Hiring a Babysitter – is it OK?
There are a lot of questions carers often have when they start, or are thinking of starting their fostering journey. One of the most frequent questions we’re asked is whether it is ok to use babysitters. Here we look at this in more detail to help you understand about foster care and the use of babysitters…
Are babysitters allowed?
We know that when looking after children there may be times when you need a little help. Whether you simply need the odd night off to spend with friends, or perhaps you want to undertake a new hobby, or an evening college course. Whatever the reason may be, it’s natural that there will be occasions where you need someone to look after your foster children for a short period of time.
The good news is, that we do allow babysitters. However, we do have a specific babysitter assessment that would need to be carried out before any foster children can be left in their care. This includes a short assessment form and a DBS check. Every situation is different and as such our social workers will assess each situation on a case-by-case basis. It could be the child in your care has suffered some form of attachment disorder, and leaving them with a stranger for any period of time could pose a problem.
Whatever the situation, we are here to help and your dedicated social worker will talk everything over with you. If you are going to use a babysitter, you will need to provide their details to your social worker. If it’s a friend or family member that the child already knows and feels comfortable around, there shouldn’t be any issues, as long as the relevant checks are passed. There may be some other things to take into consideration if you plan to leave a child with a babysitter hired from elsewhere.
Things to consider
Some foster children haven’t always had a loving, stable environment to grow up in and it can be upsetting enough to have been placed into foster care, without adding the worry of strangers coming to look after them. We want to provide each child with a secure, loving environment where they feel safe. So, if you’re looking after the child on a short-term basis, we may discourage the use of a babysitter.
If you think you could provide a child in need with a loving, caring home then please get in touch today on 01233 884 619.