Most people understand the traditional role of a nanny.
But what happens when a family needs childcare alongside disability, rehabilitation, acquired brain injury, complex medical circumstances or additional needs?
This is where a specialist nanny may be appropriate.
A specialist nanny remains first and foremost a childcare professional, but they have the experience and understanding required to work within more complex family circumstances.
Who might need a specialist nanny?
Every family is different, but specialist nanny support might be considered where:
- a child has additional or complex needs
- a parent has sustained an acquired brain injury
- a parent has a spinal or other catastrophic injury
- a family is involved in rehabilitation following an accident
- a parent needs practical support to fulfil their parenting role
- siblings require childcare while another child has extensive medical or therapeutic needs
- the family requires structured overnight or 24-hour childcare.
The purpose of the role should always be tailored to the individual family.
Supporting a parent with a disability or injury
One particularly important area of specialist nannying involves supporting a parent who has been injured.
A parent may continue to be perfectly capable of making parenting decisions while needing practical help with certain aspects of childcare.
For example, fatigue, mobility difficulties, memory problems or executive-function difficulties may make school mornings, outings or looking after several children simultaneously more difficult.
A specialist nanny can provide practical childcare assistance while helping the parent remain involved.
The aim should be to support parenting rather than unnecessarily replace the parent.
Supporting children with additional needs
Other specialist nannies primarily support a child.
A child may have a physical disability, neurodevelopmental condition, acquired brain injury or other additional requirements.
The nanny may help maintain routines, follow agreed strategies, attend activities and work collaboratively with parents, schools or relevant professionals.
Working as part of a wider team
Complex families are sometimes supported by case managers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and other professionals.
Where appropriate, a specialist nanny may communicate with this wider team and follow relevant recommendations relating to the child’s routine or parenting support.
However, the nanny’s role remains clearly defined as childcare.
Specialist childcare from Gingham
Gingham Specialist Services was established in 2016 to provide specialist nanny support for families whose circumstances require more than conventional childcare recruitment.
We work with families directly and receive referrals from professionals involved in serious injury, rehabilitation and complex family cases.
Support can range from a few hours each week to extensive rota and 24-hour childcare arrangements.
If you are a family, case manager, solicitor or other professional considering specialist nanny support, contact Gingham Specialist Services to discuss the individual circumstances of the case.
Dee Modric
Founder
Gingham Nanny Agency
