Health declaration/Depression?

[LinziH]

Hi all

Just looking for some reassurance. Ive been to an information session this evening with our local council and have decided to go ahead with childminding, I am so excited about it.

Only thing is they mentioned that I would need a health declaration signed by my GP. I have a long history of depression, and I am currently suffering with post natal depression and anxiety. I am under the care of a psychiatrist at a specialist unit and on some medication.

I feel more than able to look after children (I look after both of my own every day!) but I dont know if a Dr will agree also.

Anyone else been in this position?

Many thanks xx

[Beetlejuice]

Yes I have. I have suffered with depression for 10 years now and the GP and I have agreed that I need a small dose of antidepressants indefinitely to keep me balanced. I declared it on my health form and was registered fine - mentioned it to Ofsted at pre-reg and the lady said she appreciated my honesty. Im my mind as long as you know you can control it with medication/counselling etc then there shouldn't be a problem.

[LinziH]

thank you hun, Im so worried about it, I don't want this illness to completely take over everything when it doesn't need to!

[Louise317]

I added depression, post natal depression and tablets to form too, doctor signed and explained to mrs o and could show i was of sain mind and was registered fine.

Like beetlejuice she liked my honesty.

You should be fine hun x

[monicandave]

Hi I have struggled with depression for years and worried that would affect my application as well. I wrote all the details on my health declaration. A week or so after I sent it back, I got a letter requesting more information. I had to sign a consent form and was sent an appointment with a doctor to discuss my medical history. He just asked me about all my medical stuff. It took about half an hour. He said he had to send back a form and he would mark that I am medically fit. I think if your medication is stable and they aren't still changing doses it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

[retha]

Also struggled with very bad post natal depression an anxiety in the past and was actually still on medication while going through the childminding course & registration process. I gave full honest details on health declaration form which my Dr signed. Ofsted sent another form to Dr requesting additional information (never saw the form but probably just wanted confirmation from him that I was fit to care for children).
It delayed my registration by about 2 weeks (mostly because my dr took his time to reply to Ofsted), but other than that no problems and I was registered fine!

And actually after starting to childminding it has made me feel so much more positive about myself in general that it has actually helped me with the depression. I'm now completely off medication and cope with it all very well.

Do not worry - you will be fine I am sure of it! Just be honest about everything and keep up with the councelling and medication.

If you are worried about your Dr's opinion why not go and see him and talk to him about it, that might give you some peace of mind as well.

[LinziH]

Thanks everyone I feel much better. My daughter is 3 months old and Ive only been on this medication about 6 weeks, they're still changing my dose around a bit at the moment, but Im going to speak to the psychiatrist when I see him in a week and see his opinion. The fact is Im still taking perfect care of my own children every day, so I know myself Im capeable, it's just the stigma of mental illness I guess isn't it. But my health visitor keeps telling me Id be a great childminder and she was really happy when I told her I was planning to register.

Ive wanted to do this for such a long time and Im so excited about the future, tbh the thought of going back to my old job when my maternity leave is up makes the depression worse. I know this is the right thing for me, just hope doc sees that too :)

[EmmaReed84]

Rather than post a whole new thread and seeing as this is the subject I have a bit of a question.

It is not about me, but someone I know who is a CM. They have been registered for a while and everything was ok at the time, but since they have been regisitered they have been diagnosed with depression and put on medication to control it. They stopped taking it and went downhill and has been put back on them. Does this person need to inform Ofsted of this?

[monicandave]

ooohh, that's a good question. No idea about the answer though.