Very...um...thorough ? parents

[Rachael]

This isn't going to be the popular answer but having worked with street children, families in crisis, abused children, I would absolutely insist on a child care provider having BOTH a criminal records check and a child abuse check for everyone in the house.

Their choice if they didn't want to do it but I wouldn't go there with my child knowing and having seen what I have.

Yes, I understand it just means that they haven't been caught but I do feel it's due diligence.

And yes, as an unregistered carer, I do have both, and also have both for my son who is almost 18. Once my younger son has his 16th birthday, his will be performed and available too.

Here, it's a cost of $50.00 each, and it only lasts three months but there is no way I'd do business without them and it's a common expectation here. Like above, it does have to be applied for in person, and the police stations who offer it, are down town not local, and the service is only available from 8am until 4.30pm Monday - Friday. Yes, it means making sure it's done on a day off or authorizing someone else to go in and apply on my behalf (more paperwork) and return a week later to collect the paperwork (even more paperwork).

In the years I've been doing this, I have NEVER had an interview where these weren't expected to be seen.

I feel like this is a relationship based on trust, and we are getting off to a pretty rocky start.

I know what you mean but I don't see it the same way. In fact I always tell people to trust by verify - ask to see all the certificates of something a carer is claiming to have.

In time, yes, they will trust you. As you prove your standard of care and as they get to know you. But initially, you are a stranger. You might seem lovely, but they don't know you. You might sound like you know what you are doing, and look like you know what you are doing, but so do the biggest scammers and criminals and child abusers. As much as a parent wants to trust you, they have nothing to base that on yet other than your own words and some references from others they don't know either.

It's simply due diligence.

If you were in a traffic accident, would you believe someone's claim they had insurance or want to see it and record the information accurately?

No one trusts fully a random stranger. They want to be able to, they hope in time they will but until a relationship is built over time, they have no reason to trust you.