Completley drowining in the unknown world of flexible childcare!! HELP

[CharliAliciaLuke]

Ive been offered a job to start after Christmas, with a training period to begin with for three weeks. Then will move on to working on a ward in the hospital. The shifts change by week Ive been told, Im not too sure if you get told about them before hand? I just dont know where to start! Im a single parent with two little darlings. Just so confused, do people offer flexible childcare? My oldest is three and attends nursery 2 1/2 days a week. PLEASE HELP!!

Some hospitals have nurseries. Is yours one?

It's a very tricky ask, as you ca. Imagine.

it does have a nursery yes but i already have my daughter in a nursery around the corner from my house. dont want to take her out of it because its on of the best in my area. bloody hell. think im screwed!

I would immediately enquire how the staff nursery works and if there us spaces for two.

Unless you cannegotiate fixed hours, you are likely to find that the best option.

What shifts could you have to work? Do you have any family help with childcare? Nurseries tend to be pretty inflexible (although there are exceptions). I don't work every day but pay for full time nursery care as my day off changes every week.

I am a nurse. This is the reason I am now non clinical and work part time in education. Since having dc I could no longer work shift patterns. My early shifts started at 7am, no nursery near me or breakfast club before school before started until 7:30am. Late shifts ended at 9:30pm, nursery/after school clubs finish at 6:00pm. I couldn't find a nursery that would be flexible on days. I used to get my rota about 3 weeks in advance. I have had to take a considerable reduction in salary but the hours are 9-5.

I work for a company who run a nursery at a hospital
The nursery offers early starts from 7 am even though the advertised opening times is 7.30
The nursery is open till 7 pm and does accommodate shift workers and they normally get their shift weeks in advance
It's worth asking at the hospital nursery to see what they can offer you

Do you have someone to do pick ups and look after them in the evenings? It's difficult to sort childcare around nursing shifts. I've had to change to bank shifts outside the NHS to work on DHs days off for late finishes.

Hi, thankyou for all of your replies. I have been told i will be working a mixture of night shifts day shifts and twilights. I dont mind this as I know its part and parcel of the job but if I could be told my shifts 3 weeks in advance it would be great. Its very disheartening to hear people have had to give up their jobs, this job is an amazing opportunity and need to do everything I can to be successful in it. There is a nursery near me who offer flexibility but doesnt open until 7:30 and would need to drop off at atleast 7am. I do have a very supportive family but I feel its too much to ask! May have to super nice to my mum over the next few months! lol!

Tbh most nurses/HCAs who manage it either have a childminder or their mum.

Even with a childminder there was usually wrap around care (spouse/mum) as you finish so late. But at least you could drop off to a childminder at 6.30am if needs be.

Very few use nurseries as they are rarely compatible with the very long shifts.

This is why I worked bank. It was the only way I could have control of what shifts I worked.

I guess it's Mummy and MIL, they wont mind.. too much. Maybe when I qualify I could work bank but that wont be for a year.

I hope I can figure this out, thankyou so much!

My nursery offers a limited number of flexible spaces where you give them your shifts with a certain amount of notice. Ask yours first.
Then ask your job about when rotas are done and shared.
You might have to change nurseries. But the other alternative is a childminder as well as nursery.