In addition to these terms our Privacy Policy also applies.

Using the Childcare Search service

We will provide the Childcare Search service for You in relation to your care needs on these terms and conditions. By using Us to help with your care needs You are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and be bound by them.

How we help You

1. Initial consultation
We will have an initial discussion with You by phone, to discuss your childcare requirements and preferences. The discussion will cover details such as type of care required, location of care, days and times required, budget, key dates such as return to work, target dates such as advertising dates and any special requirements.

2. Search for nanny, au pair, maternity nanny or mothers help
If You request that we conduct a search for a nanny, au pair, maternity nanny or mothers help, subject to compliance with the legislation affecting childcare, then:

• We will agree with you wording for a recruitment advertisement to be placed appropriately. We generally advertise on three Websites relevant to the search. However, if this is unsuccessful and we need to explore other options the cost of additional advertising will need to be agreed with, and met by you
• We will screen responses to the advertisement against the criteria we agree with you
• The childcare consultant will telephone screen suitable candidates and provide you with details of applicants that may be suitable
• You should promptly arrange to interview the candidates you are considering engaging. We will supply you with suggested questions to ask candidates and favourable responses
• The childcare consultant will endeavour to obtain verbal and/or written references.  If any references provided are not in English, We will normally be able to obtain a translation at your request and expense
• It is encouraged that you should obtain a verbal reference from the last employer of the nanny that you propose to engage. We can give you guidance to the appropriate questions
• We will assist you with putting in place a job description, employment contract, obtaining an Enhanced DBS Check (for which there is a fee payable by you) and supply you with details of a payroll service.

3. Search for childminder
If You request that we conduct a search for a childminder, then:

• We will obtain a list of childminder vacancies for You and endeavour to contact childminders that can accommodate the estimated care start date
• We will provide You with details of childminders in your chosen area taking into account your stated requirements. The details include matters such as the childminder's fees, policies, facilities and registration with OFSTED or ESTYN/CSIW or the Care Inspectorate (SCSWIS). This is not a recommendation by Us
• You should visit the childminders that You are considering engaging as soon as possible as childminder vacancies can be over-subscribed. We can supply You with a list of suggested questions to ask during your visit
• We encourage You to obtain references from other parents who have used the childminder that You propose to engage. We can give You guidance as to appropriate questions to ask referees.

4. Search for nursery
If You request that we conduct a search for a nursery, then:

• We will endeavour to contact nurseries in your chosen area that can accommodate the estimated care start date
• We will provide You with details of up to three nurseries. The details include matters such as nursery fees, policies, facilities and registration with OFSTED or ESTYN/CSIW or HMIE/the Care Commission. This is not a recommendation by Us
• You should visit the nurseries that You are considering sending your children to within a few days of receiving details from us, as nursery vacancies can be over-subscribed
• We will supply You with a list of suggested questions to ask during your visit.

5. Search for preschool, out of school club and holiday club
If You request that we conduct a search for a preschool, out of school club or holiday club then:

• We will endeavour to contact providers of the required care in your chosen area that can accommodate the estimated care start date
• We will aim to provide You with details of the providers of care. The details include matters such as fees, policies, facilities and registration with OFSTED or ESTYN/CSIW or the Care Commission. This is not a recommendation by us
• You should visit the providers of care that You are considering sending your children to within a few days of receiving details from us, as providers can be over-subscribed.

Please note that if no suitable childcare is found through the initial search, the consultant will discuss alternative options with You. We do not guarantee that we will be able to locate a provider of care suitable for or acceptable to You nor that we can accommodate all requirements or preferences.

6. Future contact
6.1. Once childcare has been secured we will send you a questionnaire to complete. We very much appreciate if you could give us feedback on the Care Search service to ensure we continue to provide a high level service.

7. Arrangements with providers of care
7.1. You are responsible for selecting the childminder, nanny, au pair, nursery, preschool, out of school club or holiday club that You wish to care for your child. Accordingly, You should ensure that You are satisfied that the care and the proposed care arrangements are appropriate for your child and situation. Once You have chosen your provider of care, You must notify them and agree contractual arrangements direct with them. The contract for the care will be between yourself and the provider of care.
7.2. When we search for a nanny or au pair for You, we operate as a third party. You will be the employer or contractor of the nanny or au pair. You are required to comply with all laws applicable to the services, including but not limited to employment laws, laws as to equality of opportunity and data protection. Generally, it is unlawful to refuse to hire or to treat a nanny or au pair less fairly because of the race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, religion, beliefs or disability (reasonable adjustments must be considered for a disability) of a nanny or au pair.

8. Complaints
8.1. If You have any complaints about the Childcare Search service, You should contact us by telephone or email us on consultants@myfamilycare.co.uk. The complaint will then be investigated. If appropriate, the issues will be discussed with the relevant childcare consultant.
8.2. If the complaint is not resolved at that stage, it will be referred to the Coaching & Consultancy Services Manager, who will determine the appropriate action and ensure it is taken within a reasonable time.
8.3. The Coaching & Consultancy Services Manager will monitor complaints and ensure appropriate steps are taken from time to time to address the general nature of such complaints.

9. Other
9.1. We will ask You to provide us with information at various times to assist us in providing the Childcare Search service. You must provide such information promptly and ensure that it is accurate and complete and notify us of any changes in a timely manner. We may also ask You to make appointments with potential providers of care, which You must do so promptly.
9.2. We will at times provide You with information that is based on information supplied to us.  While we will take reasonable care in the collection of this information, we cannot otherwise accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information.  
9.3. We do not guarantee the performance of the provider of care.
9.4. We will not be liable to You by reason of any failure or delay in performing our obligations under these terms and conditions which is due to any event or occurrence that is outside our reasonable control. If we become aware of any such circumstances which give rise to any such failure or delay, or which appear likely to do so, we will contact You to notify You of the situation.
9.5. We may amend these terms and conditions at any time to take into account any change in arrangement between us and You, or for any other reason on reasonable notice to You. A copy of the current terms and conditions will be provided on request.
9.6. If this service is being made available to You because of an arrangement we have with your employer, if either the arrangement between your employer and us is terminated or expires, or, You cease to be employed by that employer, then these terms and conditions terminate with immediate effect and we will have no further obligations to You. You will be given the option of transferring to a similar service offered by us. The similar service may have different arrangements as to fees and charges.

10. Fees
Your care consultant will advise You of any costs relating to your care search and seek your approval in the first instance.

You must pay all fees and charges (if any) payable by You within 14 days of invoice, or we may charge interest at the rate of 3% per annum above the RBS base rate on the overdue amount.

The fees and charges payable under these terms and conditions are exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT will be charged in addition to these fees and charges and must be paid at the same time as the relevant fees and charges.

In addition to these terms our Privacy Policy also applies.

Using 1:1 Parent Transition Coaching
and the Parental Leave Toolkit™ programme

The terms below make reference to coaching provided by a 1:1 coach. If you are joining Parental Leave Toolkit™ without a 1:1 coach or mentor then the spirit of the terms should be understood and accepted as they relate to your use of the Coaching Toolbox and participation in our group coaching webinars.

How the coaching works
Coaching is a forward-looking, goal-oriented form of support, in which You set the agenda and take responsibility for the achievement of your own goals. Your coach will aim to facilitate You achieving aims and objectives through a process of listening, questioning, feedback, encouraging accountability; and the introduction of appropriate tools, models and frameworks for your areas of interest.

You acknowledge that the success of coaching depends on applying coaching ideas and actions in your everyday life, often through following up on agreed assignments chosen by You to support your goals. If appropriate and agreed by your coach, You may contact your coach by email for further brief email support between sessions. Where it has been agreed on any telephone coaching sessions, You will make the call to Your coach at a time agreed between you.

You recognise coaching is different from counselling or psychotherapy, and is not designed to deal with serious psychological or traumatic issues, such as bereavement, serious addictions, overcoming abuse, etc. You understand that if We discover during coaching that your situation might be better supported by a different practitioner or approach, your coach may make recommendations to refer You.

Confidentiality
You understand the coaching process is confidential. Your coach may keep notes during and/or following each session that You are entitled to see if you wish. The trust between coach and coachee is crucial to the success of the process and your coach will treat all information disclosed by You as confidential, and will not disclose details of the content of the coaching meetings to your employer or any other third parties, without your permission.

Within the context of this confidentiality, your coach will review their coaching caseload anonymously within their professional supervision, a process designed to support the coach's continuing professional development and provide quality assurance: this does not involve disclosing individual names or details.

As a potential exception to confidentiality, it is important that you understand that professional codes of ethics require that if in a coach's opinion any client presents an immediate danger to him/herself or to others, the coach reserves the right to inform appropriate agencies, and may sometimes be bound to reveal background notes if required by a Court of Law.

It is usual practice, wherever possible, to inform and involve the coachee first, before any of these rare exceptions to confidentiality would apply. My Family Care and its coaches have adopted the Association for Coaching Code of Ethics.

Logistics / Duration of coaching
Our specific agreement is as agreed with your employer and communicated to You by My Family Care. It will vary from employer to employer and sometimes between employees with the same employer.

Feedback and evaluation
Your feedback on, and evaluation of, the coaching will be sought at intervals during the coaching process. Should you wish to take up a particular issue or concern regarding the coaching at any point, please contact the Coaching Admin team and your comments will be directed to the appropriate senior person.

Cancellation / failure to keep coaching appointment
Where You are unable to keep any commitments to coaching meetings, You will communicate this to your coach by email, or mobile phone as appropriate.

Should you cancel or postpone with

• less than 2 weeks' notice of an onsite coaching meeting or
• less than 2 working days' notice of a virtual coaching session

You understand that My Family Care may charge your employer a 50% cancellation fee.

Should You cancel or postpone with less than

• 2 clear business days' notice for an onsite coaching meeting or
• on the day of a virtual coaching session or fail to keep an appointment

You understand My Family Care may charge your employer as if the meeting had gone ahead as booked. In either case it might not be possible to reschedule this session, due to higher costs to your employer.

Notwithstanding the above, You have the right to stop the coaching process at any time You choose or to request a different coach. Should this involve cancellations at less than 2 weeks' notice, then cancellation fees will apply as set out above.

Agreement
You give your consent to coaching, with a focus on your own objectives within the context of any overarching aims set by your employer where relevant. You give your coach permission to challenge any goal-blocking, self-defeating or stress-producing thoughts, feelings and behaviour that may be identified between You and your coach. You agree that You will take responsibility for what You choose to discuss during coaching, and You note the terms above regarding cancellation or changes to your coaching session timings.

At the conclusion of the meetings agreed between us, or when You choose to stop the process, whichever is sooner, Your coach will have no further responsibility towards You.