Regulation matters – why?

The launch of the Regulation Matters campaign is a landmark step in the movement to register childcarers in the UK. You may have read our previous blog post questioning the need for nannies to be registered (here) in which we openly questioned the workability of forcing nannies to comply with existing requirements. In this blog post we want to look at what regulation is, some of the reasons why regulation matters and why, given a suitable framework, we are supporting this.

Regulation means that all individuals will be appropriately checked, have received training in First Aid and the common core skills for childcare and hold liability insurance. It does not mean that nannies will be required to change the way that they work, deliver the EYFS, be inspected or, in short, become childminders in a child’s home. We are passionate about preserving the unique, tailored service a nanny can provide and that is why we are taking an active part in this campaign.

The answer to why it matters could be summed up in a single word. Safeguarding. Regulation helps to keep children safe. Detractors will say that regulation is interfering in people’s lives and restricting parental choice, and on one level they are right. Regulation will remove from the workforce those who are found to be unsuitable to care for children, or those who do not have the right to work in the UK, thus removing those candidates as choices. Unfortunately in some cases parents are not aware of how to carry out appropriate checks, or are unwilling to do so, and in those cases society has a duty to protect its most vulnerable members.

Children cared for by nannies are at home, alone, often for extended periods of time. Many parents will attest that this period of transition can be unsettling and most simply attribute any changes in behaviour to a new person but you only need to do a little reading of parenting discussion boards to find a handful for parents who are concerned that these changes are the result of something more sinister. A robust regulatory system would help to put those parents’ minds at ease.

It is important, however, to mention that these systems are not foolproof. When we talk about high profile cases, such as that of the nursery worker Vanessa George convicted of abusing children in her care, we blame the regulators for not doing their job. It is important to remember that in that case it was the responsibility of the nursery management to carry out checks and ensure policies were followed, and it would remain the responsibility of parents to verify their chosen carer’s background. Whilst regulation may have failed to stop one case, it has potentially stopped hundreds more.

It isn’t just from rogue childcarers that children need protection. Nannies have an important role to play in safeguarding too. It is currently not compulsory for a nanny to have received, let alone kept up to date, any form if safeguarding training. If regulation included compulsory training on safeguarding and the associated procedures nannies would be well equipped to recognise any child protection problems, deal with disclosures appropriately and report where necessary.

At BAPN we want all nannies to be seen as professionals, and meet professional standards. We believe that the current, opt-in, light-touch system is not enough. We want to go further but we want it to work. This is why we are launching a consultation into the effectiveness of the vOCR and asking for your help to improve it. You can find the form on our website or share your experiences informally by emailing us on info@bapn.org.uk

Why when you’re looking for a job ISN’T the time to dust of your CV

Moving on happens to us all eventually, and it’s traditionally associated with the panicked search for where you saved your CV on your computer (or worse, the discovery that you lost it when your old laptop died a sudden death) and trying to describe your most recent job as accurately as possible so you can send it off to agencies and prospective employers. So it might seem counter-intuitive for us to say that the best time to work on your CV is when you’re settled in a job. Why, when you have no intention to leave?

The most important reason is that jobs evolve over time. Unless you keep detailed notes you may lost sight of important aspects that you no longer carry out, especially if you’re in a job long term. Refreshing your CV on a regular basis, or even better keeping a long version of your CV where you can note down exactly what new responsibilities you’ve taken on, means you’re always up to date and you’ve retained all the relevant information.

Another good reason is that it’s better to identify any gaps in your knowledge and experience, and act to correct them, while you have the flexibility to do so. Job-hunting makes it difficult to schedule attendance at courses – after all your prospective employer may not relish the idea of their new nanny having a day off two weeks after settling in – but your existing employer should be more accommodating in terms of arranging holiday. It makes good financial sense too, because if you don’t have a source of income you probably won’t be willing to pay out for a course even if it might improve your chances in the long run but saving up for a course is realistic if you budget your salary accordingly. This is doubly important if you know that your job will be coming to an end, for example your charges are starting at full time school, and you have some free time in your day. Check with your employers whether they mind you refreshing your experience with young babies by volunteering to help a local mum while your charges are at nursery or extending your skills with older children by going in to school and listening to them read.

Finally you can rest assured that when the moment comes you know that your CV is ready because you’ve had time to perfect it. This actually means your CV will be better as you won’t be doing it in a hurry, and it’s less likely to contain off-putting spelling or grammar mistakes. Creating a good nanny CV requires a substantial investment of your time to find a format and balance that works for you so use the time while you have it!

There’s a lot of generic guidance out there, which is excellent if you want an office job but nanny requires a more personal touch and parents often aren’t professional recruiters who are used to looking at CVs. Even when they are they may not know what a typical nanny does, so it’s important to make all the relevant information accessible. Here are some top tips from our professional development and CV advice service to get you started on your perfect nanny CV:

Make sure all the standard information is on there: name, contact details, education and training, professional experience

Take time to create a good personal profile which sets out your childcare style and what makes you unique as a nanny

Include a section on your interests because you never know which potential employers or charges might share one of your hobbies

Don’t over-complicate or use jargon. First time parents will be reassured by you spelling out exactly what nursery duties are and what you did on a day to day basis but….

Don’t be repetitive, because that may give parents the impression that you’re boring or stuck in a rut, even if many nanny jobs do have similar requirements

Emphasise your experience of caring for children as individuals. If you’re coming from a nursery or teaching background talk less about policies and paperwork and more about relationships with key children and their parents, supporting children’s individual development and times you’ve worked independently.

Remember that this is your CV and it needs to showcase your strengths. If you’re the kind of nanny who always does creative activities with your charges, talk about it!

BAPN’s professional development service is free to members, and because they tell us it’s so great we’re opening it up to non-members to. You just send in your CV – no need for personal data but do indicate where your name and address would go – and it will be looked over by someone who knows what nannies do and what parents want to know. For more information, including the details of the different services on offer, pricing and credentials, e-mail info@bapn.org.uk