looking for feedback on home based care
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Topic: looking for feedback on home based care
Posted By: jahvaan
Subject: looking for feedback on home based care
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 10:06am
jemmas, banardos etc. anything you can tell me,good, bad etc.
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Replies:
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 10:30am
Ive been put of them since i was at mcdonalds the other day and 3 home based carer's had taken their charges there. They didnt really seem that concerned about the children (aged prolly 1-3) just at catching up. While i sat in the playground i had to help one wee girl who jammed her fingers and had 2 other kids climbing all over me that i then had to tell off in a way for pushing my son. The whole time the carers were there i think they looked in the playground twice when kids banged on the window.
When my mate arrived even she was a bit shocked by it thats when we realised they were home carers as their bags had the company on it. Not saying all home based carers are like this i bet there are some good ones but its put me off.
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Posted By: becky
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 10:52am
I looked into putting my son in home based care but have changed my mind. My reasons were that there is one carer to four children but there is noone else around, I look after my son and his little friend two days a week and that is hard enough I couldnt imangine four. Esp if something happened there is noone else to help. My other reason was accountability at a centre there is always someone else watching what is happening homebased care only has someone visit once a month. Im sure there are great home based carers that do a wonderful job but for me I chose a centre as I dont think I would have found someone I was comfortable with.
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Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 11:39am
My partner's cousin has her son in homebased childcare and his carer sounds just awesome!. They go on farm visits, things like mainly music. He lives right next door so is very convenient, and I think she only looks after 2 kids. If I were to have a bubs and I'm still studying I would probably look into it..but that's not happening in the near future...fingers crossed!
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Posted By: jahvaan
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 11:43am
ooEvaoo wrote:
My partner's cousin has her son in homebased childcare and his carer sounds just awesome!. They go on farm visits, things like mainly music. He lives right next door so is very convenient, and I think she only looks after 2 kids. If I were to have a bubs and I'm still studying I would probably look into it..but that's not happening in the near future...fingers crossed! |
yes that is the sort of person i hope to find, someone who is motivated and takes the bubs and kiddies to things outside of their home.
my sons carer many years ago, was awesome, she took them to loads of activities so that the kids werent just ''playing'' at her house
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 11:45am
Both of my kids have been in home based care since they were 5 months old and I love it! We've had 3 awesome carers (the current one is my SIL) and 1 OK carer.
I can't compare to daycare as I haven't used it, but I prefer that my kids have a bond with one person and that it's a more home-like environment.
Homebased care companies and carers will vary so I guess my suggestion is to meet with prospective carers check out them, any references they have etc and make your decision from there.
Good luck
------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 1:45pm
A lot depends on the carer. I've had fabulous carers & crap carers in the same company, incidentally the crap one was asked to leave from the company.
It depends on what sort of care you want for your child. I wanted my child to have as normal an upbringing as possibly, someone who was going to do what I would have done if I stayed at home. Gone to the park, supermarket shopping, play groups, music groups etc.
You interview the people you see & if you dont' like them you do not have to go with them. I am still really good friends with one of our carers. You have to like them & get on with them because you do have to interact with them. If things don't feel right on that first visit...then definitely choose someone else.
------------- Kel
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A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 1:56pm
I rang heaps of different places before finding our carer and when I met her the kids took to her straight away. There are only my 2 there 3 days a week and another little boy there on Thurs and Fri.
The kids are able to keep their same routine as at home and have built a strong bond with their carer.
The kids all get 1-1 learning time and my 2 yr old knows all her colours, alphabet, counting etc.
I will be looking at moving my daugter now 2 to datcare when she is 3 so she gets more interacttion with other kids but it has suited our family to the core for now. I especially notice that my kids hardly ever get sick as I guess they have less bugs to come into contact with.
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Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 2:17pm
I was an in home carer last year. I loved it.
I would suggest interviewing a few people and ask for references. Don't rely on the company to tell you good things about them.
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 4:14pm
We use and in home carer (through barnados) and the lady they go to is awesome and the boys love her. We clicked instantly, which I think is important and the boys clicked with her too which is also very important. I can tell she genuinely likes to look after the boys and she isn't just doing it for extra cash. She only has my boys on the day they go and I like that the boys can stay together (they would be split up even if at the same daycare centre) and they get the same person looking after them each time. She does lots of great stuff with them but outings she always runs past me and anything out of the ordinary she runs past me too. Like I forgot to pack their sun lotion so she rang to ask if it was ok to put some of hers on them or if I would prefer they played inside instead and once she text to ask if it was ok to take them out cos she had a craving for some sushi...lol
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 4:25pm
I was going to do it this year but now I am pg I dont see anyone wanting me LOL I can understand that and I certainly couldnt pretend that I didnt know (as someone suggested to me).
I do think it comes down to the carer . I personally like to do a monthly visit to the zoo, motat, farm, butterfly creek type things and then weekly things like story time at the library, music, park trips etc..
I dont think there is anything wrong with play in the home either, Jake and I have fun all day (except when I am lurking around here LOL) and am loving this weather we are spending a lot of time playing and exploring the garden. Not all parents are comfortable with other adults driving their children....
I think what the others have said, dont take the company's word for it... talk to references!
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Posted By: first
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 7:30pm
I think like most people have said it is great but it comes down to the person you find at the end of the day. I am a in home educator myself and sometimes when I see others doing the job I cringe.
You really need to interview a good few people and try meet them when they have other children there to get an indication of how they are with other peoples kids.
Check safety things too. What carseat will they use? Do they have a first aid kit on hand?
Ask things about what they are doing to improve the level of care? Why are they working as an in home carer?
If you like a carer then ask to bring your child to meet the other children they will be staying with. Make sure your child and you also like them.
I am really all for in home care (obviously I provide it) but I really want parents to ask, be nosey etc. It is your child after all.
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 7:53pm
Wouldnt use anything else - we have had the most wonderful experience - lucky us for getting Imogen - I love the way my girl is part of the family, the way she is cared for, the way she responds to her caregiver. We were with porse and i would go back happily
was just having a think and would suggest interviewing anyone who is available to take your child. Also if your worried about the no one knows what theyd to my baby cause there is no one there thing - i know lots of people feel that - but personally I know my little girl very well and I can tell when something is up with her. Im sure any Mum would
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Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 8:06pm
My girl has been in care since 5 months with an in-home carer. I went and interviewed quite a few people and only one appealed and I think the big reason why she seemed way better is that she had her girl and was only taking on one more - my girl as opposed to those that take on the full quota of 4. She takes her to mainly music, the agency playgroup an the plunket play group each week and they do things that I would do ie grocery shopping, going to the park etc.
There are a few downsides - if her girl is sick I have to keep DD home, no carer is going to have exactly the same values/ideals as you
but at 5 months I have no doubt a home carer was the best way to go.
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Posted By: Tracey1972
Date Posted: 17 February 2010 at 12:13am
My little boy is with a homecarer .. I looked into a few as had heard good and bad stories but didnt like the idea of daycare as he is still only young. The best two companies I came across were Poppetts and Porse ... I really liked the poppetts lady as the director of the company came out to meet me which I thought was great she was very passionate about her business they are smaller than barnardos and porse etc but came across as very professional and she had heaps of knowledge about childcare ... is really into development etc she knew her stuff when I asked questions and didnt try to sell to me. Also contacted Porse ... wasnt impressed at first as the people that answer the phones are a bit hopeless and you feel like you are going round the houses then they just sent me an info pack out where as the poppets lady asked if I had questions gave me info and then would I like her to come and see me with Porse I had to do all the asking ... eventually someone from Porse came to see me and she was lovely too and gave me lots of info. I was going to go with poppets but then heard of a friend of a friend who was starting as a porse inhome educator two mins from my house and I knew how good she would be (trained early learning teacher who had left job in a daycare centre and decided to work from home) and managed to get in with her when she started out. I would highly recomend it as D is now part of their family and starts laughing and smiling as soon as he sees her. He gets lots of attention and she does all sorts of games and activities with him. I know he is in great hands which is a big relief as leaving him anywhere was scary. In brief I would say dont be afraid to ask questions, ask about training and if they reference check and do the refs yourself, its good to see what the carers own kids are like if they have one at home as that will be a good guide. Ask them why they want to be a home carer , ask about health and safety and first aid and maybe see if you can speak with another parent who has a child in their care. We visited as a family before D started with lorraine one afternoon we called in for a coffee and met her hubby and other kids and that was great as we saw how she was with D and how they all interacted as a family .... her kids were a testament to how well they had been raised .... polite funny and intelligent and we knew that it was the right place and havent looked back :-)
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