How do i handle this ad hoc?

**smurfette** · 14-08-2013, 01:20 PM

So I am as full really as I want to be .. Almost! But have had two parents recently wanting a few ad hoc hours just for baby to socialise and give mum a break.. One visited last week and because I could no longer give her the regular Monday and Thursday am we originally talked about I gave her a list of dates until Christmas. Then one of my other mum needed a swap to one of the dates I gave the ad hoc mum (november!) and when I asked ad hoc mum about it she said she would ring me about it and hasn't. I then had a text from other ad hoc mum saying she was happy to go week to week with whatever I can give her .

I don't want to put pressure on ad hoc mum to say what she wants three months in advance but I also don't want to be without money if I can fit it all in, I wasn't going to charge ad hoc mum if she didn't come . I have rung her and left a scrambled voicemail for her but I feel now that I offered her those hours and told her she could go week to week if she wanted but I am not sure that's gonna work now!!! Aarrgghh!!

**smurfette** · 14-08-2013, 05:13 PM

Anyone?!!!

**shortstuff** · 14-08-2013, 05:18 PM

Sorry hunni no clue at the mo x last lo due to go home in 15 so I will read it again xx

**emma04** · 14-08-2013, 05:28 PM

Week to week should work, providing she understands that her adhoc contract will be based on what you can offer on a weekly basis. Eg. A phone call on a Friday, telling her what you can do the following week. (Could be a bit time consuming or a hassle)

Or you offer her a temporary contract for however many weeks you can guarantee days for and then reassess your circumstances once that ends and before you proceed with extending her contract.

Sorry, I'm probably waffling cos I don't do adhoc i found that everything would get messed up when my permanent parents wanted to swap days or when I wanted them to swap due to appointments. (My dd2 has lots!)

Home someone more helpful comes along!

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 14-08-2013, 06:30 PM

I would discount this childs hours. Look for alternative work and if you cannot fit her in tough but if you can great. Win win in my mind.

or

You could offer parent a day that you have free on a 50% per week retainer and if she uses it she pays for the other 50%. If she doesn't you get paid for holding the space

**blue bear** · 14-08-2013, 07:58 PM

Parents either book in and pay for regular hours or they take pot luck if I have the space, I will not hold a space unless a contract is signed and direct debit set up, if a parent wants a temp space say three months I expect contract signed and at least first months money paid up front or I do. It hold the hours.
I make this clear to parents when they ring or visit. For a ad hoc contract week by week I have a booking in form, once the form is completed by parent, signed by me and payment made upfront I will keep the hours on the form, no form and money then I don't promise to keep the place.

**Kiddleywinks** · 15-08-2013, 07:04 AM

Ad hoc means as and when, if parent is requesting dates you are available weeks/months in advance, then personally I'd be drawing up a contract and getting a deposit and retainer in place

**bunyip** · 15-08-2013, 07:47 AM

Hi Murph

Not sure I entirely understand this situation

, but here's my take on ad hoc care.

If a client wants an ad hoc contract, fine. The essence is they are not guaranteeing to make me any offers of work, and I'm not guaranteeing to provide any service as/when they do ask for it. It just means we have all the Ts&Cs in place ready for if/when we can agree on and book any date(s).

If/when I accept an ad hoc booking, that place is theirs for that time. So, if a permanent client then comes along and there is a clash, I don't think it right for me to 'bump' the ad hoc child from a booked session in favour of the permanent child. That's bad for me in cash terms, but I made a business decision to take the ad hoc booking: I created the situation and I have to live with it.

In fact, for exactly that reason, I prefer ad hoc bookings to be relatively short-notice affairs. That way I'm not committing to something weeks or months away which might become a problem.

Does that help?

**smurfette** · 15-08-2013, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by bunyip

Hi Murph

Not sure I entirely understand this situation

, but here's my take on ad hoc care.

If a client wants an ad hoc contract, fine. The essence is they are not guaranteeing to make me any offers of work, and I'm not guaranteeing to provide any service as/when they do ask for it. It just means we have all the Ts&Cs in place ready for if/when we can agree on and book any date(s).

If/when I accept an ad hoc booking, that place is theirs for that time. So, if a permanent client then comes along and there is a clash, I don't think it right for me to 'bump' the ad hoc child from a booked session in favour of the permanent child. That's bad for me in cash terms, but I made a business decision to take the ad hoc booking: I created the situation and I have to live with it.

In fact, for exactly that reason, I prefer ad hoc bookings to be relatively short-notice affairs. That way I'm not committing to something weeks or months away which might become a problem.

Does that help?

Yeah it does! Think I have made my bed a bit and will have to lie in it now! The problem is that I filled a part time space around another child and then that child left which left me with some
Thursdays free but not others so ad
Hoc is perfect., and liking to be organised I thought I would give the ad hoc lady
The dates in advance and wanting to be flexible I told her she could go week to week if she wanted and then immediately ran into two problems .. Firstly one of my other mums wanted a swap for a week in November (this little one is not settled and I am not even sure I will last the pace that long!) then I had a text
From another mum enquiring about ad hoc,,
Who obviously i would
Like to fit in if I have any gaps.. Would like to fill all my days if possible!

Think I will call back the first ad hoc mum and chat with her This am and go from there .,
Just hope I haven't put her with my waffling!

**smurfette** · 15-08-2013, 10:33 AM

Well! Miracle of miracles first ad

Hoc mum has booked her in all
The dates she needs until Christmas!

**samb** · 15-08-2013, 12:57 PM

I only take ad hoc bookings half a term in advance at the most, what if you had someone that came along and fitted perfectly with the other lo you said you had on a part time contract that used to fit with another contract? If you have already booked say 3 out of possible 10 dates that they want between now and xmas you can't take the perfect fit contract in cos you have already booked in the ad hoc. I like others see ad hoc as being there as more of a short term thing.

**smurfette** · 15-08-2013, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by samb

I only take ad hoc bookings half a term in advance at the most, what if you had someone that came along and fitted perfectly with the other lo you said you had on a part time contract that used to fit with another contract? If you have already booked say 3 out of possible 10 dates that they want between now and xmas you can't take the perfect fit contract in cos you have already booked in the ad hoc. I like others see ad hoc as being there as more of a short term thing.

Yeah I know I have been burnt this way before! However this mum has an older one with cystic fibrosis starting pre school in the mornings so she is really just needing a break.. And is flexible
With days if I need it so just hope it works out! It is less ad hoc and more part
Time I suppose! I have had a lot of movement in the last six months and have found it hard as mine are all part timers so its hard once you get a perfect fit to get Someone else in to fit! So hoping this will be it until Christmas! I don't have a contract with the ad hoc lady (don't need them here) and I will review the situation in a few weeks.. Will take your advice once we get to Christmas and only give her a couple of weeks
In advance I think!

**smurfette** · 16-08-2013, 11:04 AM

Mweh! Second ad hoc mum just been and didn't really take to her .. Child
Seemed wired,
Will be 2 in dec not walking yet..
Bit like a whirlwind in the house.! Dad was lovely but kept telling me all the things child breaks and can get into.. And they only want two hours at a time and I stupidly said my normal hourly rate! I know it could extend to more but this is a child I would rather have in the mornings and burn his energy off but they only want 330-530, and we are usually in for the afternoon., he doesn't seem to have been around others so really not sure how closely I will have to supervise,
Would imagine he climbs everything!!!!

**ziggy** · 16-08-2013, 11:16 AM

Am i right in thinking that if you dont have a contract you can terminate at any time. If it doesnt work out with this child then surely you can say you just dont have a place anymore

must admit I wouldnt want 2 hours so late in afternoon, guess it all depends how much you need the work

**smurfette** · 16-08-2013, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by ziggy

Am i right in thinking that if you dont have a contract you can terminate at any time. If it doesnt work out with this child then surely you can say you just dont have a place anymore

must admit I wouldnt want 2 hours so late in afternoon, guess it all depends how much you need the work

Yes no contract but I think I will leave it,, my eldest starts secondary school in sept and will be needing picked up in the middle of
His session and may need support. ,
Last thing I need is someone exciting and disrupting the other kids when I am getting them
Wound down for home!

Dh has put foot down once he heard about the breaking things and I normally decide myself and would ignore that if I chose but I just have a gut feeling !

Now how to say sorry spot no longer available hmmm!!!

**ziggy** · 16-08-2013, 01:35 PM

I would just be honest and say the times dont suit you

**Samijanec** · 16-08-2013, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by murphf

Yes no contract but I think I will leave it,, my eldest starts secondary school in sept and will be needing picked up in the middle of
His session and may need support. ,
Last thing I need is someone exciting and disrupting the other kids when I am getting them
Wound down for home!

Dh has put foot down once he heard about the breaking things and I normally decide myself and would ignore that if I chose but I just have a gut feeling !

Now how to say sorry spot no longer available hmmm!!!

It's a real dilemma isn't it, I've kinda got the same issue, I'm full to bursting except for one after school place and had two sets of parents interested in the spot. The first set came and to be honest I didn't expect them to take the place, they kind of came to interview me as if they were offering me a job, which I didn't like, they were also humming and haring about the cost and cutting a day a week off so they could afford. They left saying they would call back which they did the next morning, then that afternoon the other parent came and we just gelled so much better. So I'm now thinking that I'm going to offer the place to the second parent but I'm in a quandary as to how I tell the first set that I can't offer the place...

I hope you find a solution. X

**smurfette** · 16-08-2013, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Samijanec

It's a real dilemma isn't it, I've kinda got the same issue, I'm full to bursting except for one after school place and had two sets of parents interested in the spot. The first set came and to be honest I didn't expect them to take the place, they kind of came to interview me as if they were offering me a job, which I didn't like, they were also humming and haring about the cost and cutting a day a week off so they could afford. They left saying they would call back which they did the next morning, then that afternoon the other parent came and we just gelled so much better. So I'm now thinking that I'm going to offer the place to the second parent but I'm in a quandary as to how I tell the first set that I can't offer the place...

I hope you find a solution. X

That's a tricky one too! The girls here always say go with your gut though don't they?! Did you say they could have the space when they rang back that morning or did you tell them you had someone else coming?

**smurfette** · 16-08-2013, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by ziggy

I would just be honest and say the times dont suit you

I am afraid if I do that they will
Ask for the morning sessions I said I had!

**Samijanec** · 16-08-2013, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by murphf

That's a tricky one too! The girls here always say go with your gut though don't they?! Did you say they could have the space when they rang back that morning or did you tell them you had someone else coming?

No, I told them I had some one else interested, no forms or contracts have been signed..