Unannounced visit

[espresso33]

Hi Ladies,

So I've been running my hdc for awhile now (in Markham). Yesterday afternoon, I had a rep from the ministry come to my home and ask to see my daycare. I allowed her to come inside and showed her the daycare area and introduced the kids. She said that they are making an effort to inspect as many home daycares in the area. I received a letter stating that I'm in compliance and not over ratio etc from them once the visit was done. So here's my question, she walked through my ENTIRE home upstairs which btw has NOTHING to do with my daycare area. I allowed her to look wherever she needed to as I have nothing to hide, but still...Is this ok? She also sent me an email requesting the parents contact info. Has anyone had visits from them and if so, is this ok what she did? :huh: thanks in advance!

[Sassygirl]

That must have been scary. Sounds like it went well :-)
I don't know about her looking at your entire house. Did she ask about your daycare space that you use? I may have said that I don't use certain areas for the daycare but honestly I don't know what the rules would be.
Personally, I don't answer my door at all during the day unless I have received notice of someone on their way. Its a safety issue for me as I am home alone. Wonder what would have happened if you didn't answer your door, you werent home or weren't able to get to the door for whatever reason.

[espresso33]

Thanks Sassygirl. Yes, I was very surprised when she showed up at my door! I did show her the daycare area and said the rest of the house isn't used at all for daycare. She still asked to take a quick look everywhere regardless, which I allowed her to do. I too wonder what would happen had I not opened my door...like I said I have nothing to hide, but I felt kind of violated, as I have never dealt with the ministry before. And she has requested the parents contact info too. Not certain why or if I am obligated to provide this information. This is my place of home as well as business, but I wonder what are our rights regarding privacy??

[mimi]

Did she show proper identification? I too do not open my door during the day. I have no problem with an inspection, however, I will only show the space I claim as daycare space (square footage for tax purposes) to the inspector. My personal space is that and unless there is a fire raging in my bedroom and she has a bucket of water, they are not viewing it.

Also, since I am not a registered business with the ministry or government I would hesitate to give out client information unless I had their permission. Seems like a bit of an ambush.

[MonkeyPrincess]

wait- Espresso33- are you with an agency? Was this your once-a-month visit as all home daycare agencies require? Or are you private? If you are a private home daycare, how did this rep from the ministry know you were a daycare provider?

If that's the case- it makes me very weary that a rep from the ministry can show up at any time....

[MonkeyPrincess]

i don't open the door to anyone that i am not expecting anymore. I hate door to door type people (Ie- water heater upgrades, lawn maintenance) so i have a 'no solicitation' sign on my glass porch door. I also lock the porch door so no one can ring my bell. Plus it's for extra protection because i have been hearing about some sketchy people in my neighbourhood, so i am being vigilant

[espresso33]

No I'm not with an agency, and never have been! She did show proper identification, and I confirmed it as soon as she left. Not sure how she would know I run a home daycare, Lillywildcat. There's tons of home daycares in my neighbourhood and tons of competition amongst home daycare providers here...maybe another provider is falsely reporting nearby hdc? On the ministry website it states that "Unlicensed child care providers are not monitored by the Ministry of Education. However, regional staff will investigate complaints from the public about a person who may be providing care to more than five unrelated children without a licence." I've always been at ratio with 5 children or less. So no clue! I'm really just bothered that she asked to go through my home even after I told her it has nothing to do with my daycare space.

[ttremble88]

I was going to ask the same thing. How did she know that you run a daycare? Unless, of course that you were reported. :( My hubby tells me all of the time, do NOT open the door for anyone when I am by myself (other then expected daycare parents). Not only due to safety, but, who has time to talk to annoying water people when you have daycare in progress?! I wonder what would of happened if you had told her that you are quite busy with the children at the moment and if she could come back a little later/another time?

As for her checking out your personal space, I do not see how that is relevant in anyway as to how you run/keep your daycare.

[torontokids]

She would have wanted to check the rest of your home to see if you have additional kids stashed in another room in your home. I think one of the dc's in the media had a separate group of kids watching a movie in another place in the home. I would still say no though. It is my home, come back with a warrant.

[AmandaKDT]

Not that you have anything to hide, but you had no obligation to let them in at all, let alone show non-daycare areas. Also, you don't have to provide the parent info either if you don't want to. Actually, I would think getting permission from the parents before doing so would be a good idea.

If you a private daycare, unlicensed and not with an agency, then your home is considered a private residence and you choose who you allow to enter.

[gravy_train]

This sounds really scary! I have nothing to hide in terms of being within my ratio and as far as my daycare space is concerned but the rest of my house is a total mess most of the time and I would feel very uncomfortable having someone traipse through 'inspecting.' My living space is separate from my daycare space. What would happen if you just said no to an inspector?
Don't we have any rights when it comes to our own home?

[Sassygirl]

Do you know of any other home daycare providers in your area that you could ask if they had been inspected as well?
Other than that, someone has reported you OR could it be possible they are flagging us from our tax refunds? Expenses we are claiming? Receipts etc? Another government I know Provincial vs Federal but just a thought.
I lock my screen door and deadbolt my other door as well and don't have a doorbell. I have so many of those water heater guys who are soooo agressive canvassing this area I don't answer my door period.
Try not to worry... you passed with flying colours. I do think you were called in by someone concerned by your numbers though. A neighbour with a chip? Someone who saw you out with the kiddos and watched where you live?

[MonkeyPrincess]

No I'm not with an agency, and never have been! She did show proper identification, and I confirmed it as soon as she left. Not sure how she would know I run a home daycare, Lillywildcat. There's tons of home daycares in my neighbourhood and tons of competition amongst home daycare providers here...maybe another provider is falsely reporting nearby hdc? On the ministry website it states that "Unlicensed child care providers are not monitored by the Ministry of Education. However, regional staff will investigate complaints from the public about a person who may be providing care to more than five unrelated children without a licence." I've always been at ratio with 5 children or less. So no clue! I'm really just bothered that she asked to go through my home even after I told her it has nothing to do with my daycare space.

See now that has me a little creeped out/worried, knowing that a ministry rep can drop in on you at any time. Like all of you, i have nothing to hide, but just the fact that they can drop in on you unannounced, even though you are private/unlicensed is invasive! In a way i shouldn't worry because i believe i follow the DNA, but at the same time it's worrisome.!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Around here, there are plenty of private home daycares but I doubt anyone involved with checking up on dc's even know where we all are. The only way would be if someone reported us.

I agree with not answering your door unless you know who it is. However, I order a lot online so it's usually just my parcels! My fiance is home during the day so he sometimes gets the door too. I find most of the door to door salespeople come in the evenings...so annoying!! The evening is when I don't answer my door lol

[sunnydays]

I am sure I would have felt somewhat violated as well to have her traipsing through my entire house...seeing the mess in my kids rooms and dirty clothing piked in the corner in my bathroom,etc. I have a separate daycare area, so the rest of my home is private and I don't worry about choking hazards, etc. At the same time, I can understand why they would want to make sure there are no extra kids somewhere else in the house. The are under a lot of pressure now because of they did not do their job in Vaughan and a toddler died. Now they have to prove that they mean business. From a safety standpoint, as long as I am sure that this is really a person from the Ministry (I would ask her/him to wait outside while I verify their identity) then I would be okay with them inspecting. I think this is actually what we need to have happen in order to stop these over-ratio daycares who are ruining it for everyone and putting children in danger. I am not sure about providing parents information...I would have to ask the parents for consent to do that first. I have always wondered if someone will report me since I have two of my own kids and 5 daycare kids...so when I walk with 7 kids it looks like a lot! However, I have never been over-ratio for even a moment, so I am not worried. While we are private businesses, we are caring for a very vulnerable sector of soceity and I do think they need to be protected.

[Mike]

That would be a surprise and probably was due to a report, but with the issues that have been coming up lately, it is possible they are locating private daycare businesses and investigating. It wouldn't surprise me. I also believe the whole house inspection was to see if there were other kids, and I agree on not giving parent contact information without their consent. It's good that it went without trouble for you.

[playfelt]

Actually there was a provider here in Ottawa that had the same thing happen so it isn't just in one area of the province. They do have the right to inspect for number of kids in care even if a complaint is not lodged but in theory must inspect if a complaint is.