Day care for emergency workers
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42715
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 11:09pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Day care for emergency workers
Posted By: KimC
Subject: Day care for emergency workers
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 9:54am
| I am going back to work in March and will be working full time BUT my husband works for St John and does shifts which change each week. He will be able to look after our little girl on his off days or when he is working the night shift but I cannot find any care for her on the days we are both working because they change each week and everywhere I have looked want set days every week (understandably). What do other people that work for emergency services (i.e. ambulance, fire, police) do because there are lots of people in these proffessions and they must have the same situation. Does anyone know what options there are for these situations? I have contacted Porse and Homegrown and they have said no. |
Replies:
Posted By: pudgy
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 12:55pm
|
Do you have any SAHM friends that could look after her ? If it were me I'd see if family or friends could watch her those days. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 1:57pm
|
Does he have a rotational roster ie a month one? Try another home based care company & see if they can do it? I look after a little boy 2 weeks on 2 weeks of & two different lots of hours each of the two weeks on. So there are homebased companies that will do it. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: KimC
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 2:59pm
Hi. Thanks for the help. I have tried family and am getting no help there. My friends all work full time and the ladies in my coffee group are going back to work and the ones going part time want the time off with just their baby. 
|
Posted By: KimC
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 3:01pm
| Hi. He has a roster that changes every week. Its 4 days on, 4 days off so because there are only 7 days in a week, it changes each week. I will google to find other home care places and carry on asking around. Thanks for the reply, it makes me feel hopeful that I will eventually find somewhere for her. |
Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 3:31pm
|
I had this problem too when returning to work and I worked a fixed four on four off pattern. I ended up paying for full time daycare and send DD only when I was working... and my first day off towards the end of my pregnancy... Probably not the answer you were after. I too recommend looking at home based care more... I know there are some that accommodate that shift pattern as a workmates uses them! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: KimC
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 3:35pm
Hi, thanks for the reply. Do you know which home based care centres they use as I am struggling to find ones that will accomodate me. I think if someone wants to open a centre / home care for shift workers they would make a killing 
|
Posted By: Stoked
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 3:48pm
|
There is another home-based care company called Stems. What area of the country are you in? Someone may be able to help if they know what area? Have you called or gone to see the people face to face? It's a lot harder for them to say no in person :-D. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 3:57pm
|
I know porse in Auckland were willing to check and see if any carers were able to accomodate shift work ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: KimC
Date Posted: 25 October 2012 at 4:12pm
| I am in Glenfield, North Shore, Auckland. I wanted to contact the carers in person but when I sent an email to Porse and Home Grown Kids, I got a reply from the area manager saying no and not providing contact details for the carers in my area. I was also told to wait until January to try again but maybe I'm too much of a planner but if we can't find anything in January it doesn't give me much time to sort it out and day cares have waiting lists. If anyone in my area can help I would sooooo apreciate it. We can give you the days that we will need for the whole year ahead in December so you will know well in advance when my daughter will be there and when she won't. |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 26 October 2012 at 6:46am
|
That's so weird that Porse turned you away - just the other day I got one of their magazines in the mailbox with the paper, and there's an article in it talking about a shift worker who uses them. To quote the article "OUr childcare arrangement is set up around my roster... when I'm at home during the day we don't need our nanny, but when I'm away we do". Maybe try them again? -------------   
|
Posted By: Stoked
Date Posted: 26 October 2012 at 8:07am
I agree, that is strange. My good friend is a relief teacher and so her work days are totally unpredictable and she has a Porse carer look after her daughter when she works. (East Auckland)------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: KimC
Date Posted: 26 October 2012 at 9:23am
| Oh yes, I remember reading that article too. I think I will have to try again and maybe not mention the shift work, just ask for details of the carers in my area and then speak to them in person. Maybe I will have more luck that way :) |
Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 26 October 2012 at 10:03pm
|
My step brother is a policeman and his wife works, so they have their son booked in either with daycare or nana every day. If he works nightshift he sleeps during the day. When I first went back to work with my first son I was contracting so put him in fulltime and he went 3 days usually, sometimes 4, depending on when I was working (days changed each week). I would just ask for homebased carers in your area like you say then discuss it with them. My daughter is in homebased care and that wouldn't work for her carer as she is fully booked, but you may find someone who is just wanting a little bit of pocket money who will do random hours, if they don't have other kids booked in. But its hard if they are claiming the "free ECE hours" (from 3 years) as they would need to re-do all the paperwork each week, so I can see why they would hesitate. My sister is a nurse and she uses mum if she ends up on extra shifts, or has hubby home if its a night shift, so her kids are in 3 set days at daycare and she usually works those days only if possible. Good luck! ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: Caronz
Date Posted: 28 October 2012 at 8:01pm
|
you could also try advertising on Gumtree, there are alot of Nannies and baby sitters that use that site ------------- TTC since 06 with MFI IVF with ICSI 2007 BFN DI Sept 08=BFP DS 06/09 TTC #2 since June 2010 DI#2 Aug10=BFP MC@10weeks 2011= 10 rounds of DI 4 with clomid- all neg May 2012- IVF |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 02 November 2012 at 5:50pm
|
My boy has been with Jemmas on the North Shore and I have found them fab, so so so much more flexible than the big name home based care providers and much more personable. Definitely try different services. I was also really impressed with Fairy Godmothers when I was looking. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Guest_48508
Date Posted: 04 November 2012 at 11:12am
| I work 4 on 4 off, husband works mon-fri. We are just about to hire someone through either porse or barnados who can accommodate my shifts. Both were really helpful when I spoke to them, and we are off to meet someone today who is happy to accommodate the shifts. Since we get our roster a year in advance in ambulance, it's easy to plan ahead. |
Posted By: MammieB
Date Posted: 04 November 2012 at 10:51pm
|
That is not very helpful from PORSE, I am a home based carer through PORSE (Franklin) and our office will never turn anyone away. I look after twins who are 6 days on 4 days off and get the roster 3 months in advance. The parents and I came to an agreement that they would pay for 3 1/2 days because I cannot take on other full time children and in the long run it all "evens out". So far this has worked great as some weeks I am really busy and other weeks are really cruizy. I think you should just ring and say you are looking for a carer and meet with them and then discuss what you need (dont tell the office, just say you need 3 days or something) Good luck - home based is the best option for any baby!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://daisypath.com"> 
|
Posted By: Dophy
Date Posted: 05 November 2012 at 5:08pm
|
I worked shift work at an emergency dept and worked all sorts of funny shifts. My daughter went to Jemmas and the carer was fine with it, I just let her know my rostered shifts as soon as I found out which was about 4-6 weeks prior. Even when I was called in at short notice I just called her up and dropped dd over. So try a home based carer that works for you. |