Hello

I'm in the process of registering as a childminder (done all relevant training, CRBs cleared, even had my registration visit) but the day after my registration visit I received a letter from Ofsted saying that my Health Declaration needs to be investigated further and has been forwarded to Health Management Ltd.

I'm certain this is due to a period of depression and anxiety a few years ago (treated with antidepressants, couselling and CBT). It was only over 12 months and hasn't returned since.

I'm not very worried because I've read similar posts and everyone says that it wont affect my registration.

I'm hoping any childminders who have been through this process can give me advice on how long I should expect to wait before I hear something? It has been a whole month since I returned my consent form to Health Management Ltd and I haven't heard a thing.

I've tried calling Ofsted but they just say "sorry we can't make a guess..."

I'm so excited to get started! And I have a couple of clients lined up, so I really want them to hurry. Did anyone wait as long as a month? Or longer? All advice and experiences welcome please! Thanks xxxx

Unfortunately it's like the length of a piece of string waiting for these things to go through.

All you can do is be persistent asking them to chase it up and hopefully it will hurry through.

Good luck with it all! x

Bless ya. I had depression and anxiety on my HD form, I suffered pretty bad with it and was on meds for 18 months, but that was 8 years before.
I know that as long as your GP says you are fine to work and your depression is managed (though you are well now) you should be fine to register!

Stay positive I am sure it will work out fine and you will be reg before you know it

OMG I too had depression and anxiety, no problems for several years, have sleep apnea which is managed and have no ill effect or tiredness. I didn't realise they may refer the HD on further and I really want to get started.

I was worried about it too when I registered but had no problems at all. When the inspector came for my pre-reg I told her about it and she said she appreciated my honesty and that would help. My GP had to write a letter as far as I can remember to say that he was happy for me to work and my depression was managed.

Definitely keep on them to get it sorted.

hi am in process of being registered myself with ofsted and am goin through exactly the same as you. my gp put on my health check that ive suffered with a blackout sympton and i too got referred to health management, ive been messed about non stop for nearly 8weeks as ofsted and health management have lost my consent forms 3 times so they can get a medical report from my my gp. i went for the medical assessment in may and i can honestly say it was the worse 40 mins of my life. the doctor goes into all your past, your work, and everything its horrible. ive got an appointment next wednesday with my gp over them doing the medical report as ive never suffered with blackouts dont even no what one is, i went the doctors last year as thought i had under active thyroid as i was forgetting silly things, was tired all the time, putting weight on, had blood test that came back fine but doctor referred me to a nuerologist who also said i was fine and discharged me, am now havin to wait as well so no how you feel. :angry:

I went through this too and it was no big deal in the end, and thats despite having been on ADs for years (still on them). It is worth contacting the company that does the health check tho since i found they were waiting for a form my GP hadnt received. Once that was sorted it was quick.

so u were in the same position as me getting referred to health management? did your gp explain what they had to put in your medical report? ive been on anti depressants myself but took myself off them as didnt want to rely on them i just started exercisies loads and walking the dog loads and eating healthy which i found helped. am just worried that health management could simply say no and thats me not being registered. i am physically and mentally fit i feel great but having this hanging over my head is worrying me. did ofsted acept your gps advice and did they restrict your number of kids you were allowed to have once your health check was sorted.

yes am going through similiar thing to yourself only am still waiting for my health check to get sorted been waiting 2 months up to now. i was referred because my gp put a blackout sympton on my health form so i got referred to health management only ive never heard of a blackout b4 let alone suffered with them, i went the doctors because i thought i may have under active thyroid like my mum as was having some symptons like wot me mum had and explained this to the doctor who sent me for a blood test which came back clear, he then sent me to a nuerololgist who done tests on me and discharged me saying there is nothing wrong with me, i am worried sick that this could stop me becoming registered and all my hard work ive done would of been for nothing so no how u feel.