6 Years On

[CCJD]

It's been six years since I last posted on this board sharing that it was my last day after 10 years of being a childminder. I loved being a childminder, especially when my children were young but as they grew older it just became less relevant to our family. I always had the nagging worry though that childminding and the skills I got from it wouldnt be recognised or useful, working in any other field.

But I couldn't have been more wrong and today as I was thinking back on this I remembered all the well wishers and people on here who asked me to let them know how I got on and I wanted to give courage to anyone who feels how I felt back then.

I left childminding to go and work as a family support worker for children's services. After 3 years (thanks in part to my childminding sponsored level 4 qualification), I was accepted on the councils sponsored social work degree programme and am happy to say I am now a fully qualified social worker working in front line children's services.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't use the skills and knowledge that I gained as a minder - from helping overwhelmed parents with large families, to having a really good understanding of child development, knowing how to tackle different behaviours to knowing how likely certain accidents are. My 10 years in minding gave me such a good understanding of children and how to communicate with them, that I am thankful every day of my time as a minder.

So if there is anyone out there who is worried, like I was, about what they can do if childminding no longer suits them, take heart and know there is loads!!

Xx

[natlou82]

I just wanted to say well done :-). I have always been interested in that field. It's good to know that there's other options out there if it gets to the point where childminding no longer works for me.

[rickysmiths]

Well done to you for finding a different field to work in and that you are happy in.

I have been a childminder for 21 years now and I love it despite the huge changes I have seen in that time. My two were nearly 2 and 11 months old when I took on my first 16 week old minded child and I went on to have his brother as well.

I went to college many moons ago and one of the fields of work I could have gone into was Social Work. I did a month of work experience and I have to say it made me realise it was a field of work I would never ever go into. I was saddened even at the young age I was doing the training, at the poor quality and attitude of staff in the place I worked in and I do hope standards have gone well up since then.

[samb]

That's inspiring. Well done uou

[mumofone]

As samb said :-) thank you for sharing :-)

[gemgem12]

That's brilliant, well done. I am currently a family support worker (was in family centre but is now within a children's centre) and have recently registered as a childminder. I think the two link together really well as, although you don't directly look after children when a family support worker, you are supporting families and following similar policies and procedures. And i look forward to incorporating my family worker skills and being able to offer any support or signpost childminding families on where required. X