I want to help you care for your family and support your parenting. That’s why these policies exist, so you know exactly what I’ll do, and the commitments I make. If you’d like to find out more about the policies, or have any questions, please get in touch.

1. Care of your home policy

I’m here to care for your child, and it’s important that my time and energy are devoted to that purpose.

So when you invite me to provide nanny or babysitting services in your home, it’s important to agree from the outset how much ‘housework’ you might reasonably expect me to do as part of my role. We can always discuss specifics, but the following represents the general position.

I will:

• Make/cook breakfast, lunch, snacks and supper if my hours of duty fall within those periods.

• Clean the kitchen, dining area, high chairs etc following mealtimes.

• Load the dishwasher/ wash up crockery and cutlery we’ve used during mealtimes.

• Clean up any cookery, baking, painting etc equipment used in the process of activities.

• Clean up any spills and breakages.

• Maintain a clean, safe environment

I won’t:

• Clean, tidy or vacuum the house beyond the levels mentioned above.

• Clean bathrooms.

• Cook evening meals (except for exceptional circumstances and by prior arrangement).

• Be responsible for breakages or equipment faults or failures occurring as a result of natural and reasonable usage during the execution of my duties.

2. Health & safety in your home policy

In order to provide secure care for your child, the following conditions must be in place:

• The premises, including in and outdoor spaces, must be safe, secure and suitable for childcare purposes.

• Your child must not be able to leave the premises unsupervised and/or without my knowledge.

• You must provide authority for any child over the age of 8 to leave the house/my supervision unaccompanied.

• No one must be able to enter the premises during my hours of duty without my knowledge.

• I will advise you of any health and safety risks I identify.

At our initial consultation I will ask you to identify any medications, allergies, dietary needs your child has. I will ensure these requirements are met, and provide a written record of any medications administered under my care.

Should your child’s needs change, it is your responsibility to inform me.

3. Pet policy

I have to take this on a case by case basis, but the rule of thumb is that I’m here for your child, not your pet. If, during the course of a day with your child, one of our activities is to feed the fish or the gerbil, then that would usually be perfectly fine.

If, on a trip outdoors, we need to take the dog for a walk, then that may be fine subject to the size, breed and personality of the dog, number of children in my care, distances involved etc.

In every situation, the key consideration is the safety and welfare of your child, and the time I am able to devote to them. 

4. Emergency care and ‘Nannyshare’

Every child I care for benefits from my emergency care service. So if you need cover in an emergency, I will always aim to provide it.

That means that you and all my clients accept that, in an emergency, I may be required to have more than your child in my care. The quid pro quo of that arrangement is that other clients accept that I may, on occasion, need to care for your child in an emergency too.

This does not happen frequently or regularly, but it does happen.

If you choose Pride & Joy’s school and nursery run service, you accept that there may be other children in the vehicle, and other drop-offs made before your child reaches school/nursery.

Numbers will, however, always be within safe limits for the vehicle, and every effort will be made to ensure your child is dropped off or picked up punctually.

Choosing Pride & Joys services you accept that there may be times where other children will also be cared for alongside your own.  

Nannyshares aim to satisfy all of the clients childcare needs and to make Pride & Joys services more affordable. It is also a great social learning opportunity for the children to meet, spend time and play with other children of similar and different ages. Pride & Joy is insured to care for up to 6 children, from a maximum of two families at any given time. Outings together will be a feature of this service, but visiting another clients home is highly likely. All children are encouraged to respect their own home, taught to regard the homes of others very highly and will be closely observed to monitor safe behaviours whilst visiting another client.

If there are any problems for either a child or a parent regarding any shared care, the issue must be discussed and a solution reached which all parties are happy with. No child will be considered less important and all will receive equal care and attention to ensure that everyones needs are met. If Pride & Joy does not feel this is possible, that things are not running smoothly and that they are unable to implement this policy to benefit each child, the Nannyshare will be discontinued between the clients involved. Pride & Joy will not continue any shared care where a child is experiencing any prolonged distress or anxiety due to that arrangement. Pride & Joy appreciates your cooperation regarding these matters.

5. Illness & medication policy

When a child in my care is unwell I will give them all the care you would expect. For minor matters, eg sore throats, grazed knees and colds, I will administer medicines and other suitable treatments of the type and to the level agreed in my consultation with you (or agreed since).

For more serious matters, however, a child really does need his/her parent(s) for comfort. As I’m a nanny and not a medically qualified nurse, I will stay with your child until you are able to return home, on the understanding that you will make every effort to come home as soon as possible.

6. Safeguarding Statement

Pride & Joy is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for every child in its care. We believe that any abuse of a child, in any form, is unacceptable and we recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children.

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Provide protection for every child in our care

• State the clear, transparent procedures we will follow if we suspect a child may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm

We recognise that:

• The welfare of the children in our care is paramount.

• All children, irrespective of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity have the right to equal protection from – and freedom from - all types of harm or abuse.

• We must work in partnership with children, their parents, carers and other agencies to promote young people’s welfare.

• Every current and future member of the Pride & Joy team must be carefully selected and trained, and accept responsibility for safeguarding children in their care.

We will endeavour to safeguard children by:

• Listening to them, valuing them and respecting them.

• Adopting current child protection guidelines and statutory requirements.

• Never using corporal punishment

• Being present (ie within the home and usually within the same room) and supervising throughout the time your child is in our care

• Not smoking, consuming or being under the influence of drugs (including medication that may have an adverse effect on our ability to provide childcare) or alcohol while providing childcare.

• Responding quickly, appropriately and sensitively to all suspicions or allegations of abuse or issues relating to child welfare.

• Working in partnership with parents, carers, families and children and providing them with the opportunities to voice any concerns

• Recruiting staff only once all necessary checks are made

• Sharing child protection information and good practice with parents

• Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately

• Ensuring that any confidential information we hold is stored and managed in accordance with national guidance

We commit to reviewing the Pride & Joy Safeguarding Statement regularly, and reviewing and updating wherever necessary.