If you love children, you might want to consider a career working with them. There are plenty of them, and they are increasingly in demand.
In this review, we’ll look at some examples of these professions and how you can go about gaining access to them, not forgetting the diplomas and essential documents you’ll need to present in order to complete your application.
The childcare professions
In today’s fast-paced society, it’s not unusual for parents to need to entrust the care of their children to someone they can trust. Working days are long, as are the journeys to and from the office, so it’s not easy to have all the time you’d like for your offspring. The nanny or babysitter profession therefore has a bright future ahead of it.
If you want to get started, you’ll find a number of sites on the internet offering jobs that are available either full-time or on an occasional basis for an evening or a special occasion. To find nanny jobs on yoopies, for example, all you have to do is contact the families directly and offer them your services.
Of course, you’ll be asked to provide references and even diplomas, depending on the position you’re applying for. In all cases, we recommend that you prepare a CV and a covering letter.
Babysitter
Anyone can apply for a job as a babysitter. However, it’s important to give yourself the best chance of success by providing your potential future employer with references concerning your experience in this field. Are you the eldest of a large sibling group? Have you already done some successful babysitting? Don’t hesitate to include this in your application.
Childminder
While the previous job can be done without any particular qualifications, the role of a childminder is more technical. She must hold an OFSTED Certificate attesting to her ability to look after young children. We’ll tell you all about it below.
Some essential documents
As mentioned above, certain official documents are essential to support your application. Here are the two main ones.
The DBS check
Issued by the CRB, this document certifies your police and legal status. It shows cautions and convictions, and is therefore proof of your probity. It is required for all professions working with children, as well as sensitive groups such as vulnerable adults.
There is a charge for obtaining this document, and it takes between 10 days and 4 weeks from the date your application is made for it to be issued.
The OFSTED certificate
As a childminder, you have to register on the UK Government website. Early childhood professionals may be inspected by the Ministry of Health at the place where they practise their profession, in order to attest to their ability to provide the best possible care for the children in their care. These inspections result in report, which can be consulted directly on the internet via a dedicated website. This is an important reassurance for parents when choosing a childminder.
We hope that all these details will help you to give yourself the best possible chance of landing your dream job with children.