Age: 29
Job title: Emergency nanny
Employer: BUPA Childcare
Duties
BUPA provides a short-notice childcare service, which is available to all corporate companies that wish to pay for it. I work through BUPA to provide emergency childcare to parents who work for these organisations. This involves caring for children in the child's home when the usual childcare arrangements unexpectedly break down.
The usual circumstances requiring cover include the child's carer being taken ill - either the nanny or the parent, the child being mildly ill and wanting to stay at home with an adult, or a problem at the nursery. For example, last year there was a gas leak at one nursery and I was called in to provide cover. Also, the heating broke down in another nursery when it was snowing and the children were sent home.
Most of the time, my duties are those of a straightforward nannying role, but on occasion I carry out the tasks of a primary carer. For example, I helped out a family where the mother was in hospital and the father, who lived abroad, came back to look after his children. In this instance, I had to give support to the worried children, and as the new school term approached, I got involved in buying the children's gym kits and sorting out their school books.
BUPA has been providing the emergency nanny service to companies for the past six years. It is designed to assist parents by enabling them to continue working in their normal capacity if their children need short notice care. The maximum amount of time I spend with one family is three days; however, requests for care over three days are assessed individually.
If a parent needs emergency care, they call the central BUPA number and the call is fed straight back to me. I then liaise with the parents prior to delivering care to ensure that the children's routines and special requirements are maintained and there is as little disruption as possible. I am notified of the whereabouts of my job 24 hours beforehand.
Likes
I love the trouble-shooting element involved in the job. For example, I often have to help people out who are in awkward situations - this involves thinking on my feet.
I also get great pleasure from being in a domestic environment, playing with a child or aiding their recovery from a mild illness. The atmosphere is usually calm and the parents are very grateful for the support I provide. It is an extremely varied role and I enjoy meeting new people and working with different children each week. One moment I could be rocking a baby off to sleep; the next, I'm running around the park with three five-year-olds. I have been to some lovely locations - walking along the Thames in the sunshine, watching children ride horses in the countryside and walks in the North Downs.
Dislikes
Sometimes the hours are long and I work a 48-hour week. My car is not fitted with satellite navigation so I quite often get lost on my way!
Best achievement
Being referred to as Mary Poppins by one of the children I cared for.
Training
I completed my NNEB in 1992 and I then worked for two years as a private nanny for a child who had a kidney disorder. Since then, I have worked in various childcare settings - as a nursery nurse in a day nursery and as a deputy manager in BUPA's Holiday Club for three years. This enabled me to gain experience of caring for children of all ages. Six months ago, I was offered the job of emergency nanny, and I relocated from Kent to Surrey.
Before joining BUPA in 2002, I gained the Advanced Certificate in Playwork.
I also hold current certificates in First Aid, Health and Safety, Child Protection and Food Hygiene.
Career progression
At the moment, I am the only emergency carer employed by BUPA. There are plans to expand this sector of the business and take on more emergency nannies - BUPA has already started the recruitment process. As the business grows, I hope to have the opportunity to take on a supervisory role and become involved in recruiting, training and mentoring new emergency nannies.
Advice
You need to be a good communicator. Relationships with parents have to be built up quickly and they have to trust that you have the skills to look after their children when they might be at a vulnerable stage in their life. This means showing them that you are confident by asking as many questions as possible about their child's routine and assuring them that you have the confidence to call them if unsure about anything.
Personal qualities include patience, flexibility, the ability to work well under pressure and knowing when to use your initiative. Emergency carers have to be ready to get up and go on a call at a moment's notice sometimes, so flexibility in your own home life is key.
Useful contact:
* To find out more about working for BUPA as an emergency nanny call BUPA on 0845 300 3056.
