If you have a cleaner...

[sarah707]

According to a conversation I have just had today with Ofsted...

If your cleaner comes during minding hours (even if you usually go out while the cleaner is in your house - because some weeks you might not) then they are classed as a REGULAR VISITOR.

Regular visitors must have a CRB check...

- You need to download and print an EY2 form from the Ofsted website and send it to Ofsted;

- Ofsted then send out a CRB form;

- You can fill in the back with the cleaner's passport details etc and send it off.

Ofsted pay for the CRB.

Your cleaner can continue working for you while the application is in progress however you should call Ofsted and tell them that you are applying for a CRB for the cleaner so they can make a note in your file.

This will head off any complaints they might receive about the cleaner being in your house.

In the meantime...

- You need to risk assess how you keep the children safe from a visitor who does not have a CRB check in place;

- You need to make sure the cleaner does not come into unsupervised contact with the children;

- You need to consider the impact of a regular visitor on your safeguarding / child protection policy and procedure.

Note - I totally forgot to ask whether the cleaner should sign the visitors book (it's been a long day ) but I think, for good practice anyone who comes during working hours should sign in and out as a matter of course - if you currently have a visitors book (I don't want to start that argument again here ).

Hth

[Jacko81]

Thankyou for that information sarah.

Ill certainly get that done.

xxx

[Twinkles]

Thanks Sarah. I did suspect this might be the case and it's been niggling at me for a while.

[Mookins]

thnks for this hun...my cleaner starts in a few weeks time will print the form off now

xxx

[WibbleWobble]

what happens when you go through a company who send different cleaners each week....and sometimes will send 3 at a time (cuts time down by a third)?

mandy x

[sarah707]

what happens when you go through a company who send different cleaners each week....and sometimes will send 3 at a time (cuts time down by a third)?

mandy x

0300 123 1231

[WibbleWobble]

0300 123 1231

ha ha ha ha

mandy xx

[Ripeberry]

What if it's on a day when you are not minding?

[onceinabluemoon]

According to a conversation I have just had today with Ofsted...

If your cleaner comes during minding hours (even if you usually go out while the cleaner is in your house - because some weeks you might not) then they are classed as a REGULAR VISITOR.

Regular visitors must have a CRB check...

- You need to download and print an EY2 form from the Ofsted website and send it to Ofsted;

- Ofsted then send out a CRB form;

- You can fill in the back with the cleaner's passport details etc and send it off.

Ofsted pay for the CRB.

Your cleaner can continue working for you while the application is in progress however you should call Ofsted and tell them that you are applying for a CRB for the cleaner so they can make a note in your file.

This will head off any complaints they might receive about the cleaner being in your house.

In the meantime...

- You need to risk assess how you keep the children safe from a visitor who does not have a CRB check in place;

- You need to make sure the cleaner does not come into unsupervised contact with the children;

- You need to consider the impact of a regular visitor on your safeguarding / child protection policy and procedure.

Note - I totally forgot to ask whether the cleaner should sign the visitors book (it's been a long day ) but I think, for good practice anyone who comes during working hours should sign in and out as a matter of course - if you currently have a visitors book (I don't want to start that argument again here ).

Hth

I said this weeks ago!!, Well not quite all of it but the bit about cleaners needing CRB checks. Ofsted didnt tell me they paid for them for example...

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/fo...hlight=cleaner

Most people thought I'd been advised wrongly. I never did get my cleaner thank goodness!

[sarah707]

I said this weeks ago!!, Well not quite all of it but the bit about cleaners needing CRB checks. Ofsted didnt tell me they paid for them for example...

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/fo...hlight=cleaner

Most people thought I'd been advised wrongly. I never did get my cleaner thank goodness!

Your original post was what set alarm bells ringing in my brain... I couldn't remember where the post was sorry!

Up until now mine has never come on days when I am working but from next week that will change as I've just taken on a new child.

I thought I'd best check with Ofsted so I called with a list of questions.

Thank you

[sarah707]

What if it's on a day when you are not minding?

Apparently if they come when you are not working then it's fine...

But if they are a 'regular visitor' when you are working then you need to follow the process above

[sarah707]

More research has thrown up the following...

As an employer you need to make sure you have a COSHH risk assessment for all cleaning products used by the cleaner... this is a requirement of COSHH (1999).

As an employer you are also responsible for recording accidents or incidents or first aid administered (like you do for the children).

You must also report serious accidents or work based illnesses under the regulations of RIDDOR (1995).

You should consider risk assessing for 2 different things...

1. Risks to the childminded children for example the risk of the cleaner being in unsupervised contact with the child / the risk of children making allegations / buckets of water left lying around / stair gates or doors left open and children escaping etc;

And because you are an employer...

2. the risks to the cleaner in cleaning your house such as the vacuum being faulty / eczema or dermatitis caused by cleaning products / hazardous products or cross contamination from cleaning toilets and emptying bins / finding truly awful things under teenager's beds etc.

Basically risk assess anything and everything to show that you aim to keep the cleaner safe on your premises.

Crikey this employing a cleaner lark is a steep learning curve

[Donkey]

what if they use their own products

rather glad I now don't earn enough to warrant needing one!!

[linda2girls]

My cleaner is already CRB checked as she works for the local pre-school - I'm guessing that I don't have to get her checked again.

Linda.

[sarah707]

what if they use their own products

rather glad I now don't earn enough to warrant needing one!!

Then I THINK you would probably want to COSHH them for use around children - inhalation, eczema, dermatitis, asthma etc... anyway.

Plus consider environmentally friendliness... and what would happen if a child drank from the bottle etc.

Hth

[sarah707]

My cleaner is already CRB checked as she works for the local pre-school - I'm guessing that I don't have to get her checked again.

Linda.

You should ring Ofsted and check just to make sure!

They might want another if it's old or for their records as you are a different type of provision.

It's always best to check

[ChocolateChip]

My cleaner is self employed!

But I did do her crb check, and I have made up a 'staff attendance' sheet which she signs in and out on, rather than my visitors book.

Parsleypetal, if you are using an agency shouldn't the company crb them?

[flowerpots]

0300 123 1231

[Adiamond]

Sooooo glad I laid my cleaner off (not enough pennies atm )

Pretty sure I won't be bringing her back again now!!!! x

[nokidshere]

More research has thrown up the following...

As an employer you need to make sure you have a COSHH risk assessment for all cleaning products used by the cleaner... this is a requirement of COSHH (1999).

As an employer you are also responsible for recording accidents or incidents or first aid administered (like you do for the children).

You must also report serious accidents or work based illnesses under the regulations of RIDDOR (1995).

You should consider risk assessing for 2 different things...

1. Risks to the childminded children for example the risk of the cleaner being in unsupervised contact with the child / the risk of children making allegations / buckets of water left lying around / stair gates or doors left open and children escaping etc;

And because you are an employer...

2. the risks to the cleaner in cleaning your house such as the vacuum being faulty / eczema or dermatitis caused by cleaning products / hazardous products or cross contamination from cleaning toilets and emptying bins / finding truly awful things under teenager's beds etc.

Basically risk assess anything and everything to show that you aim to keep the cleaner safe on your premises.

Crikey this employing a cleaner lark is a steep learning curve

The H&S at work act 1974 and secondary legislations such as the coshh regulations 2004 only apply where there is a contract of employment between and employer and employee. This is a domestic contract where the cleaner is self employed and would need to do her own coshh assessments although they do not need to be in writing.

The only legal duty of care between a domestic in this situation would be a common law duty of care which applies to anyone in your home.

Obviously if you have a contract of employment with your cleaner then thats different.