As an experienced child minder I often used to child mind for social services, which is now known as community child minding.
This initially meant attending a 2 day training course ( where I met another child minder who 20 years on is still one of my closest friends).
This training consisted of listening to talks from other professionals from a woman’s refuse, the child protection officer and a couple of social workers.
I gained some great tips for managing behaviour as well as heaps more relevant information.
A few weeks after completing the training two social workers visited me at home, this was to get to know me better and complete the necessary paperwork.
My first child which was sent via social services was in order to give her mother some respite ( the girl had an ongoing medical condition).
I enjoyed the aspect of taking care of a child so that the parents could get help, rather than while they were working ( not that I had an issue with this). When I did community child minding I had to invoice my fees to social services at the end of the month, they paid promptly but wouldn’t pay if a child didn’t attend due to illness or a holiday ( which are both things that I would charge for had I drawn up my own contract with parents) this may be different now.
I did community child minding for many years, having children for differnt reasons ranging from respite to once when the police arrested a woman who had a young child with her, I looked after the baby while she was being interviewed’
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I would recommend any dedicated child minder to look into community child minding as it is extremely rewarding. Find out how to go about it from your local child minding association, ofsted or Pacey.
Read more of my child minding experiences by purchasing my e book also titled the next best thing to mummy.
As always questions/comments are welcome.
Karen
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This was really interesting reading, sounds like a very rewarding and varied job. #thesatsesh
I can imagine how rewarding community childcare would be, I felt good working in children’s hospice shop for over fifteen years as I felt I was helping children in my own way. You certainly have a really good reason to feel proud of the way you have helped so many. Well done !
I never realised that is was an option for child minders- it sounds like a brilliant idea and really worthwhile- thank you for sharing. #thesatsesh
I never even knew about community childminding but it’s such a great idea and must have been very rewarding x
#Thesatsesh
I have never heard of community childminding but it sounds wonderful!
I was unaware that was something they offered. Lovely. #FortheloveofBLOG
This sounds like an amazing and rewarding thing to do! So selfless! I tip my hat to you as I doubt I could do this!
Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week!
Wow – what a wonderful thing to do. I had no idea this was something childminders did and think it is extremely worthwhile. That’s so great that you did this and helped these families. #thesatsesh xx
Oh wow! I’m a foster carer and never heard of this, but think it’s a great idea #brillblogposts
A very interesting read and thanks for sharing. From what I read, you love every aspect of this job and that it brings purpose to your life. What a remarkable job to take care of a child and doing it with so much passion and dedication.#fortheloveofBLOG
Thanks, yes I did love it very much, unfortunately I was forced to give up due to ill health, but I am still in touch with many of the children and their parents
Really insightful,sounds like an amazing and rewarding job X #ablogginggoodtime
#thesatsesh We have a set of parents that are social services child minders, they often have a brood with them and the next week a story to follow. I agree its a worth while thing to do, I’d like to take teenager pregnant girls in and then babies at some point in my journey – should it take me there.
Oh wow I didn’t even know this was a thing. I can imagine it is really rewarding though and I am pleased to know that this kind of service is available where it is needed. Thanks for joining us at #familyfun
Thanks for linking up to #fortheloveofBLOG – I can’t seem to find the ‘linked up’ image? Has it fallen off?