|
| Back to Main News Section...
Title: HOME CHILDCARERS SCHEME
Date: 1st January 2007
News Details:
What is the Home Childcarers scheme?:
The Government has introduced a new form of approved childcare, which will take place in the parent’s home – the home childcarer. Parents using approved home childcarers will be able to receive support with the costs through the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit.
It is a voluntary approval scheme for childcarers not already registered and inspected by Health & Social Services
What is a Home Childcarer?
A ‘Home Childcarer’ is a new form of approved childcare introduced by the Government to allow parents to have approved childcare in their own home and claim tax credits against the cost.
The status of Home Childcarer is that of employee of families; a Home Childcarer can not be a self employed individual
A relative of the family can not become a Home Childcarer
A currently registered childminder will only go through approval automatically if they have:
o first aid certificate;
o evidence of having attended a basic induction course [their pre-registration course as long as it had covered child protection, health & safety, managing children's behaviour and child development] or hold a relevant qualification
o The police checks would only be done again if they had a change of circumstances, had a break in their position as childminder or their checks are three years old.
What are the criteria for approval?:
That a home childcarer:
(a) is 18 or over.
(b) (i) has obtained a suitable qualification, which will be specified in a list maintained by the Department; or
(ii)will have attended a basic induction course of training in the care of children,
(c) has obtained a relevant paediatric first-aid certificate; and
(d) does not have a history which renders him / her unsuitable to work with or have unsupervised access to children.
Process for Approval
1. To become a home childcarer, applicants must complete and return an application pack to the relevant Health and Social Services Trust who will process the applications and approve home childcarers who meet the criteria.
2. There will be a 12 week time frame for completion of the application process.
3. They will be required to renew their approval annually and the onus will be on the HCC to renew.
4. Individuals will make application to Trust for approval
5. The Trusts will interview the individuals; at this stage proof will be requested of training/qualifications, proof of identity and first aid certificate.
6. Individuals must have a relevant childcare qualification or have completed Induction training before application; must also have first aid qualification; they are required to access them this themselves.
7. Early Years teams will give advice on which qualifications are relevant or information will be available on line at www.childcarechoices.n-i.nhs.uk [DHSSPS web site]
8. Some Trusts may offer places on their pre-registration training course for childminders: NICMA’s Introduction to Home based Childcare covers all of the appropriate subject areas.
9. The Trusts will hold lists of Home Childcarers
10. Once all criteria are satisfied, the Trust will issue an approval letter which allows them to start work.
Induction Training
Core contents must include:
• Principles of good practice in Child protection
• Managing Children’s behaviour
• Good health & safety practice
• Child Development/Providing suitable activities for children of different ages
NICMA Membership Package
NICMA – the Childminding Association offer a Membership Package to support the Home Childcarer. Once approved, the Home Childcarer should complete a Membership Application form and send to NICMA with their approval letter and the appropriate fee.
What will Home Childcarers who join NICMA get:
• The support of a professional childcare organisation with 21 years experience of developing and supporting home based childcare
• A Membership Package similar to that available for childminders, which includes Insurance protection
• Access to Information & Advice helpline
• Access to tailor made training
MEMBERSHIP PACK:
• Pack of information to support them as Home Childcarers
• Bi-annual magazine ‘Childminding Matters’
• Access to NICMA publications
TRAINING:
• ‘Introduction to Home based childcare’ Induction/pre-registration training – 12 hour course
• Support, advice and subsidies on training opportunities
• Range of training courses to enhance their childcare practice
INSURANCE COVER:
• Public liability: to the value of £3 million for the accidental injury/death of any child in their care
• Legal expenses: cover of approx. £25,000 for defence of any criminal prosecution arising from normal HCC duties and responsibilities
• Free legal advice
Further information on the Home Childcarers scheme is available on the DHSSPS web site www.childcarechoices.n-i.nhs.uk
Contact Number: 02891 811015
Email: info@nicma.org
| | Back to Main News Section... |
| |
|
| 
