Do you all have a 'back-up' Childminder?!

**SaijaM** · 02-07-2010, 06:25 AM

Morning everyone!

Just wondering if you all have a back-up childminder, who will take your kids if you suddenly become ill or have an emergency?

I don't have one yet... need to find someone to agree to be one.. and they need to be very close to my house too.

Is this a law requirement?

Thanks again,
Saija xx

**sonia ann** · 02-07-2010, 06:33 AM

I have no-one

but in an emergency I would leave them with my OH and get him to phone all parents/ emergency contacts to collect immediately

**sarah707** · 02-07-2010, 06:40 AM

It is a statutory requirement of the Childcare Register which says -

Childminders must make arrangements with other childcare providers or with parents for occasions on which the registered person is not able to provide childcare.

So yes, it is a requirement.

You need to link up with another childminder really.

Hth

**Daftbat** · 02-07-2010, 06:45 AM

I have a couple of childminders i can call on but would still in practice really get my hubby to take over and call the parents etc or my mum since in real terms they would be able to get things sorted more quickly. The problem with getting another minder involved is that you can never be certain that they would be able to get to you - No.s of children for example. After school i would not be able to get to someone outside walking distance because i have in excess of 6 children most days. When i was inspected we talked this through and agreed that in an emergency you would do everything you could to ensure the children are with someone with a CRb check but it may not end up being another childminder.

**miffy** · 02-07-2010, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by sarah707

You need to link up with another childminder really.

Hth

Not necessarily, it says "or with parents" so as long as you show you have it covered you should be OK

Miffy xx

**Mollymop** · 02-07-2010, 06:59 AM

I agree with Miffy, that is the way I read it.

I have a back-up minder, and she's on this forum too

**Chimps Childminding** · 02-07-2010, 07:06 AM

I am lucky in that I have June next door

but should she be away or out for the day I have no other back up

I would have to get hubby home and ring parents to pick up asap!!!! Thankfully in 13 years this has only happened once

**sue m** · 02-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Mollymop

I agree with Miffy, that is the way I read it.

I have a back-up minder, and she's on this forum too

And I have a back up minder too! Lives in my road, very nice ...........

**Mookins** · 02-07-2010, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by sonia ann

I have no-one

but in an emergency I would leave them with my OH and get him to phone all parents/ emergency contacts to collect immediately

me too...my nearest cm i think is about 4 miles away not yet met any of them,
xxxx

**snufflepuff** · 02-07-2010, 08:24 AM

This is something i have been worrying about, with ofsted due next week.
I have not been able to go to the childminding group, because i have a mindee that starts half way through it. So i haven't had a chance to get to know any of the childminders in the area. Plus i'd imagine they are all paired up already!
In an emergency i'd have to call my partner or my Mum- my mum is not CRB checked but surely thats better than nobody at all??? I think if, god forbid, the situation came up, i'd even leave the children with my neighbour as she works from home. Again, not CRB checked, but better than nobody. Any only for the amount of time it takes for parent to get here.
Im not sure what to do! Should i write something up for parents to sign to say that in an emergency the children may be left with someone who is not CRB checked but that i trust and know well??

**Mookins** · 02-07-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by snufflepuff

This is something i have been worrying about, with ofsted due next week.
I have not been able to go to the childminding group, because i have a mindee that starts half way through it. So i haven't had a chance to get to know any of the childminders in the area. Plus i'd imagine they are all paired up already!
In an emergency i'd have to call my partner or my Mum- my mum is not CRB checked but surely thats better than nobody at all??? I think if, god forbid, the situation came up, i'd even leave the children with my neighbour as she works from home. Again, not CRB checked, but better than nobody. Any only for the amount of time it takes for parent to get here.
Im not sure what to do! Should i write something up for parents to sign to say that in an emergency the children may be left with someone who is not CRB checked but that i trust and know well??

IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE ANYONE ID MAKE SURE THEY ARE CRB CHECKED, FOR £30 sorry caps on its worth it and following as many procedures as possible with the safety situation. Am sure yor mum wont mind having it done x x

**snufflepuff** · 02-07-2010, 10:10 AM

IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE ANYONE ID MAKE SURE THEY ARE CRB CHECKED, FOR £30 sorry caps on its worth it and following as many procedures as possible with the safety situation. Am sure yor mum wont mind having it done

Yes i've been planning on getting her checked anyway.
I just mean, what if something happens, and both DP and my Mum cannot get here quick enough? What then? Even a back up childminder may not be able to get here. What is expected of us? Say we need to go in an ambulance with one mindee, what do we do with the rest of the children? Do we leave them with someone with no CRB and get thier parents to pick them up immediately? or let the child go alone in the ambulance and get their parents to meet them at the hospital?
God forbid any of this ever happens but its something you need to think about i suppose.

**rickysmiths** · 02-07-2010, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mookins

IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE ANYONE ID MAKE SURE THEY ARE CRB CHECKED, FOR £30 sorry caps on its worth it and following as many procedures as possible with the safety situation. Am sure yor mum wont mind having it done x x

I have three people nambed in my emergency policy. One a current working Childminder, one a recently given up childinminding minder who works at the local school part time and a parent who was also a childminder a long time ago. All three are Crb checked

I give all my parents a sheet with my emergency policy with the carers photos and contact details so the parents know who they are. I also give the parents, one each, a credit card laminated card to keep in thier wallets with all their contact details and my husbands.

I keep a folder by my door in a sealed envelope, clearly labelled 'Emergency Folder'. This has a copy of the childrens information sheet, a photo of the child with their parent, my emergency contact details with where my children are at school and a contact number. A list of what days and times each child is with me. This is so, either of the carers who know the info is there can use it in my house or take it away to conatct all the parents or the emergency services would find it and know how many should be in the house and again who to contact. Mrs Ofsted was so impressed with ,she asked if she could use the idea with other Minders.

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 02-07-2010, 01:05 PM

In case of an emergency you can leave the mindees with anyone your trust but for holidays and occasional care you cannot.

I use other childminders that both the children and I see regularly and the parents are happy with this

**rickysmiths** · 02-07-2010, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by DebbieS26

In case of an emergency you can leave the mindees with anyone your trust but for holidays and occasional care you cannot.

I use other childminders that both the children and I see regularly and the parents are happy with this

This is what I do as well.