One-Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) set up its first 'sitter' service in Dundee three years ago. It also has a pilot scheme in Glasgow and recently launched a third sitter service in North Lanarkshire with the local early years partnership and One Plus, Scotland's largest lone-parent organisation.
The schemes are being used as a model for services planned by Bristol Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and by Bradford Gingerbread.
OPFS director Sue Robertson said at least 12 local authorities in other parts of the UK had been in touch to find out how the system works.
The Dundee and North Lanarkshire schemes supply carers for working and student parents in the child's home between 7am and 10.30pm seven days a week.
Families are charged an hourly fee on a sliding scale depending on their household income and the charge is levied per household, not per child.
Other sources of funding for the schemes have included local authority social services departments and Sure Start.
Ms Robertson said, 'Sitter services are urgently needed by parents working shifts and unsociable hours. It's tricky to run as it involves long hours and changing requirements, but it's been very successful in Dundee. The demand has been huge. But we have been constrained by the amount of funds available.'
Dawn Harkins, head of family services at Bradford Gingerbread, said its sitter service, known as a community nanny scheme, had been running for two months following help and input from the Dundee scheme.
The Bradford scheme currently has seven experienced 'nannies', who are qualified to Diploma in Childcare and Education level, and receive special training from Gingerbread.
Ms Harkins said, 'The scheme is for people who can't access childcare and have no family support. It has worked very well and meets a need that was previously unmet.'
