Nursery World - Opinion: In my View - This can be a good mix

Those who choose a career in children's services have a special skill set that not everyone has, and a passion to make a difference to the children in whose lives they have been involved.

I was interested in the recent advertising campaign by Surrey County Council that targeted registered childminders to recruit them as foster carers.

Finding ways to fill gaps in care provision can mean thinking outside the box. Childminders are often registered by Ofsted for overnight care and, with extra training and support, can successfully combine foster care and childminding work.

I know there are many registered childminders, particularly those on community childminding networks, who provide an overnight service or respite care as part of a package of services for children in need or disabled children. Each childminder who does this makes a decision with the whole of their family whether to commit to taking on the additional role of fostering a child. The childminder will also work closely with social services and other agencies taking a co-ordinated role in creating a team around the child. A recent report by Ofsted, 'Children in need in childcare', found this close liaison ensured that the response to children's needs was coherent and co-ordinated.

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