Self-Care for a Support Worker

Being a support worker can be a wonderfully rewarding career. However, like other positions that are involved in supporting and caring for vulnerable families, it can be incredibly emotionally draining, too.

It takes a special kind of person to be a support worker, for sure – but even if you are that special type, you still may find yourself feeling drained and emotionally battered after dealing with particularly tough cases.

Self-care is incredibly important for anybody working in such an environment. Following are a list of ideas that you might want to employ to help you cope with the emotional stresses and strains of being a support worker.

Put on your cape

It may sound silly to some, but visualisation techniques can be very useful for helping us to deal with difficult situations, especially emotionally charged ones. You might wish to try the cape visualisation when going to, and leaving, work.

As you approach your workplace, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths in order to centre yourself. Imagine yourself putting on a thick, bright white cape – this will be your emotional protection throughout the day. Then, when you leave, centre yourself again and imagine taking the cape off. It sounds very simplistic but it’s a very effective way to help you leave your work at the workplace.

Talk

If you’re finding it very hard to deal with the emotions that a particular case is stirring up in you, make sure you talk to somebody about it. Keeping strong feelings such as these inside is not healthy. If you are struggling a lot with a particular case, try to talk to one of your superiors about perhaps getting some support yourself. You may find that a past trauma of your own has been triggered by a negative situation in the family you’re supporting. Seeking help before it gets on top of you is far more desirable than waiting for it to swallow you up.

Take time out for you

We all have busy lives, but we all deserve to take time out to care for ourselves. Those of us who work in emotionally charged careers such as that of a support worker may find themselves emotionally exhausted as well as physically after a long, hard week. Be sure to set aside at least a couple of hours at the weekend to do something that makes you really happy – making art, meeting friends for coffee, or just lounging in the bath with a glass of something delicious are all great ways to unwind. Be sure to surround yourself with positive energy when you are outside of work – swear off the 10 o’clock news if needs be!

Remember the successes

The majority of cases that a support worker will deal with will have what could be called a “happy ending”, and the rewarding nature of the job is usually enough to help support workers cope with the more negative times. However, if youre dealing with a particularly tough situation, it may be useful to remind yourself of all the good you have done so far, and the good you are doing right now – even if the fruits of your labour are not immediate. Knowing that you are making a positive difference to a family is a very good feeling indeed.

Au Pair Etiquette

An au pair is different from other childcare providers, and as such they should be treated so. In this article we will go over some of the rules and etiquette you should keep in mind if you choose to utilise the services of an au pair.

The au pair is part of your family

She is living in your home and you are paying her a wage, so you are her employer. However, the au pair should be viewed as part of your family rather than a separate employee. Au pairs are not paid especially well, and part of their payment is the chance to be integrated into family life and the opportunity to be exposed to the English life and language. Involve them in family life and treat them as a member of your own family. Don’t bark orders at her, or shout at her if you are upset with something she has done – sit down with her and discuss any issues you’re having instead just as you would any other person. Au pairs are just as deserving of respect as anyone else.

The au pair is not your skivvy

As previously mentioned, au pairs are only paid a pocket money wage on top of their board, and as such they should not have unreasonable demands made upon them. The responsibilities of your au pair should be clearly laid out at the start so she knows what is expected of her, and you should respect the boundaries that you have both laid in place – for example, if she has the weekends off, she should not be expected to watch the children or help around the house. She may offer if she sees you need help, but it should never be requested. Additionally, be sure not to treat her like a ‘cinderella’ – only light housework duties and childcare for children over the age of two should be expected, and again, these responsibilities should be clearly laid out and agreed upon. If you find extra duties come up, discuss them with her and see if she would be happy to take them on in return for a pay rise.

The au pair has other responsibilities

Au pairs are primarily in the country to learn about the culture and the language. The au pair will be attending some kind of language school and will need time to study alone. Au pairs can legally work up to 35 hours a week, unless they are from Romania or Bulgaria in which case they may only be on duty for 25 hours each week. They must have two days off each week, and at least one full weekend off every month.

Respect is a two-way street

It is not unreasonable to expect a good work ethic and a cheerful disposition from your au pair. If you treat her with the respect she deserves, she will likely be very happy in your home and happy to carry out her duties. Remember, clear communication at all times is key. This can be difficult if the au pair only has a limited understanding of English, but it’s possible – and it will become easier as time goes on, and the au pair becomes more fluent.

SLEEP FAIRY AND PARENT RESCUE

IS THREE THE MAGIC NUMBER TO GET YOUR BABY TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT?

First time parenting is a challenge and the pressure can really get to you. As you have a second, and third, life can become even trickier with more little people to please.

Oxfordshire based Dee Booth, known locally as The Sleep Fairy, is a parent and sleep expert with a track record of settling babies and young children, often in just 3 nights. Her success is based on getting them into a manageable routine, and teaching parents to allow their children to learn to sleep alone. She uses her 15 years experience as a mother, nanny and parent coach to look at the problems and struggles parents are having with sleep and behaviour and how best to resolve it.

Dee said: “The most important thing to consider with babies and sleep is that every child is different and will sleep through the night, peacefully, when they have been allowed to develop the skills to settle themselves throughout the night.

A one-size-fits-all approach not only doesn’t work, but also overwhelms new parents, and often creates an unnecessary feeling of failure. This is impacted by an overload of parenting and sleep books and websites that aren’t written just for ‘your child’, whereas my one-to-one advice is all about your family, and if you follow my advice, it works.

I visit each family in the comfort of their own home, and observe the household, and their current routines and discuss the methods being used. I then work alongside them to find a solution that is right for them. Improvements happen fast and remain in place long after my assistance is over. Sometimes just having an outside perspective and making a few small tweaks is all that is needed”.

Dee’s top 5 sleep tips for parents who have tried everything else and still can’t get their baby to settle and sleep, are:

Establish a good feeding routine during the day – allow a minimum of four hours between feeds / meals
Ensure you set-up a consistent, calm, relaxed bath and bedtime routine for your baby and use this every night
Ensure both parents, and other carers, use the same confident, consistent, firm behaviour not only at bedtimes but also during the day

I do believe that with many sleep issues, simply following my advice means a new routine and pattern of behaviour will be in place after 3 nights”.

Sarah from Surrey:

“Sleep Fairy, and Guardian Angel, she saved my life and my sanity! I was at my wits end when I sought help. My 10 month old wouldn’t sleep at night or during the day, but with the Sleep Fairy’s support, guidance and understanding, Ava is now the perfect sleeper. Thank you Sleep Fairy from all of us!!”

Natalie from Buckinghamshire:

“My second son was difficult to get into a routine and Dee was a TOTAL lifesaver. I didn’t think her 3 night rule would work, but it did! He is now sleeping from 7pm to 7am or later with a 2 hour nap after lunch. The best call I ever made was to Dee!”

Dee also offers phone sessions across the UK and guidance with:

Feeding issues
Tantrums
Toilet training
“the terrible twos”
Colic
Early rising

For more information go to www.sleepfairyparentrescue.co.uk or call 07977 462252 for an informal chat.

Nanny Interview Tips: What to Ask

When you interview for a nanny job, it’s not just you going under scrutiny. The interview is an opportunity for both nanny and employer to figure out if they are a good fit for one another.

During your interview, there will be a time that your prospective employer asks you if you have any questions for them. So what kind of questions should you be asking?

Parenting Style

It is very important that you and your employer are in agreement with how the children should be raised. You need to feel comfortable employing the same or similar discipline methods as the parents would use. It would not be fair for your employer to expect you to use, for example, time-outs, if that is not something you are comfortable with – instead, they should find a nanny whose childcare philosophy meshes with their own. Similarly, the parents need to know that their own efforts to discipline their children are not going to be undermined when they are in the care of their nanny. Be sure that you are both on the same page. It is worth bringing a written list of specific questions relating to common situations – for example, what would the parents do if an older sibling hit a younger one, or if a sibling is repeatedly snatching from another.

Holidays

By law, nannies are entitled to 5.6 weeks of holiday per year, which includes 4 working weeks of standard leave and 8 bank holidays as paid days off. Some nannies will be offered more holiday than this, but this is the statutory amount that, by law, you are entitled to. When interviewing for a new nanny job, it is worth discussing how the timings of your holidays will be arranged. Unlike most other jobs, it generally isn’t possible to take time off whenever you feel like you need a break, because the parents will need to find additional childcare for that time which can be difficult to do. What many nannies agree with their employers is that they will choose when to take two of their weeks, and the employers will choose the other two weeks – they may choose the time to coincide with when they will be taking a family holiday, or when the parents themselves have time off work. Finding out where each of you stand when it comes to holiday now will save having to deal with aggravation later down the line.

Other Duties

It is essential to find out at an early stage if you will be required to complete any other duties on top of your childcare duties. Housekeeping arrangements can be somewhat of a bugbear if not dealt with early on. Obviously, you will need to do a basic amount of housekeeping in order to keep the home running smoothly whilst you are in charge, but it is worth finding out if your employer expects you to do anything on top of the required amount of laundry, cooking and picking up after yourself and the children. Nannies are generally not housekeepers too, but some will happily take on extra housekeeping duties – find out what your employer expects.

How to Choose a Childminder

Choosing a childminder for your children can be a difficult task. Finding a childminder who you and your child click with, and who can provide childcare at the times you need it, isn’t always easy.

It can also be difficult to know which questions to ask when meeting a prospective childminder. Following is a list of tips that you may find useful.

The First Visit

When you visit, take your child. Allow the childminder to interact with your child and observe how your child reacts to them. It may take your child a while to warm up to them, but the childminder should be open, friendly and non-pressuring. Talk to the childminder before the meeting to arrange a time when you will be able to stay for a decent amount of time – 1 to 2 hours – as this will give your child a chance to get acquainted and for you to get a better idea of whether they will be a good fit for each other.

What to Ask

Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you wish – a good childminder will be happy to answer any you may have and to help you feel at ease when making your choice. You may wish to ask questions such as –

Will they provide food for your child, and if so, what kind? Do they provide cooked meals, or simple snacks and sandwiches?
What kind of discipline methods do they use, and how they would deal with certain behaviours (such as snatching, hitting and other normal behaviours for young children)?
How much time do they generally spend out and about with the children? Do they visit the park/play in the garden/go on outings to local places of interest?
Do they drive?
How many children will they generally have in their care when they will have your child?

You will also wish to enquire about costs. Childminders generally charge around £3-£4 an hour. Some will make additional charges for food and drink, whereas others will include a certain number of meals and snacks in their costs. The childminder will have a sheet or two that you will be able to take home which will have detailed information about costs, notice periods, what will happen in the event of sickness and what you will be expected to provide (spare clothing, sunblock, etc).

And, of course, you will need to find out whether or not your chosen childminder will be able to look after your children at the times you need. Good childminders are often well-booked, and have waiting lists, so it is important that you start to seek a childminder with plenty of time to spare if you are returning to work, for example, after maternity leave.

Avoiding Problems

As with any professional relationship, being upfront and honest from the beginning is the best way to avoid problems later down the line. If you have any doubts about a childminder, don’t feel pressure to hire her because you gave her the impression you would when you met. A good childminder will fully understand the importance of your decision and will certainly have no hard feelings if you choose to go with somebody else – after all, your child’s well-being is the most important thing.

Childminding: Rainy Day Ideas

Childminding can bring some challenging times, especially on those days when evacuating to the garden or local park is not an option. Childminders will often be responsible for children of different age groups, so it is vital to have some ideas up your sleeve to help keep them occupied (and to avoid going stir crazy!).

On that note, here are a few suggestions of activities do engage the children in whilst childminding that can be easily adapted to different age groups.

Play Dough

Home made play dough is quick and easy to make, completely non-toxic and a joy to play with. I challenge you to think of one child (or indeed, an adult) you’ve met who doesn’t enjoy a good dough squishing session!

There are many different recipes you can use to make play dough for use while childminding, with varying levels of success. The following recipe is pretty reliable and makes a large amount of dough. You could even split the mixture and make two different colours!

You will need:

3 cups water
3 cups flour
1.5 cups salt
6 teaspoons cream of tartar
3 tablespoons oil (any cooking oil will do)
Food colouring (you’ll need more than you think to get a vivid shade)

Simply combine the dry ingredients (sieving the flour first), before adding plenty of food colouring to the water & oil mixture. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients gradually, stirring throughout. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and takes on a nice doughy texture.

This play dough will keep for a long time if stored in an airtight tub in the fridge. Try adding rice or lentils for an interesting texture for little ones, or even throw in some glitter! Older children will enjoy making the dough with you, or you can easily make it the night before for ease’s sake.

Finger Painting

Everybody loves finger painting. Very young ones adore the feel of the paint on their hands, and older ones can get creative and make beautiful pictures to take home with them. Finger painting is messy, though, so it may be a good idea for childminders to pre-warn parents that they plan to do it, so they can provide old clothes for the children to change into for the activity. Putting newspaper down is a very good idea, too. Messy play can be a bit of a challenge for the adult in charge, but it’s well worth it for the learning experience that the children will get.

Indoor Picnic

You’d be hard pushed to find a child who doesn’t love picnicking. Picnics in the garden are lovely, but if the weather isn’t accommodating, bring the picnic inside! Make a finger-food lunch together with the older children – sandwiches, breadsticks, houmous with vegetable dippers, crisps, cut up apples and cupcakes are all good choices – and take the plates of food to a blanket on the floor. The children will love helping themselves to their lunch, and the novelty of eating on the ground can be enough to convince even the fussiest of eaters to dig in. For extra fun, make a canopy with a sheet laid over the back of some chairs.

New Years Resolutions: A Fresh Start for the Whole Family

The New Year gives us all the opportunity to start afresh. We can leave behind the previous year, and look forward to the one approaching with a clean slate.

Many people make New Years resolutions – but how can these relate to our children and our families in general?

For children, making New Years resolutions can be very beneficial. It is well known that there is little more satisfying in life than setting – and reaching – attainable goals. Children’s New Years resolutions could include learning a martial art, joining a dance troupe or an art class, or even learning to play a musical instrument.

However, it is important not to make children feel under pressure. The modern life of a child is already a fairly stressful one – the last thing children need is to feel as though they must meet their goals perfectly. Rather than rigid goals (like “I will always share with my siblings” or “I will always do my homework on time”), see New Years resolutions as an opportunity for your children to explore exciting new opportunities.

The New Year is also a great time to focus on making positive changes within your family unit. This year, alongside your usual resolutions, why not make some group resolutions as a family? Following are some simple suggestions.

Spend more time together

With today’s busy lifestyle, it is hard to find time to spend together as a family. Quality time is so important – not just for the children, but for the entire family unit. Forget about trying to find the time, because it won’t happen – you have to make time. It can seem impossible sometimes when you’re contending with long working hours, school and other commitments, but it’s important to carve out regular time to spend together. A few hours of dedicated, quality time each week is a must for happy families.

Less screens, more conversation

We live in an age where communicating has never been easier. Email, texting, social networking and phone calls have all but replaced good old face-to-face conversation. Your older children may spend the majority of their time talking to their friends over electronic devices, rather than having real-life chats. Set an example as a family and agree together to make more effort to really talk to one another, and to your own friends and relatives. The art of conversation is at risk of being lost within our digital age – keep it alive in your family.

Be present with one another

The aforementioned technological advances can also have an impact on our time spent together as a family, without even realising it. You may be in the same room as your family, but while you are, how many of you are tapping away at your phones? How many of you are watching a television? When you manage to snatch some valuable quality time with your nearest and dearest, put the screens away and be present in the moment with each other. You don’t want your children’s memories of you to be a face buried in a smartphone.

The Countdown to Christmas – How to Make it Run Smoothly for All

The countdown to Christmas is an exciting time for all of us. Advent, traditionally beginning on the 1^st December, is also a great opportunity for learning about the meaning of Christmas, as well as different cultural takes on the season.

However, the countdown to Christmas can become stressful – children can become over-excited, parents may be anxious about family commitments and financial obligations on the lead up to the big day, and all of this may end up making the lead up to Christmas a fraught experience, rather than the happy and exciting one it should be.

So how can you make the countdown to Christmas a relaxing and enjoyable one – as well as being fun for the kids? This list should be useful for nannies, childminders, babysitters and parents alike.

Shop in advance

Try to do the majority of your Christmas shopping in the months before December. This will leave you far more time to spend enjoying the lead up to the big day, rather than panicking about present buying. Although be sure to stash gifts where curious small people won’t find them! You can also encourage children to make gifts for one another in the lead up to Christmas.

Get creative with the kids

The countdown to Christmas is a great opportunity to get creative with the children. From making Christmas cards for friends and relatives, to using all manner of mediums to create beautiful Christmas decorations to treasure forever, there will never be a better time to indulge your crafty side with the little ones. You don’t need much to make lovely decorations – simple salt dough shapes decorated with cheap acrylic paints and glitter make a lovely addition to the Christmas tree. Christmas baking can also be a wonderful way to spend an hour on a rainy December afternoon – and home made biscuits, mince pies and sweets make great Christmas gifts!

Cook in advance

There are several parts of Christmas dinner that you can pre-prepare a few days in advance in order to make Christmas Day easier – and, of course, to give you more time playing with the children and less time chained to the stove! Stuffing can be pre-prepared and frozen, and you can even pre-peel and chop your potatoes the night before – just make sure you put them in a lidded pan or bucket and cover them in cold water.

Take advantage of local Christmas events

Your town will likely have a whole host of exciting things happening on the lead up to Christmas. Carol services, craft sessions, Christmas fetes and fayres can all be a great opportunity to get the children out of the house to burn off some of that excited energy! Charity tabletop sales are also very common at Christmas time, and give children a chance to choose gifts for their families without too much (if any) adult input.

Family Support Worker: Career Guide

A job as a support worker can be an incredibly fulfilling career choice. A support worker can work in many different environments with many different groups of people, but for the purposes of this article we will focus on the role of a family support worker. This is a job not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are many. Support workers do a great deal of good.

What does a job as a support worker involve?

As a support worker, you would be working with the most vulnerable of children and families. Your duties would be different depending on why the family had been referred to you in the first place, but they may include:

Supporting the parents to improve their parenting skills by encouraging them to attend workshops etc, and by teaching them about the importance of quality time and learning through play
Teaching the parents about discipline, the various methods of setting boundaries and educating them about age-appropriate behaviours
Helping the parents to learn how to manage the family finances more effectively
Helping them to develop their emotional and physical nurturing skills
Providing hands-on help in the event of a crisis situation
Assessing the needs of a family when a child returns home from care
Keeping accurate records, writing reports and liasing with many different health and social care professionals.
Acting as a learning support assistant with schools and teachers
Providing emotional support and encouragement for the entire family

As a family support worker, it would be your job to try to help the family stay together. Family support workers are assigned to families who are struggling, and whose children would likely end up in care without proper help.

What qualifications do I need to become a support worker?

It is important to most employers that you have at least some experience, voluntary or paid, in the field. Working or volunteering in family refuges, community centres, children’s homes or nurseries would be a good start to give you some experience.

Qualifications-wise, employers will be looking for one or more of the following:

NVQ in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
NVQ in Health and Social Care
BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
CACHE Certificate or Diploma in Child Care and Education

As a support worker, you will be encouraged to pursue further qualifications while you work, and you will of course be trained in various aspects of your job, such as assessment methods, legal issues, child protection issues and health and safety.

Formal qualifications aside, every family support worker needs the following traits:

Patience
An understanding, warm and caring nature
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
The ability to relate to and empathise with people from all walks of life
Level-headedness
A non-judgemental attitude

Being a family support worker is not for everybody. It is hard work, and it’s not always pleasant. However the rewards are many, and for the right person it can be a much loved, ‘for life’ job.

What is a private tutor?

A private tutor is a highly knowledgeable, usually somewhat qualified individual who teaches students privately to help them develop their knowledge of certain subjects. Tutoring can be a fulfilling and very lucrative part-time job – or even full time, if you gain enough students.

Who would hire a private tutor?

Private tutors teach tutees of all age groups, from very young children to mature adults. There are a huge number of reasons why someone might hire a private tutor – private tutoring is popular with many different people. They may be:

· A teenager wanting to improve on a certain subject that they are struggling with for their GCSE’s

· Parents of a home educated child, who feel that their own knowledge or teaching skills in some subjects is lacking

· A mature student (or indeed any student) who feels the need to ‘bulk up’ their learning outside of school hours

· Anybody who feels they need a more tailored approach to education than a school environment can offer

How much will a private tutor cost?

Depending on the subject and level of education, you can expect to pay somewhere between £20-£35 per hour for private tutoring. However, many trainee teachers will offer their services as a private tutor for much less than this as a way to hone their teaching skills further. If the private tutor will have to travel, it is generally expected that the tutee will pay their travel expenses.

I want to become a private tutor. What qualifications do I need?

You will need to have an excellent level of knowledge in the subject you wish to teach, plus the ability to tailor your teaching techniques to your student. Excellent interpersonal skills are of a very high priority. It is not necessary to have a teaching qualification, however your level of formal qualification will dictate how much you can charge. PGCE graduates will be able to charge more than those who haven’t qualified yet, just as experienced teachers will be able to charge more than NQT’s (Newly Qualified Teachers)

How can I find work as a private tutor?

You can advertise your services anywhere you wish – local papers, shop windows and billboards are popular choices. However, arguably the best way to advertise is through specialist agencies. These of course will charge a fee but many feel that it is a small price to pay to ensure your ad reaches those who want to see it. Many private tutors find work solely through word-of-mouth recommendations, so do a good job and you may find your tutees spread the word!

Is there anything else I need to know?

As a private tutor you will be self-employed, so you will need to deal with your own income tax and National Insurance contributions. Also, it would be very beneficial for you to obtain an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. At the present time it is not possible for individuals to obtain these, so signing up with an agency for private tutors would be a good idea.

Nursery Jobs

Nurseries take care of children from just a few weeks old until the age of 4-7 (depending on the nursery), so they are usually very noisy and busy places! One thing’s for sure – no two days will be the same!

You don’t usually need any specific qualifications to start – employers generally want to see some evidence of education in the form of 3 or more GCSE passes, but specific childcare qualifications are unnecessary for somebody starting out as a nursery assistant. One thing that everybody who works with children is required to provide is a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check, the cost of which will usually be met by your employer.

Aside from qualifications, to be a great candidate for any nursery jobs you may apply for you will need certain traits, such as:

A caring and sensitive nature
A love for spending time with children
Responsibility
Ability to work as part of a team
A positive, fair approach to discipline
A good sense of humour
Creativity is always a bonus
The ability to relate to young children
An awareness of safety and hygiene practices, although training on these areas will be provided

As a nursery assistant, you can expect to earn about £10k-£12k pa. Fully qualified nursery nurses can earn up to £18k and other nursery jobs, such as a nursery manager, can provide in excess of £30k. There are other jobs available in a nursery, such as cooks and cleaners, the wages of which are usually not far above minimum wage.

In nurseries, there are separate rooms for different age groups, the baby rooms having a higher staff ratio than the rooms for older children. The days are usually structured, especially so for the older children, but play is the focus for the majority of the time. Gone are the days of strict learning schedules for young children. Play-based learning has been proven time and time again to be more effective (and more fun for all involved!).

So what does the average day look like for somebody with a nursery job?

Planning and facilitating activities such as arts, crafts, cooking, music and dancing
Personal care such as changing, feeding, bathing, and assisting toilet training children with using the bathroom
Reading stories in a group setting, or one-on-one
Taking children on planned outings
Playing outside
You may be responsible for some paperwork
Implementing health and safety guidelines
Being aware of possible signs of abuse and neglect, and reporting any concerns you may have to the appropriate person

There are many opportunities for advancement in nursery jobs. From being a nursery assistant, you could qualify as a nursery nurse, then a senior nursery nurse, and move on to becoming a nursery manager or an EYP (Early Years Professional). To gain further qualifications, you may be able to train on-the-job (an apprenticeship), or work part time and attend a college course.