what's available

Childcare

If you have young children, making sure you have the right childcare when you start work, training or education will be important to you.

Working For Families can help you to find childcare when you move into work, training or education. Depending on your situation, we can sometimes help with start up costs (e.g. deposits for childminders/nurseries) for childcare too.

Below is some information on the types of childcare available:

Registered Childminders

• Care for children at the childminder's home (they do not care for children in the parent's home)
• Usually work with up to four children
• Some are able to take on very young children or children with special needs
• Can sometimes be flexible with hours and days

Nurseries

• Pre-school care for children aged three and over
• Private nurseries provide care for children under 3 (depending on the nursery)
• Usually open on weekdays in the mornings and afternoons

Sitter Service

• Care for children in your own home
• Provides a familiar setting to children
• Will usually need a couple of weeks notice to be set up as the sitter service will need to do a health and safety assessment for your home

Crèches

• Often used if you are attending a short training course

Informal Care

• Care provided by family or friends

Finding Childcare

The Childcare Information Service provides an online service at www.scottishchildcare.gov.uk that holds information on childcare services. You can also search for childcare in your local area on their website. If you are having difficulty finding childcare please contact a Working For Families Support Worker for advice. 

Working for Families

As a parent looking for help from Working for Families, there are a few things you need to know so that we can give you the right advice, guidance and, if eligible, financial help. Are you:

• About to start work or recently started work?
• A parent* on benefits or a low income?
• Starting training/college and need help with childcare?
• In work and needing help with your childcare arrangements?

If so, we may be able to help you!  You may be eligible for help with childcare, bus passes, clothes for work, groceries, funding for PVG and funding for some training courses.

*We can also sometimes help people who aren’t parents.  Please contact us on 01382 434519 to check if you are eligible.

Got an appointment to come and see Working for Families?  Here's some useful info to help us help you!

If you are coming to see the Working for Families team please remember to bring the following ID with you otherwise we may not be able to help you:

• Photographic ID (either a current passport or driving licence).  If you don’t have a passport or driving licence, please bring in a copy of your birth certificate
• Something with your national insurance number on it (tax credits letter or letter from the Jobcentre)
• A bank statement, utility bill or letter from the council with your current address on it.
• A letter from your employer, college or training provider confirming your start date.

There may be times when we may not be able to help you but other teams at Discover Opportunities can:

• Help with money advice/multiple debts – Making Money Work (01382 458635) and Welfare Rights (01382 434467) who offer a drop in service at Discover Opportunities
• Help with health barriers that may be preventing you from moving into the world of work – Working Towards Health (01392 434558)
• Help with job searches/training and a Jobshop service – Dundee Employablity Action Team (DEAT) 01382 434460
•  We also have links with other Partner Organisations that can assist you back into work.  For further advice or an appointment, please contact:

 Working For Families

Discover Opportunities Centre

22-24 Crichton Street

Dundee

DD1 3AN

Telephone: 01382 434106/434519

Email: discover.opportunities@dundeecity.gov.uk