Catering for the childcare needs of a workforce that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is a daunting task, but childcare co-ordinators employed by NHS Trusts are doing just that.
Childcare co-ordinators are a vital part of the Government's NHS Childcare Strategy to ensure that the 250,000 NHS staff with children aged under 14 can find the support they need to combine work and family demands. By April 2003 all parents working for the NHS should have access to a childcare co-ordinator who can organise or advise on childcare provision.
'The childcare co-ordinators are coping very effectively with the challenge of getting management to buy into childcare. It's not just some fluffy- bunny initiative but fundamental to the NHS's recruitment and retention,'
says Daycare Trust project officer Jennifer Denny, who has written and run training for childcare co-ordinators.
'Every new hospital has to be built with nursery provision now, and we want Trusts to understand that on-site nurseries are good but not the only answer. Parents also need other forms of childcare, such as childminders and holiday provision. A 50-place nursery is not going to serve the needs of all the parents and Trusts have to think more broadly to support them.'
At Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, childcare facilities manager Maxine Burrows is introducing a range of imaginative initiatives, including babysitting and Saturday clubs.
'We are looking at providing as much choice for parents as possible because they have diverse needs,' she says. 'Seventy per cent of parents work days, so that is easy to do, but for those working twilight hours and weekends it is difficult.'
The Trust has a subsidised 35-place on-site nursery at Sandwell Hospital, soon to be increased to 41 places with an extension, and has recently opened a new day nursery in partnership with Sure Start (News, 1 August).
Trust employees will have access to 15 places and seven places will be for Sure Start, although some staff will be eligible for those too.
A Saturday club is being launched at the Sandwell nursery next month, funded by an 8,000 New Opportunities Fund grant. 'Parents will be able to work without childcare problems or book the service as a one-off for a wedding, shopping or just sleeping,' says Maxine.
'Next year we are also looking at setting up a babysitting agency using a bank of our nursery staff who want to earn extra money. They will be able to offer twilight hours care in the children's homes. It has been suggested that the day nursery should offer overnight care, but we are not going to do that because we believe children are better cared for in their own home at night.'
Flexible childcare is also being offered by a childminding network that Maxine has recently established with a 25,000 grant from the local EYDCP. They currently have ten childminders working throughout the area.
The Trust also runs a playscheme in the main school holidays, and at half-terms Maxine directs parents to other holiday clubs in their area.
Debbie Bentley, health visitor and mother of two children aged six and four, is currently benefiting from Maxine's advice and initiatives.
Debbie says, 'Having children at school and nursery is a juggle, but knowing that good-quality, reliable childcare is available has made it so much easier. I've used the workplace nursery for the past five years and the subsidy is a big bonus.
'My eldest has used a holiday club for the first time this summer and Maxine had a list of places available. I wouldn't have known where to start looking myself. My daughter has found it wonderful, especially as there were children there that she knew from nursery. Having someone to turn to for advice and information on childcare provision and funding is invaluable.'
Further reading
* NHS Childcare Toolkit II: Beyond Workplace Nurseries: www.doh.gov.uk/iwl
* 'Off to a healthy start' by Ruth Thomson (Nursery Chains, 26 November 1998)
* 'Healthy future: Childcare in the NHS' by Ruth Thomson (Nursery World, 24 August 2000)
* 'A healthy approach: NHS childcare' by Annette Rawstrone (Nursery Chains, 15 November 2001)