the same people you queried me about on FB that time? Ie local to me not you? Do you want me to kick some ass?

atwork - I FINALLY got the CAT. Forgot that I tried to access business emails whilst away, couldn't remember my password (as comes automatically on laptop) so they reset it. I finally twigged my emails weren't coming through and changed my settings!! lol Will reply direct. I've not got money to pay out and it wouldn't be worth it for me although we do now have the date the complaint was received and it's the same day (they sent via email) that we had a stroppy answerphone message from our neighbour about the cat crying in the night!

new2cm - yes, I'm beginning to realise just how common it is for us poor cms, easy targets Some people are just horrible!!

Ripeberry - we didn't think at first a neighbour would do it as most round here are older/retired. However, one of the accusations uses very old fashioned wording and fits that generation. Just can't believe older people would be so horrible but then I've been told these neighbours who phoned us whilst on holiday can be quite nasty and moan about anything. Honestly though, be nicer to TALK TO ME about their concerns!!

Lunavix - hello sweetie, how are you It could still be them, still up their street and the list of what I'm supposed to have done is still something I believe they could do BUT it's the old fashioned wording for one of them that has thrown me so now I haven't a clue. She's still a disgusting CM with a very sweet external act so NEVER recommend her, seriously!

If it were a CM they may have written complaint such that it clearly showed which parts of EYFS they considered were not being followed.
The old fashioned wording could mean it's someone of an older generation. Not sure what a cat has to do with it.
Does this mean you have a copy of the complaint e-mail?

Nick - I don't have a copy but was given the impression it was sent by email.

Cat = went on holiday for a couple of weeks, when we got back we had an answerphone message from a certain neighbour who was moaning our cat was crying a lot in the night. When I got Ofsted's letter a couple of days ago it stated it was received on the date we got the answerphone message - this was 1 week into our holiday. It may be a coincident but it's given food for thought as they are the neighbours who back onto our back garden. The last complaint was in July last year - maybe the nice weather meaning more time in the garden irratates them? But we can't be sure it was them, it's just a thought.

I definitely feel it's an older generation now.

As for EYFS - some of it fits and some of it is so OTT and not focused on any certain areas of EYFS.

I could list what I'm accused of and see people's thoughts? If it's an older person I doubt they'd be on MN lol.

Off out to a fete but be back later.

You could e-mail it to me (and others you know).

I can not believe that again you are going through this.

We are all here for you, and will be your sounding boards if needed