Is this allowed in Family Day Care?

[Lulu]

Hmm, I dunno. He could have been her brother but how are you supposed to know if she doesn't introduce you????

I think its only right that you know who is in the house with your children.

[Tinks]

Hmm... I'm not sure if that's OK or not. Would he have to have a working with children check to be int he house with them?

I agree you should have been introduced.

[Visitor8]

It isn't actually ok. I think they have to let you know and all people that will be around the children are required to get a police check. Maybe ask next time you drop him off. Could it have been her grown up child?

[mrsmac]

My FDC lady recently had family stay as her MIL was dying, they were in the house but totally seperate to where the kids were. Apart from that i trust my carer implicitly and have known her and her family for years so it doesn't bother me that her teenage kids are often home (I taught 2 of them anyway!) and that her father is sometimes over, to me that is part of the joy of FDC- the normality of being in a Family not an institution.
I guess since you don't know your carer you should ask her straight out and express your concerns to her first before you go higher up.
IMO the working with children checks mean nothing, I have heard of too many situations where people in positions of trust have still abused children, most abusers are not who you think they are going to be- often they are happily married or have their own kids and good jobs etc.

[Rouge]

Given what happened here in Vic where the older son (19) was molesting the children, I would not be comfortable with this and I would bring it up no matter how uncomfortable it would seem.

[BrightSparkles]

i would just ask. If the carer is worth anything she'll happily tell you who it is.
Chances are everything is fine... maybe she thought you'd met at some other stage???

[SamiH]

I would not be comfortable with this and I would bring it up no matter how uncomfortable it would seem.

I am not trying to guilt you by any means hun - but I wouldn't have left without asking who he was and what he was doing there - you are paying her for a service, you are the client.

It may be a bit awkward but if you ask upfront, it will leave the door for the future - otherwise you are defeating the purpose of having your DS in FDC by worrying about him

[visitor1]

My FDC leader told me that the carers must tell you verbally or in writing if anyone else is going to be in the home. I also have to sign off to say i am aware of others being there too.

Id be very uncomfortable if my children were around people not normally in the home and more so if i wasnt told/introduced to them.

[prama]

yes, you have the right to know. seems weird that she didnt introduce him, apart from the fact it was rude....
as the girls suggested, may ring the assoc and ask what are the rules regarding having visitors, and then when you ask her, she cant really tell you otherwise.
also, having visitors distracts her from looking after the children...

[2CheekyMonkeys]

well i dont think they are supposed to have visitors during their hours of operation. i know that EVERYONE living in the house and possibly even visiting the house need to have child protection blue card. if it was me i would have been a little worried either. she should have introduced you.

[briggsy's girl]

when mum did FDC, if there were adults that were regularly in the house, they had to notify the council she was employed by and that person had a police check to confirm they were ok to be there. but being a home environment, people will sometimes just drop by - it would be rude to stop them coming in i guess.... i really depends on what access they have to the children - if he was in the kitchen and not in direct contact with the children....

she's told you she has older children, perhaps it was her son or something. i dunno. if you are uncomfy, mention it to her - that you just want to make sure you know what other adults are going to be in the house when your son is there....

[feeb]

I think you should know who is in the house with your kids.

We had a family friend who did FDC for years and we would often visit her when she still had kids but kids knew who person was by name and if parents turned up we were introduced. (diff is small country town and this was 12 years ago)

This is 1 of many reasons why I am not comfortable to use FDC.

[Leonie P]

Just ask her who he was. I don't know the rules surrounding FDC but if you are concerned call the FDC association they should be able to tell you the rules.
Always trust your gut!!!