CM Club - Overnight Stays when parents abroad

[looneytune]

Quick question. I've had a couple of mindees who have stayed for 3 nights in a row, sometimes when parents are in the country, other times when they're not. These have been with emergency contacts.

I've been asked to possibly do more but the emergency contact is 4/5 hours away and of course, couldn't be 100% guaranteed until nearer the time (as they might get ill etc).

If you do overnight stays for parents out of the country, what is your policy if their child gets ill in your care? I'm guessing it's an absolute must that they have an emergency contact as although I'm capable of looking after a sick child, I couldn't have them if they got ill due to other mindees. Would you think a contact who is 4/5 hours away is ok?

Any thoughts would be great, sorry if didn't make 100% clear but I'm rushing!

Bump as pretty urgent

Sorry Looney, no exp of o/night care, but I reckon 4/5 hrs away is too far.

Unless you could have a watertight agreement to act locoparentis in the case of dire emergency ie: hospitalisation, anaesthetist, transfusions / transplants you name it. And someone (or several named persons) who can collect from you if needed.

I wouldn't do it without much closer emergency contact or a legally drawn up permission for emergency medical treatment TBH.

I did this as a nanny which I know isn't the same but I always had an agreement that enabled me to consent to emergency medical treatment etc.

In the case where I was incapacitated AND the parents were out the country I had the power to engage a temporary nanny from a prearranged agency. Could you have an arragement like that in case the child was ill to back up the emergency contact?

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I'm more than happy to act locoparentis and I'm sure they'd sign for all that (as most is signed anyway) but it's my duty to other mindees that concerns me more. Yes, I also think 4/5 hours away is too far. I'll have a chat and see if there is someone more local they could use until the family member 4/5 hours away arrives (if needed). One of the potential stays is for a week (Sat-Sat) and a few other few day stays for later in the year. I need to have a big think about this but I'd like to think I could do it if needed as I'm the one she sees the most (had since 8 weeks old)

If anyone else has any other thoughts, please pass them on

In case of an emergency, the doctor or hospital would act in the best interests of the child regardless of what authority you have.

Think of the awful scenarios of RTA's , children get hurt and sometimes parents are too badly hurt to consent to anything, the hospital will always save the child's life where possible.

I've been minding a little boy since he was 6 months old who has stayed with me and my family for up to 9 nights in a row 2/3 times a month. His mum is a purser with BA and fly's long-hall to places like the states, Dubai and Africa so is quite a few miles away!!!! He only stopped coming for that length of time when he went to boarding school last September when he was 8 and now only comes in the holidays. I'm obviously registered for overnight care and have only ever had the standard permission for emergency treatment form that I have for all the other children who just come during the day. He hasn't got a dad but does have grandparents who live about 1.5 hrs drive away who are his emergency contact. ofsted have never questioned the fact that his mum is working such a distance away

alibubbles - exactly

fudgesmummy - I think yours is ok as only 1 and half hours away. This can be what it takes parents when they are at work if commuting to the city etc.

I've told mum that my concern is the 4/5 hours away contact and that's without really bad motorway problems. So she thinks (if books them) that she has a local person who could take her for those hours whilst waiting for family to come down, if needed.

Thanks for all the advice