hi health question

[cyb3rminx]

hi this is my first post and not sure if its in the right place (sorry in advance if it isn't)
Ive been looking into becoming a childminder in leeds and have been reading up on all the info i can, but i am worried that my health will stop me from becoming a childminder. Firstly i am a type 1 diabetic (insulin user) and secondly i have back issues. I had a slipped disc and had it removed almost 2 years ago i am on strong pain meds (butrans patches, which is morphine based and then gabapentin, which is a nerve pain med). My medication dos not affect my abilities and i am still fit too drive, i have 4 children of my own and i am always caring for family and friends children. Im worried that because i am on a morphine based drug that the doctor or ofsted will not see me fit to care for children. I have spoken to one of my gp's and she dosent see it to be a problem. What are peoples views? Don't want to get my hopes up for them to be dashed.:( Thanks in advance any info welcomed :o

[shortstuff]

The best advice I can give is to phone ofsted. They are the ones who make the decision so are the only ones who can answer. Sorry if you feel thats a cop out.

The fact that you have a gp saying you are fit to fulfil the requirements of the job will go in your favour.

[alex__17]

Not really the same but I also had a slipped disc a couple of years ago, so have back pain on and off when it goes again. Dr signed me off, at pre reg visit ofsted inspector asked lots of info, she basically wanted to know I'd be able to pick up young children and care for them, and since it slipped again after I had my own son and it hadn't stopped me caring and carrying him around they were happy with that.

[JCrakers]

I have a bad back, had it since 12yrs old. I manage it by knowing my limits. I know that by sitting on the floor for more than 10mins will mean that I'm in pain for the next 3 days so I don't sit on the floor. If i'm at singing group I get a chair to sit on, like an old woman :D

I don't pick up children unless necessary and if carrying babies I carry them at the front not on my hip. It's all about doing your job but thinking about your own health too. If you had an employer they would have to follow rules to protect you. My dh works in an office and his employer has to give him a suitable chair and desk and because he wears glasses and works on a PC he also gets free eye tests.

You will know your limits but I'm unsure on the ins and outs of it. I've never been on medication for my back because I've learnt to manage it, so I don't know what your health check will raise.

[cyb3rminx]

Thanks for advice ill ring Ofsted:) on monday and see what they say. Hopefully my doctor will stick with me as i look after my own children day in day out , and like you say i know my limits

[alex__17]

That's the point I made to inspector as she kept asking qu about what I'd do if I slipped disc again and how would I look after kids and I just said it happened since having my son and I just got on with things he still needed carrying around and no one helped, you know what you can and can't do

[Koala]

Agree with all that has been said about back issues and would not see a problem - you work with your abilities - your not digging taties.

Type 1 diabetes should not be a problem either (This is a registered disability and if you are treated any differently it can be cause for discrimination) as long as you are managing it correctly, have regular monitoring that shows your level of ability is 'normal' :laughing: which you must be to get through the beaurocracy of your driving licence renewal :angry: and you are fit and well otherwise, your blood sugars are probably in a better state than mine and my pancreas is 'working' :D

Go for it - I would always contact ofsted though with regards any queries and if you have any problems make sure you get written clarification and if your not happy because sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing in the ivory tower :D it's like the land of Oz, challenge. :clapping: :clapping:

[benandjerrys]

Last year I declared on my health dec that I had slipped discs two years before. I told them the mess I was prescribed including codeine and diazepam. My doc wrote that it may affect lifting. Ofsted sent me for a medical. I was in the room for 3 minutes, he ask me to lift legs up and bend and squat and then signed the form to say fit for minding. You will most definitely have a medical. Lots of people have slipped discs at some point. They will want to know how you control it with meds and obviously you can't take certain ones while minding like diazepam.

[FussyElmo]

This is taken form the ofsted factsheet. Ofsted | Factsheet: childcare - The numbers and ages of children that providers on the Early Years and Childcare Registers may care for (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-numbers-and-ages-of-children-providers-early-years-and-childcare-registers-may-c)

any health or other difficulties they might have that prevent them from caring for some children (such as difficulties in lifting) – if the childminder has such difficulties, we will normally restrict the number of children that they can care for in a condition of registration

Ofsted may also restrict the number of children childminders may care for through conditions of registration. We will only do this in circumstances where we judge a childminder cannot care for the full range of children, for example because they have a medical condition that might prevent them from lifting children.
9. In all cases, when deciding to care for additional children in the early years

Example 2
15. An individual has applied to become a childminder. As part of the registration process we undertook a check with her GP. The GP confirmed the childminder’s declaration of her long-standing back condition. This will cause her some difficulty in sitting on the floor and constantly lifting small children. The applicant talked to the inspector at the registration visit and explained she wished to be registered to look after children who need little lifting. She explained how she managers her condition with her own children who are now nine and thirteen years old. Her condition is controlled with regular exercise and pain relief. The applicant is not undertaking any treatment at the hospital and does not need to see a specialist. The applicant has a good understanding about her responsibilities and the requirements childminders must meet.
16. We judge that the applicant is suitable for registration but place a condition on her certificate that only allows her to care for children aged three and over. The applicant is reminded that should her health problem deteriorate to a level that may affect her suitability she should notify us.


So as you can see they may decide to put restrictions on your registration but only time will tell :thumbsup:

[WibbleWobble]

i broke my neck 11 years ago and needed two discs removing and the vertebrae fusing. i am not allowed to nurse any more (not sad btw)

i take co codamol (over the counter level) and amitryptiline (sp?) for nerve pain as well as meds for high bp and cholesterol and low thyroid as well as being a brittle asthmatic....i didnt even need a medical!

so go for it....and keep us informed how you get on....lots of us old crocks on here


wibble xxx

[misskft]

If you are sent for a medical its only because ofsted are not medically trained and need to get expert knowledge by sending you for a medical. I had one and it was fine you know your capabilities. Its one thing seeing a persons medical condition on paper to meeting and assessint them. Good luck xx

[gef918]

If you are sent for a medical its only because ofsted are not medically trained and need to get expert knowledge by sending you for a medical. I had one and it was fine you know your capabilities. Its one thing seeing a persons medical condition on paper to meeting and assessint them. Good luck xx

I agree. I had a medical last year and it was fine. Doctor actually said I was fine to work even if I felt ill (possible recurring illness) - I completely disagree with that and won't work with children if I feel ill, but it's what he told Ofsted!