Job in creche?

Floodzie

Hi All,

My girlfriend is Polish and currently works as a live-in (3 x 24-hour shifts a week) care assistant for an elderly woman. Her job is rewarding but very draining and lonely - the lady she takes care of has dementia and depression - so she is looking to change career. Basically, she would love to work with children in a creche.

First of all, how easy is it to get into this job, will her care assistant experience help her and what are the rates/hours like?

Secondly, I presume she will need Garda clearance. Is this complicated by the fact that she is Polish?

Any advice from people who work in a creche is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Guru Maith Agut

Hi mate. Yes she will need Garda clearance and obviously her not being native would be a slight problem. You should tell her to call her local station and enquire so she has all her facts straight before she applies for a job in a creche.
As regards getting work in one she will be best advised not to blow her CV out of all proportions as some of the CV's I have seen coming in over the years have so much detail regarding work from the potential employees country of origin it is impossible to check and gather proof of. She would be better advised to call to the door and ask to speak to the manager/owner and leave her CV in that way. Obviously excellent english is a must and will be expected to work with children. Her current Carer job could be an advantage but it would totally depend on her employer seeing it that way. Unfortunately like all jobs at the moment even creches are quieter and with parents having been cut back days and even let go most of the creches I know are running well under on numbers so this would also not be in her favour currently.
I wish her luck trying to pick something up though and if she's lucky enough to get a place she should prove her willingness to learn and maybe get into a childcare course or two to better her chances for promotion.
Hope that helps a little.

Floodzie

Hi,

Many thanks for the reply! Her English is very good (she's been in Ireland for a few years now). She wants to do a course in Montessorri teaching, so studying this at night will hopefully be an advantage when looking for creche work.

I'll pass on your advice about her CV and Garda clearance. Actually, she did a small bit of au-pair work in the past, so that may help too.

I had a feeling the economic situation may have had an impact, but fingers crossed!

Thanks a million!

John Mason

Jobs in childcare are very scare at the moment

she should try and get in with a community non-profit facility. the government are still covering running costs in these.

if she was on a CE or Fas scheme, they will pay for her Fetec exams.

She should registered with her local Fas office and look on this website to see availability of jobs and courses

http://www.activelink.ie/ce/active_section.php?id=5

Floodzie

Thanks for your reply - the job board looks useful. I'll pass it on to her.

Many thanks!