Childcare in Your Own Home

Transcription

1 In 2006 the Approved Home Childcare Scheme was introduced to Northern Ireland. This allows Approved Home Childcarers to provide childcare in the family home. Approved Home Childcarers can become approved through their local Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) and are recognised as a type of formal childcare. This factsheet summarises some of the key points to consider when employing an Approved Home Childcarer. What is an Approved Home Childcarer? Childcarers who have completed the HSCT s approval process are classified as Approved Home Childcarers. The approval process: checks that the childcarer has a relevant childcare qualification; ensures the childcarer has appropriate first aid training; confirms the identity of the childcarer; and undertakes a criminal record check, including the disqualification lists held by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Department of Education as well as other background checks. A certificate of approval will only be issued if the HSCT is satisfied that the carer has completed all of the statutory requirements. Approved Home Childcare is a type of formal childcare, therefore families can access financial help with their childcare costs through Childcare Vouchers and Working Tax Credit. Childcarers who look after children in the family home and are not approved are referred to as nannies. Nannies are not required to have any formal childcare qualifications nor are they checked by the HSCT. Families who use a nanny are not eligible for financial assistance with their childcare costs from the Government because this form of childcare is not registered or approved.

2 Employing an Approved Home Childcarer Approved Home Childcarers are not self-employed; parents therefore have to become the employer of the home childcarer. This means taking care of PAYE, tax, National Insurance Contributions (NIC) and the terms and conditions of employment. You should also ensure that you have adequate insurance cover in the form of Employers Public Liability Insurance. Terms of employment By employing an Approved Home Childcarer you will be responsible for deducting their tax and NIC and forwarding this, along with the Employer s NIC, to HMRC. To reduce the cost some parents pool their resources and employ one carer between them. A common share situation is where one parent becomes the sole employer. She/he pays the carer a weekly or monthly salary while the other family (or families) pay an agreed amount towards their salary. Sharing a carer can bring more problems than working with one family. It is crucial, therefore, that the carer receives a written contract which incorporates the duties required by both families, overtime hours, rates of pay etc before beginning employment with either family. HMRC operates an Employers helpline on for advice on tax and National Insurance. Approved Home Childcarers are covered by the Pay & Work Rates helpline on There are organisations such as Nanny Tax which can help with the practicalities of employing an Approved Home Childcarer (see the useful contacts listed at the end of this factsheet). Recruiting an Approved Home Childcarer It is up to the parent to interview thoroughly and to ALWAYS CHECK ALL REFERENCES. Make sure you have names, addresses and phone numbers of referees. If at all possible, visit and talk directly to referees. Continued...

3 It is important to remember that parents using an Approved Home Childcarer can receive financial help towards their childcare costs though Working Tax Credit or Childcare Vouchers. For more information, DHSSPS have produced a booklet about employing Approved Home Childcarers to help parents, click on the link below to download the guide: Employers For Childcare Charitable Group s Approved Home Childcare Service Employers For Childcare Charitable Group launched the Approved Home Childcare service in July We recognised that many families would benefit from having childcare in their own home but did not want the added responsibility of employing the childcarer themselves. Approved Home Childcare offers a solution. We employ childcarers and match a suitable carer with your family. You pay us for the hours you use. We ensure that our childcarers meet the necessary criteria set out by the HSCTs. In addition to this we carry out supplementary checks on the childcarers to ensure that we are providing a quality childcare service to parents. All carers must provide two previous work references, undergo a GP medical check and complete a formal interview before we employ them. Approved Home Childcare provides reliable, quality childcare in your own home, seven days a week from early morning to late evening and even overnight if required. Our service is provided by professional childcare staff, offering individual care and attention to your child in your home. Continued...

4 Benefits of using Approved Home Childcare 1. Quality approved formal childcare: Our Approved Home Childcarers have all successfully completed our rigorous recruitment and selection process. Approved by the Health and Social Care Trusts, they are fully trained and qualified to provide a quality, first class, reliable service. 2. Flexibility: One of the most important benefits of having your child cared for in your own home is the level of flexibility it affords. This form of childcare can be hugely valuable to families who work outside of the conventional Monday-Friday timetable. We will tailor our service to best suit your family s childcare needs. 3. Control: You are in control. You decide on the Approved Home Childcarer that best suits your needs. As the care is provided in your own home, you are in control of the routine, diet, activities and play environment. 4. Accommodates all ages: If you have children of different ages they can be cared for together which makes this form of care more cost effective. 5. Disability and/or special needs: If you have a child with a disability and/or special needs the home environment may be your preferred option. 6. Rural childcare: If you live in a location where it doesn t suit to travel to the childcare setting, Approved Home Childcare comes to you! 7. Pay as you go: You only pay for the hours of childcare that you need. In many cases this makes it much more cost effective than some other forms of childcare. 8. Help with childcare costs: Approved Home Childcare is approved formal childcare, therefore you may be entitled to assistance either through the Childcare Voucher scheme or through the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. 9. Employer responsibility: We become the employer of the Approved Home Childcarer, removing this responsibility from you. 10.Home Sweet Home: If you feel your child will be happier at home, surrounded by their own toys, or if you get home late or work shifts and you want the reassurance that your child is tucked up in their own bed, Approved Home Childcare will be hugely beneficial to you. To find out more visit phone or ahc@employersforchildcare.org.

5 Useful contacts Employers For Childcare Charitable Group For further information about childcare and other work related issues, contact Employers for Childcare Charitable Group s Freephone helpline on To find out more about our Approved Home Childcare service please phone HMRC Employer s Helpline Pay & Work Rates helpline Nanny Tax Nannytax is the recognised market leader in nanny employment. It offers a low-cost nanny payroll service which assists parents who wish to become employers of a nanny. See Employing an Approved Home Childcarer The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety produce a booklet for parents about employing an Approved Home Childcarer: