National Childminding Association (In Wales)

Community Childminding Networks

National Childminding Association (In Wales)

A new opportunity for Registered Childminders

For many years childminders have been part of a network of care within the community, providing a flexible resource for use by working parents. More recently, local authorities have used childminders increasingly, as a form of preventative care.

The need to prevent a child from being received into care unless absolutely necessary has led to some childminders being used, by different local authorities, in an unsupported way.

N.C.M.A. have looked into the importance of this sort of childminding and started recruiting childminders, who are then specially trained to undertake this work.

These networks have been a success for several years throughout England and now N.C.M.A. is setting up Community Childminding in Flintshire.

The aim of the Community Childminding is to support families and children in need and we will help to prevent families from breaking down. We will provide extra childcare to children felt to be at risk of physical harm or neglect, failure to thrive and poor or inadequate parenting.

We will also be able to help children with disabilities, stress in parents or children, language or speech difficulties and short-term incapacity of parents.

The welfare of the child is paramount.

To deliver this, a high standard of childminding is necessary, so full training will be given as well as ongoing support.

The childminders will work on an "if and when" required basis, in addition to their own childminding.

The Community Childminding Network Co-Ordinator will deal with the referrals, which come through local authorities and will look for an appropriate community childminder to undertake this worthwhile work.

Sample Letter

N.C.M.A.
Office 2
Play Resource Building
Caia Park Centre
Prince Charles Road
Wrexham
LL13 8TH

I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Linda Jones and I am employed by the National Childminding Association Network Co-ordinator for the Community Childminding Scheme in Wrexham, funded by Sure Start.

The National Childminding Association working in partnership with Sure Start believe that Community Childminding works best where a structured network is in operation. We aim to provide a specialist quality assured service to Social Services, Health Authorities, Education and others as required. The flexibility of the childminder means that the service can be tailored to meet specific requirements.

The scheme has already been successful in supporting families in the Wrexham area, who are in need or where children may be at risk. Young inexperienced parents have also benefited from the support of a Community Childminder albeit for a limited period of time.

This pack is designed to give you some information about Sure Start and the National Childminding Association. It also provides you with the criteria and the paperwork you will need to make a placement.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me on 01978 314433.

The Referral Process please read before filling in the form.

The Referral For Community Childminding Scheme application form is available for you to download in the following formats:

The Referral Process - MS Word format  178Kb

The Referral Process - PDF format 83Kb

The Referral Process - Text format 754Kb