Childminding/Baby Sitting

Oldernotwiser

I certainly never meant to imply that there's anything wrong with a man wanting to work with children, simply that he is likely to face some prejeudice about it. Qualifications and experience will go a long way to defuse this.

Magnolia

Spot on ONW - I was just a bit concerned about the way this thread was developing. You are right to point out the prejudices that surround childcare and whilst OP might be a 'pillar of the community' old ways of thinking will still be a barrier to some.

freebiequennie

I am a qualified childrens nurse and babysit in the east midlands, most families would want you to have a CRB if they didnt know you, so would be worth joining an agency to get this done. Maybe contact sitters a babysitting agency as you have a little experience from working at legoland.

do you have any family friends or neighbours with children who would be willing to let you babysit or a childminder locally who would let you volunteer for experience and then you would have some references.

Most of my work is from word of mouth, private advertising on websites such as gumtree and also some through nanny agencies.

Savvy_Sue

I sincerely hope that if the OP is working with children at Legoland then he's had a CRB check through work!

However, if he hasn't, he can't get one for himself, so the agency suggestion might well be worthwhile.

Woodyrocks

I currently have a childcare advert out, of all the responses I have had, one was from a man, and bear in mind that I am a forward thinking type of person but even I baulked at the thought of letting a random man looking after my child.

I did ask after Enhanced CRB + references but was met with the statement that it was a new endeavour. Hmm, you shan't be starting with my child as your first TYVM, I need a proven track record - from a man AND a woman - but a man that has just 'fallen' into childcare would have me thinking thanks but no thanks...

Magnolia

Woodyrocks wrote: »

I did ask after Enhanced CRB + references but was met with the statement that it was a new endeavour.

Excellent advice to everyone who is either looking for a childminder or wanting to be a childminder. People are much more clued up on what they want from their childcarer.

surreysaver

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I certainly never meant to imply that there's anything wrong with a man wanting to work with children, simply that he is likely to face some prejeudice about it. Qualifications and experience will go a long way to defuse this.

Yes. Sorry to take your post the wrong way! I agree with you.

surreysaver

Woodyrocks wrote: »

I currently have a childcare advert out, of all the responses I have had, one was from a man, and bear in mind that I am a forward thinking type of person but even I baulked at the thought of letting a random man looking after my child.

Yes, people seem to think that prejudice only exists against women and black people. Women have to work twice as hard in male-dominated areas, black people have to work twice as hard in white-dominated areas and men in women's areas. People don't seem to realise that. Even the NHS has a prejudice against men looking after children.

kateab

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I sincerely hope that if the OP is working with children at Legoland then he's had a CRB check through work!

However, if he hasn't, he can't get one for himself, so the agency suggestion might well be worthwhile.

Well, the problem is a CRB is like an MOT - only good for the moment in time for which it is issued. That person with a clean bill of health could go out the day after it was issued and commit loads of offences and you would never know. That's why people changing jobs have to get a CRB check done before a job offer is confirmed. It hugely increases the length of the recruitment cycle but showing your CRB from your current job would be pointless.

If the OP has been CRBd working at Legoland, it could have been a few years ago now.

Edit: definitely go through the Ofsted registration. There are probably unregistered childminders operating out there but people who claim the childcare element of tax credits have to use registered providers, and people using childcare vouchers also want to use registered providers. And personally, unless it was someone I already knew well, I wouldn't use an unregistered provider.

kateab

surreysaver

And a CRB just means you haven't been caught or convicted of something. Would you have a CRB for working at Legoland? I just thought you would have one for being in charge of children or vulnerable adults - otherwise anyone who works with the public (in a shop, bus drivers etc) would have to have one?