I would like to know some other opinions of parents and carers.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carolyn Baldwin on October 9, 2009 at 5:40pm

Hi Lara,
The first things I ask and you don't need to answer me just something for you to think about, is:
Did you & the carer sign a contract to start with this carer?
Who sent you this email, the carer? If it wasn't the carer themselves they too may be horrified to hear this has been told about them.
I'm sorry to hear that you have, or anyone, has had such an experience. I would have the opinion that it is inappropriate also unprofessional and more to the point probably doesn't fall into the ethical basket.
Unfortunately, I guess the fact is, if there is indeed No signed contract either parties... ie. the family (in this case being you) or the carer, can change their minds for a variety of reason's and don't necessarily have to give a reason just that they no-longer require the care or can no-longer offer the placement. It is probably fair to say that this carer could have used a bit more diplomacy.
The advice I will give is don't think all carer's will be the same and I guess a way around loosing a placement you are completely happy with and have good gut feelings about is to ask if you can commit to a contract at the end of the Interview process. If you go through say Family Day Care Scheme they should be able to give several carer's names for you to interview with and if they don't, don't be afraid to ask for more than one. Something to always keep in mind though with Family Day Care, it is the individual carer's own business's so they will be different set ups and contract's however they will all comply with government legislation.
Good Luck, Carol

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Permalink Reply by Lara Dormain on October 9, 2009 at 7:26pm

Thanx Carol for the reply to my question.We didn't actually sign a contract as she gave me the contract to take home and it was late in the afternoon.She did however send me an email stating she would take on the care of my two boys and gave a price for the fees and confirmed the times they would attend.She told me to fill in the contract and return it when the kids starteed with her.I didn't get a chance as the after the email confirming she would do the job i got another saying she had changed her mind as someone else had offered more hours.She told me it was basically tough luck and that I should be thankful she didn't do it at a later date.After speaking to the Day Care Scheme she is with they to thought it was inapropriate but there was nothing they could do.I was more upset about it because I have been trying for the whole of this year to get a place in family day care and then she offered me a place and told the children they would be coming along,only to change her mind.My children felt very let down as she was really enthusiatic about the care she was going to provide and so they to looked forward to going there.If there had been other carers available I wouldn't have been so upset as I could have just got another place.Unfortunately though trying to get a place in family day care or even a child care facility with school age children out here on the Sunshine Coast islike finding hens teeth,very rare.I have been trying for about three years now to get childcare out here near where I live.I had to travel a fair distance last year to get my youngest child off to day care as there was nothing near where I live.I am really annoyed as I work two jobs and am also studying so I desperately needed the care that the person was offering.Im lucky that my boss on my full time job is very understanding or I may not have a job still seeing as I can not get a place in day care.

Carolyn Baldwin said:

Hi Lara,
The first things I ask and you don't need to answer me just something for you to think about, is:
Did you & the carer sign a contract to start with this carer?
Who sent you this email, the carer? If it wasn't the carer themselves they too may be horrified to hear this has been told about them.
I'm sorry to hear that you have, or anyone, has had such an experience. I would have the opinion that it is inappropriate also unprofessional and more to the point probably doesn't fall into the ethical basket.
Unfortunately, I guess the fact is, if there is indeed No signed contract either parties... ie. the family (in this case being you) or the carer, can change their minds for a variety of reason's and don't necessarily have to give a reason just that they no-longer require the care or can no-longer offer the placement. It is probably fair to say that this carer could have used a bit more diplomacy.
The advice I will give is don't think all carer's will be the same and I guess a way around loosing a placement you are completely happy with and have good gut feelings about is to ask if you can commit to a contract at the end of the Interview process. If you go through say Family Day Care Scheme they should be able to give several carer's names for you to interview with and if they don't, don't be afraid to ask for more than one. Something to always keep in mind though with Family Day Care, it is the individual carer's own business's so they will be different set ups and contract's however they will all comply with government legislation.
Good Luck, Carol

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Permalink Reply by liz on October 13, 2009 at 12:08pm

That is really rude of her to be so blunt with you. Did she know your situation about work and uni?
yes it is inappropriate but I guess she is looking out for number one, not you. She wasn't obgliged to say no to the other family but I can totally understand you being let down and frustrated. I'm glad you told the office about it.

I know you said its hard to find care but judging by what she did I'd consider it a blessing in disguise. Maybe she wasn't the best carer she appeared to be if thats they way she treated you. You may have had issues about something else further down the track if thats her attitude.

good luck finding something suitable!! have you considered in home care?

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Permalink Reply by Lara Dormain on October 13, 2009 at 12:26pm

Thanx Liz,Yes the carer knew my situation and so I felt very put out.I also agree that further down the track it may have turned out she wasn't the best carer for my children after all.I have also considered in home care and have looked into it but unfortunately i am not in a position to pay a private carer.If they had subsidised in home care like they have for family day care and child care centres then definately.I have found that the averege price for a babysitter is about $15 an hour and each day would cost me half of anything I earnt for that day and then there would be no point in working.The government says single mums with school age chgildren need to work a minimum of 15hrs a fortnight but they do not provide us with enough child care services to do that.At least not here anyway.

liz said:

That is really rude of her to be so blunt with you. Did she know your situation about work and uni?
yes it is inappropriate but I guess she is looking out for number one, not you. She wasn't obgliged to say no to the other family but I can totally understand you being let down and frustrated. I'm glad you told the office about it.

I know you said its hard to find care but judging by what she did I'd consider it a blessing in disguise. Maybe she wasn't the best carer she appeared to be if thats they way she treated you. You may have had issues about something else further down the track if thats her attitude.

good luck finding something suitable!! have you considered in home care?

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Permalink Reply by Shaz on October 21, 2009 at 9:26am

Hi Lara,

In home care is a service that provides care to families in their own home and where parents can recieve CCB etc. There is a criteria families need to meet though to be able to access the service, examples of criteria-work outside the hours of 8 am and 6 pm, 3 children under school age, parent or child with a disability. I am not sure of how you find out if there are In home Care Providers available in your area. I know of families who have found a family member, friend or contact that can provide care for the family sign up to become an In home Care Provider for families, this may be an option for your family?

Lara Dormain said:

Thanx Liz,Yes the carer knew my situation and so I felt very put out.I also agree that further down the track it may have turned out she wasn't the best carer for my children after all.I have also considered in home care and have looked into it but unfortunately i am not in a position to pay a private carer.If they had subsidised in home care like they have for family day care and child care centres then definately.I have found that the averege price for a babysitter is about $15 an hour and each day would cost me half of anything I earnt for that day and then there would be no point in working.The government says single mums with school age chgildren need to work a minimum of 15hrs a fortnight but they do not provide us with enough child care services to do that.At least not here anyway.

liz said:

That is really rude of her to be so blunt with you. Did she know your situation about work and uni?
yes it is inappropriate but I guess she is looking out for number one, not you. She wasn't obgliged to say no to the other family but I can totally understand you being let down and frustrated. I'm glad you told the office about it.

I know you said its hard to find care but judging by what she did I'd consider it a blessing in disguise. Maybe she wasn't the best carer she appeared to be if thats they way she treated you. You may have had issues about something else further down the track if thats her attitude.

good luck finding something suitable!! have you considered in home care?

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Permalink Reply by Lara Dormain on October 22, 2009 at 5:51pm

Thanx Shaz,I never knew that there was in home care with the ccb rate.I have asked disability QLD and they simply told me there was only respite care for emergencies.There was no type of ongoing care available is what they said.I am not sure if i would fit the criteria though as my boys have Aspergers Syndrome which I don't think qualifies them to be considered as a disability with Disability QLD.I will look into it some more though.I have since found a carer for two days of the three I wanted but it isn't quite what I want.She is more then qualified and there is no problems with the care she is offering it is simply that she is unable to physcally take my boys to school on one of the two days.They will have to get the school bus,which may be a problem for my youngest.We are going to see how we go for now though as she has experience with children like mine and so forth.I am definately going nto look some more into the home care option now.Thanx again.

Shaz said:

Hi Lara,

In home care is a service that provides care to families in their own home and where parents can recieve CCB etc. There is a criteria families need to meet though to be able to access the service, examples of criteria-work outside the hours of 8 am and 6 pm, 3 children under school age, parent or child with a disability. I am not sure of how you find out if there are In home Care Providers available in your area. I know of families who have found a family member, friend or contact that can provide care for the family sign up to become an In home Care Provider for families, this may be an option for your family?

Lara Dormain said:

Thanx Liz,Yes the carer knew my situation and so I felt very put out.I also agree that further down the track it may have turned out she wasn't the best carer for my children after all.I have also considered in home care and have looked into it but unfortunately i am not in a position to pay a private carer.If they had subsidised in home care like they have for family day care and child care centres then definately.I have found that the averege price for a babysitter is about $15 an hour and each day would cost me half of anything I earnt for that day and then there would be no point in working.The government says single mums with school age chgildren need to work a minimum of 15hrs a fortnight but they do not provide us with enough child care services to do that.At least not here anyway.

liz said:

That is really rude of her to be so blunt with you. Did she know your situation about work and uni?
yes it is inappropriate but I guess she is looking out for number one, not you. She wasn't obgliged to say no to the other family but I can totally understand you being let down and frustrated. I'm glad you told the office about it.

I know you said its hard to find care but judging by what she did I'd consider it a blessing in disguise. Maybe she wasn't the best carer she appeared to be if thats they way she treated you. You may have had issues about something else further down the track if thats her attitude.

good luck finding something suitable!! have you considered in home care?

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Permalink Reply by GoldiesDaycare on October 27, 2009 at 11:47am

Hi Lara, I am a FDC provider and I am so sorry that you have had that experience. I can understand if she offered the extra hours to an existing family in care, but then she should have been smart about this and offered that to them first (which is what most of us do). By the sounds of it, she is a carer that is more interested in the money side of the business (which is laughable as anyone knows that you don't enter childcare or aged care for the money!) more than the enjoyment of the children and the ties that you create with families. Yes I agree, it is very inappropriate and I am glad that you lodged a complaint but on the flip side this happens to us carers as well - families don't turn up for appointments or they say they definately want the spot and then decide a few days later that they don't want it. Good luck with placement and please don't give up on FDC - it is like centres; there are good ones and then there are bad ones.

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Permalink Reply by Trish Kinnear on November 10, 2009 at 10:42am

very greedy is what i think out for the money.She has said no to u because of the short hrs thats why i said more money earnt.So did u find another carer?

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Permalink Reply by Lara Dormain on November 11, 2009 at 5:40am

Firstly thanx for the reply .To answer your question,yes and no.I did find another carer but she has done pretty much the same thing as the one who offered me care then took on someone else due to longer hours and gave my place away.We found a carer near by, who I took because I was desperate and she had space fro two of the three days I required.The agreement was that she was going to take mny boys to school and pick them up on the first day they attended and then on the second she was to take them to school but they were to catch school bus home.This doesn't sit well with me as my youngest has behaviour problems as a result of his Autisim/Aspergers Syndrome.I took her on anyway as like I said I was desperate.The first day my boys hopped off the school bus I was driving to pick them up from the carers when they got off the bus and no sign of the carer.The carer came around the corner as I was about to ring and find out why my boys got off the bus by themselves,when she was to be there to pick them up as the youngest is only 5 and Autistic.Anyway I thought maybe I am being to judgemnetal and continued with her care.It has now been 3weeks since we started care and made our agreement with the carer and now she can no longer take my boys to and from school due to taking on long day care children,despite first making an agreement to take my children to schoolShe didn't ask me if I was ok with my boys still going to her care but having to catch the bus to school.I guess she already kknew the answer was no as i had stipulated when we had the interview that it was very important that the boys have a carer willing to take them to and from school,or at least the youngest one.So now I am back to square one as I have had to terminate my care with the carer I found as she is no longer in a position to keep to our agreement as she took on other kids.I don't have a probelm with the fact she wants the money from longer day care but I do have a problem with her first agreeing to take my children to and from school only to decide two weeks later she will take on more kids leaving her unable to take mine to school and without even consulting me first.I have kind of given up now.I have used family day care for 17yrs and can honestly say i have never had soo many problems with the service untill moving to the Sunshine Coast.I have never had a problem finding a carer or carers doing this sort of thing.The carer we are with now,whom care with is terminating in two weks due to the change in agreement is being a lot nicer about the situation then the other one.To me that still doesn't make it right.To me if you make an agreement with someone and then take on the kids you do not say two weeks later I ma taking on longer day care as I need the money and so I can no longer stick to the agreement I made with you.Now I am trying to work when the children are at school,which is only possible because I have a wonderful and very understanding boss.It makes it hard though as the bills are piling up whilst I am unable to go to work regularly and I am trying to study aswell,making it harder still with no timeout from my children whom all have an impairment.I am just so fed up with the system her and don't understand how the carers can just do that.It is not fair and not right as far as I'm concerned.

Trish Kinnear said:

very greedy is what i think out for the money.She has said no to u because of the short hrs thats why i said more money earnt.So did u find another carer?

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Permalink Reply by liz on November 11, 2009 at 7:17pm

HI Lara, I am so sorry to hear you are having so many problems with these carers. Its just not on.

Have you discussed the situation with the FDC office? Do they know your situation and setting you up with potential carers that are suitable?

I don't know the QLD area but where I live I am in one FDC area and where I work is another FDC area with a different office and different carers available. Do you work in an area where there might be more suitable carers that the boys can still get the bus to school from?

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Permalink Reply by Lara Dormain on November 12, 2009 at 6:38am

The way the system works here on the Sunshine Coast is there are several different family day care schemes for the whole region.I have discussed the problems with the office but they aren't able to do anything about it as carers are allowed to do that if they want,it's just not something the office would reccomend.Unfortunately where I work is nowhere near the boys school and so they are unable to get a carer there.Last year I had my youngest child in day care over near my work as it was too hard getting a place where I am.i can't do that this year as he is now in school.What I needed was a carere who was willing to do the school run,dropping and picking the children up as the school bus is not suitable for my youngest child.My youngest child is autistic and the kids on the bus give him a hard time,then he acts up and the bus driver then wants my child off the bus because he is acausing the loudest disturbance.There is no teacher supervision on the school bus and the bus driver does nothing to control the childrens behaviours whilst on the bus.The kids on the bus behave pretty unruly.The system here is different to anywhere else I have lived.I lived in adelaide for a long time and they have a great family day care system.All the good carers are full and they're turn over rate is very slow as once you get a good carer you stay with them.Most of the carers I meet are new to the job and that's why they have a place available.Child care is so hard to come by here that i have actually gone so far as to enrol my youngest child in a child care centre that hasn't even been built yet.It was either that or never find before n after school care I think.I have never lived in an area with such high child care demands as this one.All the before and after school care places that pick up and drop off have very long wait lists for vacancies,even all the child care centres.Most of the family day care schemes here have a small number of carers and it is also a very large area they cover.The day care scheme with the most carers never have any vacancies and never even bother to return your calls if they do.Again i have never experianced so many problems with a family day care scheme as I have here.

liz said:

HI Lara, I am so sorry to hear you are having so many problems with these carers. Its just not on.

Have you discussed the situation with the FDC office? Do they know your situation and setting you up with potential carers that are suitable?

I don't know the QLD area but where I live I am in one FDC area and where I work is another FDC area with a different office and different carers available. Do you work in an area where there might be more suitable carers that the boys can still get the bus to school from?

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Permalink Reply by Siobhan Scarman on November 13, 2009 at 12:31pm

Don't worry your not the only one with this problem. I live in a small town where there are only 15 home child care providers, and i too had this problem. I had organised and occassional care agreement with a care provider 2 months before I was to come off of maternity leave. 2 days before my kids were to start their care and i was to go back to work the care provider rang me telling me she couldn't look after them because another parents wanted a permanent hours contract which left me and my kids in the lurch. Having 2 kids under 2 years it was hard to get care but i finally had to slit care between 2 different care providers one of which kept kicking my child out because her family member needed my spots (she wasn't paying I was). Needless to say i ended up having to quit work because i couldn't get permanent hours from work to have a permanent hours contract to ensure my kids day care needs. It's completely not fair to either parents or the children how this fucked up daycare system works.

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