As babysitters are not ‘registered’ and there are no regulations to govern this type of childcare, we do not hold lists of people. However, we do hold lists of registered childminders and some childminders may be willing to do some evening or weekend babysitting.
Parents may also wish to find a sitter by asking a friend or a relative with children for a recommendation or by looking in the Yellow Pages or searching the web for babysitting agencies.
Should you use a babysitting agency, it is important that you are clear as to how they vet their sitters, for example, do they interview and take up references and do they complete a Criminal Record Bureau check.
Both the NSPCC and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recommend that babysitters should be over 16 years of age and that parents ask for at least two references and contact the referees themselves.
RoSPA also suggest that parents complete ‘risk assessments’ and think through all possible eventualities before leaving their children with a babysitter. Further tips on good practices when using a babysitter are available from both NSPCC and RoSPA.