Working shifts and juggling childcare Post Reply

[wandsworthmummy12]

Hi,

I have just been offered a new job but it would require me to work shifts. Morning shift starting at 6:40am - 2:40pm and late shift 2:30 - 8:30pm then nights 8:30pm - 8am. I have a 5 year old son and I have no idea how I can work shifts around caring for him. Do nannies start as early as 6:20am? The night shifts are fine as my partner is around but he also starts work early and finishes late on some days. I would need someone to be able to start early and finish as late as 8:30pm. Does this sort of childcare exist? We do have a spare room, would you recommend a live in nanny/au pair in these circumstances?
I'd also like to make full use of the childcare vouchers they offer to employees is there such thing as an ofsted registered nanny live in or out?

Sorry this is very new to me as currently my son attends breakfast and after school club but this would not be an option as it opens at 7:30am and closes at 6:30pm.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

[HikingGirl]

Try,

Live-in nanny could work for sure, each nanny has there own ideas on how flexible they like to be. Au-pair could work (although they aren't supposed to work more than 30 hours a week, so not sure how many hours you would usually need).

Try Parental Choice, they are an agency specialised in finding flexible care.

Or, if you prefer advertising yourself, mention 'should be willing to accept working hours around varying work shifts' and mention average hours per week you would need them. Of course you would pay extra for flexibility.

It can work well to offer to pay a set number of hours per week for instance, even though you sometimes don't use all those hours (as your husband is covering most of the late and nights shifts that week).

But it all depends on the person. There are lots of people, with lots of different wishes. There may well be one out there who loves the freedom of working varied hours!