Example image. Register with Care for Kids as a carer and families can see you!

If you enjoy children of all abilities and are interested in using some of your time to help another family for a reimbursement or private payment, this is what you need to know:

Being a parent can be exhausting!  Being the parent of a child with special needs or disabilities can be additionally challenging.

Families who have children with disabilities are often provided with ‘carer support’ by the Ministry of Health.  This provides them with the ability to reimburse someone to spend time with their child.

Alternately the parents of other children may wish to connect with casual or regular carers to spend time with their children on a privately funded basis.

Some things to note: The hours of care may vary from as little as 2 hours per fortnight to 8 hours per week, or more.

Some families will want care at regular times, others will want variable days and times that suit both you and them.

Families using this website are asked to request a Ministry of Justice criminal record check and referees for any carer they use.  Once you have met with the family they will ask you to consent to sign a ‘request criminal convictions history-third party form’. This can take up to 20 days to process.

It will not be unusual for the child’s parent to initially choose to stay in the home while you are with their child.  The child may be especially vulnerable.  At first you may need assistance to learn how to care for the child.  Or the parent may have things they want to do at home that they normally do not get the chance to do!  They may just want to rest or relax, or spend time with their other children!

Some families may ask that you take their child out, for a walk, to the park, or even to include them on your own family outings if you wish!  The arrangements can be creative, flexible and fun for everyone!

A ‘carer support’ arrangement is not normally a big commitment, and will often suit another Mum, Grandparent or student.  ‘Carer support’ is a reimbursement which may not be taxable income, but this may depend on your situation.  To clarify you can contact Inland Revenue.

‘Carer support’ involves both the carer and the family signing paperwork sent to the family by The Ministry of Health.

To register your interest as a potential carer on this website email: careforkids12@gmail.com

Tell me your:

Full Name  (only your first name will appear on the website)

Age Range

Suburb and town/city you wish to provide ‘carer support’ in

2-3 lines about your experience with children

Your areas of interest (eg all children or something specific such as autism, medical conditions, seizures, ADHD, children who sign etc)

Method of contact for families (a cell number or email address)

By providing this information you are consenting for it to be placed on this website where it can be read by users.  Interested families will contact you directly.

When you meet the family you are responsible for ensuring you gain enough information about the child to ensure the child’s good care.  You are responsible for confirming the terms of reimbursement or payment directly with the family. You are responsible for ensuring you consider your own wellbeing at all times.

Currently it will be usual practice to review and update profiles approximately 12 months after they are listed.

In the rare instance that any issues related to safety or security arise, the website reserves the right to decline or remove individual profiles with advice to the individual.

Make some positive connections now….

Care for Kids Mission Statement:

Care of Kids hopes to present families in need of carers, with the choice of choosing a carer from a selection of self identified, caring people.

Care for Kids wishes to provide potential carers with an interest in caring for children with a way of promoting their interest, and pursuing mutually rewarding connections with families.

Care for Kids Vision Statement:

To inspire communities to connect and care, and in doing so, make life easier for New Zealand families.

Hello!  I hope that you will be able to use this website to identify several potential carers, whom you can then contact and interview, before making a happy final decision!

For a great outcome please follow these tips:

Contact at least two people to interview, and have your partner or family member participate in the interview process with you.

Families using this website are asked to request a Ministry of Justice criminal record check and check referees for any carer they use.  Ask any potential carer to complete a ‘request criminal convictions history-third party form’. There is a section on this for you to complete too. This is free for New Zealand families and takes up to 20 days to process. Find it at www.justice.govt.nz

Check that the potential carer is an age you are happy with.  Discuss anything else with them that you believe is important, relevant and appropriate.

If you have a homecare nurse, ask whether they may be able to assist you to train the carer in any specific medical cares for your child.

Ensure that the carer is appropriately trained and confident before leaving them with sole care of your child.

It is suggested that you may initially like to stay in the home relaxing, or spending time with other children, until you feel total confidence in the carer.

Always leave your carer with written details of any emergency plans and phone numbers, including yours.  Show them where these are kept.

Maintain responsibility for administering any medications yourself.

Once you have a confident established relationship with the carer you may like to ask that they take your child out, for a walk, to the park, or on other outings (remember – do not allow them to leave your child in the care of another adult.  Check that they are safe licenced drivers and will use a legally installed carseat if they drive your child).

Your questions are welcome at: careforkids12@gmail.com

You will find the details of people who are interested in caring for children listed below.  You should make contact with anyone you wish to solely for the purpose of care for your children.

From this point onwards it is your responsibility to follow the tips above and take every sensible caution to ensure that anyone caring for your child provides them with safe, gentle care.  (This website has not met with or background checked people listed on it, in any way and does not take responsibility for the relationship between carers and families).

To make some positive connections now check out who is interested in the care of children……

WEST  AUCKLAND

CENTRAL  AUCKLAND

RODNEY

NORTH SHORE

EAST AUCKLAND

SOUTH AUCKLAND

As a part time health worker working with families, many times I have seen the challenge that families can have in finding gentle, reliable, flexible carers for their children with special needs.

I don’t think this should be a burden for families.  I want them to have easy access to many choices about who could care for their children!  I hope families will find those choices here.

As a Mum I know that I want my main commitment to be my family.  Even so I sometimes have a little time that I would love to use to help others and increase my income – even a little, it all counts!  However opportunities to do this are frustratingly limited!

I also want this website to offer these opportunities to caring parents, grandparents and students in our communities.

Let’s make some positive connections…..

If you want to know more about being a carer go to the information for carers page.

If you want to know more about finding a carer go to the information for families page.