Babysitting for a friend

angelsmomma

cleopatra4485 wrote: »

What about Grandparents looking after children? is that the same law? Sorry OP for the question on your thread, but it is relevent

Hi

I remember a few years ago asking this when I became a grandmother. They said that I could do it for free, but not for money.

I actually became registered to mind my own grandchild which was a win win situation as my daughter got help with the cost of registered childcare, I got to mind my precious grandaughter and earn a living from it as I also minded other children that my grandaughter played with.

On top of that I then found myself pregnant at 45 so still had a way to earn a living lol

cleopatra4485

angelsmomma wrote: »

Hi

I remember a few years ago asking this when I became a grandmother. They said that I could do it for free, but not for money.

I actually became registered to mind my own grandchild which was a win win situation as my daughter got help with the cost of registered childcare, I got to mind my precious grandaughter and earn a living from it as I also minded other children that my grandaughter played with.

On top of that I then found myself pregnant at 45 so still had a way to earn a living lol

Thanks, tried to thank you via button, but for some reason the space under the post goes blank, keeps happening, very annoying.

Glad it worked out for you and congrats with the baby. Auntie/Uncle before they were born I was going to just give my mother £500 a month to look after her, but thankfully I stumbled across this thread, didn't think there was anything wrong with it, didn't think twice. Did you find it fairly straight forward becoming a registered child minder? each to their own of course, but I do no trust a stranger looking after her until she can talk

angelsmomma

cleopatra4485 wrote: »

Thanks, tried to thank you via button, but for some reason the space under the post goes blank, keeps happening, very annoying.

Glad it worked out for you and congrats with the baby. Auntie/Uncle before they were born I was going to just give my mother £500 a month to look after her, but thankfully I stumbled across this thread, didn't think there was anything wrong with it, didn't think twice. Did you find it fairly straight forward becoming a registered child minder? each to their own of course, but I do no trust a stranger looking after her until she can talk

Yes really straight forward. I think they try to make it seem difficult but its really not so. Grandmothers have already raised their children (you) so its just a matter of doing the courses (easy) then insuring themselves and there you go. I found it really interesting how things change from decaded to decade, but common sense stays the same.

Good luck to you. Please send me a pm if you like. Will be glad to help. I agree totally with the until they can talk remark as I was abused as a child.

sophisoph

Thank you all for your responses. as someone else said i really didnt know there was so much to it!
as i said before yes she would probably get help with childcare costs etc but she doesnt feel happy leaving her child with a stranger. I feel the same no matter how many checks they have had done. only a few months ago there was that woman who worked in a nursery who was done for child abuse! how many parents do you think feel happy about crb checks now??

The point about her benefits etc is that shes ending up with less if she goes to a professional. it would cover bills and thats about it. As her bloke is moving in it they take his income into consideration but they dont take into account the amount of debt he is in and has to pay back etc.

I am a full time mum, part time avon lady and have declared myself as self employed even though in the end i earn pittance. its something to do and i enjoy meeting people and getting me and my son out of the house. i declared myself as soon as i started as i dont like doing things cloak and dagger stylie lol.

Bottom line is, me and her are both skint, she will be struggling a little bit more than me but only by a hair once her bloke moves in. she needs a job for money, i need money, she needs a babysitter. We thought it was as straight forward as two people helping each other out.

Im just glad that im not the only one on here who thinks all these rules are stupid! my friend has said she will pay (if needs be) for me to get registered but im going to look into what is needed and have a chat with her to see what we can do.

as i said thanks for all your replies x

rao_2

phia2000 wrote: »

I am a full time mum, part time avon lady and have declared myself as self employed even though in the end i earn pittance. its something to do and i enjoy meeting people and getting me and my son out of the house. i declared myself as soon as i started as i dont like doing things cloak and dagger stylie lol.

Ah I see you meant registering as in the childcare aspect then (sorry can't be of more help there). Thats great though at least thats out of the way since you can just consider it along with your Avon as a total income when it comes to tax whilst keeping any records separate just for organisation's sake. But other than that at least the tax aspect is good-to-go. That's at least some of the red tape snipped!

my friend has said she will pay (if needs be) for me to get registered but im going to look into what is needed and have a chat with her to see what we can do.

Best of luck getting to grips with it. Hope it turns out not as complicated as it would seem and ends well for all. Perhaps like above poster your experience as a mum will be taken into consideration.

sophisoph

I dont think anyone answered.... if i go to HER house and babysit is all of the legal stuff cancelled out??

pingua

Sorry not sure but perhaps try your local gov website or surestart?

You used to be able to get grants for childminding too - not sure if these are still around or not.

rao_2

phia2000 wrote: »

I dont think anyone answered.... if i go to HER house and babysit is all of the legal stuff cancelled out??

Most discussion on this in forums is hearsay unfortunately or personal interpretation of Googled law documents that may since be outdated in the current climate. For proper legal advice you're better off asking a lawyer via one of the free legal advice routes.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cabdir.ihtml
http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/Legal+Advice/Legaladvicelines/thechildlawadviceline.htm
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/_contacts/dcsf/
http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/en/feedback/index.jsp
http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/directory/location/

Might be some more these are just some I searched for and seemed good (including above posters SureStart reccomendation). If you have a large local library they may have a free legal advice clinic too. I popped down to one one afternoon and didn't take long to get a good 1-to-1 answer.

joeblack066

At the end of the day the laws are there to protect everyone, tho some of them may be perceived as ridiculous depending on peoples situations. But think of it this way;
- a professional childmainder has entered a contract with the child's parents that she/ he will provide childcare at the agreed times. A friend with no comtract might say they can't do it one day, and then there are problems all round.
- a professional childminder has all the necessary insurance to protect them - if the child has an accident whilst at the friends house, and the parent decides to sue, where does that leave the friend?
- a professional childminder has not only had an advanced CRB check themselves, so have all the other adults that are liable to come into contact with the minded child. Along with this, they are checked for their suitability by the Local Authority, so it is more than just a piece of paper.
Just a few considerations there, along with the fact that, if you decided to open un unlicensed, unchecked sandwich round in your area, and undercut all the local competitin because you don't pay to be official, you'd expect this to be deemed wrong. Wh yshoild childcare be any different?

ploder

At the end of the day the laws are there to protect everyone, tho some of them may be perceived as ridiculous depending on peoples situations.

I can understand a certain degree of CRB for those in the business of providing child care, at a nursery for example, but not when private individuals make a decision in relation to their children. Many of these rules are perceived as ridiculous because they really are ridiculous (dangerous too) and a symptom of an overbearing state that is attempting to extend its control over our lives. The next big interference is going to be with homeschooling and forced inspections to make sure you are educating your children 'suitably' (read: the curriculum you weren't happy with by the back door)

- a professional childmainder has entered a contract with the child's parents that she/ he will provide childcare at the agreed times. A friend with no comtract might say they can't do it one day, and then there are problems all round.
- a professional childminder has all the necessary insurance to protect them - if the child has an accident whilst at the friends house, and the parent decides to sue, where does that leave the friend?
- a professional childminder has not only had an advanced CRB check themselves, so have all the other adults that are liable to come into contact with the minded child. Along with this, they are checked for their suitability by the Local Authority, so it is more than just a piece of paper.

Yes, but that is a risk which many private individuals take. You can't have freedom without risk. We shouldn't be trying to impose a scheme for businesses on the private arrangements of adults. It is not for the state to poke its nose into private arrangements where no offence (legitimate offence, not nanny-state nonsense) is being committed. This is a very dangerous development as the state becomes the arbiter of personal arrangements and undermines your authority to make decisions in relation to your child.

In relation to businesses arrangements in nurseries, a CRB check won't stop people who have been checked going on to commit offences, it is just a snap shot at a particular moment in time. Of course once you accept that CRB is necessary you also pave the way for greater checks, more fees and more state involvement. Once something goes wrong and 'something must be done' you can rinse and repeat. Nice little earner;)

Just a few considerations there, along with the fact that, if you decided to open un unlicensed, unchecked sandwich round in your area, and undercut all the local competitin because you don't pay to be official, you'd expect this to be deemed wrong. Wh yshoild childcare be any different?

Big difference. Peoples lives are not businesses. We do not live our lives anticipating the 'benevolent' interference of state regulation. You are also presuming that the state has the right to regulate your private life 'for your own good' even though no offence is being committed.