Keyworker parents of pre-schoolers

[Dolly40Dolly]

Hello all,

I work for a front-line Adult Social Care Team. Our manager has told us all to be prepared to help out with whatever may come up, either at our local hospital, or in the community. That's fine by me. It's why I chose the career I did.

However, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what key-worker parents of pre-school children are supposed to do re: childcare? My parents, who would normally have my little boy for a couple of days during the week (he's 15 months old) are in isolation. And I don't have the money to fund a key-worker childminder to pick up the slack. Any ideas from anyone else in the same position?

Thanks x

Is the child's father a key worker too?

Ask around at work - a lot of my colleagues’ wives have offered to take extra children as needed (as have other parents from nursery).

Is the child's father a key worker too?

Can we please leave the “key workers are selfish for even considering using childcare” stuff on the other thread? ————>

Hello eurochick

Yes the child's father is also a key-worker - frontline NHS.

Mine is going to his usual childminders along with some extra keyworker children, as my DH is the main wage earner and won't be able to work from home with him there. My older children will be staying home though.

Did you have some advice or suggestions for me eurochick? I presume something helpful is to follow from you?

I'm not sure why some posters are being snippy. It was a genuine question as this wasn't mentioned in the OP.

Well could you please now offer some helpful advice? I've answered your question. I am assuming you asked the question for a reason???

OP there is a nhs staff group trying to organise matching people with childcare

twitter.com/cathynewman/status/1240399243417989120?s=21

As I thought would have been obvious, I asked the question to see if the child's father was a key worker too

I know these are stressful times but there is no need to bite someone's head off for responding to your thread. There are plenty of posts on here today about families where one parent is a key worker planning to use school/childcare placements. It's obviously difficult if the non key worker is the main breadwinner but you have to suck it up and deal with the difficulties. Two key worker parents presents a different issue.

So your only answer was going to be suck it up and deal with the difficulties? And now I've presented you with a totally different scenario to the one you were assuming I was in you have no helpful advice?
I'm very much aware that two key-worker parents presents a different issue - but I get the feeling you weren't banking on that being the case. If you have any helpful advice for me it would be most appreciated.

Is there anyway you can split the times you're working for the foreseeable. I would say both your roles are equally as important so your employers will be grateful for whatever hours can be fulfilled.
Can you do opposite shifts, take it in turn to do alternate weeks? Neither ideal but we have to keep the wheel turning. Good luck OP!

I believe that nurseries etc. are supposed provide care for keyworkers children, and if your care is closed they will help find alternative provision. Might be worth calling some nurseries in your area

Our nursery is taking applications from key workers without childcare. I would contact your local authority Children’s Services in the first place and see if they have a list of providers with places for key workers, if not then try some local nurseries. I hope you find something!

I'm not willing to offer any constructive advice to someone so aggressive. I hope you are more pleasant to the people you deal with in your adult social care role than you have been on this thread.

I work in a nursery and we are taking children from nurseries that are closed
Obviously they have to be children of key workers and fill out the relevant forms and fees will need to be paid in advance
But the provision is there

eurochick - that's fine. As you didn't have any real constructive advice did you? I have yet to hear something positive from you..........

Thank-you to everyone else
x