Family/childcare
ensure the childminder is trained in whatever
tasks need doing and a care plan should then
Your child’s care plan
be drawn up. It goes without saying that only a
Libby Dowling advises that regardless and understands the child’s condition.
registered childminder should be used.’
of your son’s or daughter’s childcare
l overview of the child’s condition and
setting – be it in a nursery, at school
Emergency childcare
any medication.
or with a childminder – drawing up an
Even if you have regular and suitable childcare
individual healthcare plan is the key l clear guidance on the administration
in place, there is likely to come a time when
to ensuring everyone is clear on the and storage of medication.
you have to unexpectedly leave your child procedures for dispensing medication,
l Guidance on record keeping and
with a friend or relative who has not cared and, most importantly, how to recognise
communication with parents.
for them before. And the key advice is to be the signs of an emergency. the plan
prepared before this happens. should be devised in association with
the plan should be a working document
‘Think about briefing your best friend
parents and healthcare professionals. that is regularly updated. A similar, more
or neighbour in case of needing emergency
basic document, detailing medication and
childcare,’ says Libby. ‘Then, in the event that
the care plan could include: dietary needs, could be drawn up for when
you have to pop off somewhere unexpectedly,
l Statement that the care setting supports children stay with friends or relatives.
you can be sure that your child will be safe
while they are there.’ both the childminder and nursery before we parent to go in and support the carer at
had even left the hospital. lunchtime for the first few days if need be…
When childcare works out ‘Despite this, I was fairly apprehensive and then take a deep breath and try to get on
For Helen, mum to Emma, five, childcare has about leaving her at first, as I hadn’t really got with your day!
not been a problem. to grips with her condition myself. But the ‘The thought of her being left with other
‘At the time of Emma’s diagnosis (a year reality was, I was only a phone call away and people was a bit scary at first, but she has now
ago – oddly enough, on World Diabetes Day), her childminder had always looked after the been to tea with her best friend and it was fine.
I was using both a childminder and a nursery. children as though they were her own, so I She only lives five minutes away, and I had
They both took it all on board, and we were knew that Emma was in very good hands. checked out the snacks and the meal so had to
enormously helped and supported by the local ‘Emma still attends the nursery as it does just be brave.
diabetes nursing team who had contacted a before- and after-school club and holiday ‘The other really important thing to
care. She is on multiple daily injections so they remember when you have fantastic childcare is
‘Think about
look after her lunchtime injection and blood to thank them for it, and tell them how much
test for me [during the school holidays] and it means to you. Not everyone is lucky enough
briefing your best
check her out if need be when they collect her to have lovely childcare.’
from school.
friend or neighbour
‘I realise we are among the lucky ones And when support fails
with the care and support we receive. I would For Julie Edwards, mum to six-year-old Ellis,
in case of needing
always recommend to other parents that finding childcare has been a difficult, ongoing
emergency childcare’
they have the PDSN go in and do the training struggle which has affected the whole family.
before the first visit, and if possible for the Ellis was diagnosed with diabetes at u u
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Sweet Magazine 77
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