What should I do?

[krislee96]

Today one of the most terrible things I can imagine happened.
I work for a qualified childcare agency that recruits and hire staff for childcare workers to help creshé in need when staff members are low.
I have also all the qualifications needed and have been Garda vetted through my agency and have worked in a lot of crechés in the past.

I have worked for this new agency for almost 2 months now and everything was going well until this incident happened.
I stumbled upon this creché after they have requested help through our agency and have been working here for a good 3 weeks, it was enough time for me to know how their crèche worked and their schedule along with getting to know the staff and the lovely children.

As usual I arrived into work on time and started my day serving them breakfast and afterwards we would walk out of the garden, in the morning a staff member would help me out there would be days when I am inside cleaning and I was put in a room around children age 2-4 years.

This one particular afternoon we headed out to the garden as scheduled after their snack I supervised the children by myself and it started to pour rain so we I yelled and called out the children's name and in the playground there was this 'tunnel' below the slide and I made sure I checked it twice and I don't know how the stupid me made it happen but after 5-10 minutes when we were all inside a staff member suddenly came in with one of our children and told me he was in there outside by himself in the rain. I was so shocked I couldn't look at anyone in the eye as I was there to help and this had to happen on my watch.
I was called on to the managers office according to this incident I was so lucky to be only given a warning and no legal activities but my relationship and trust I grew with the staff members have been ruined and it made me feel horrible through out the day, I badly wanted to cry.

I started to think back professionally within this situation if I compare it to my other crechés that I have worked in they have never left me alone completely for no longer than 15-20 mins as I was not trained and I was always there with afterwards with a room leader even if it's only a short time to be outside there is always someone checking on me.

I am going back there for another two days but after this incident I am so nervous to work there again, I do not know how to apologise to the manager as I can there to help but caused trouble in the end. I geniunely enjoyed working here but the environment whenever I am left alone the children are sometimes in a ruckus and I heard a child called me a '****ing stupid head' another staff was there but she didn't take much offence from the word they used and lightly scolded them. Of course I understand that they are children so I to let that go.

I am not blaming the crèche nor am I asking for pity I understand that this is entirely my fault but now I am not sure how to start again and come back up from this mistake.

[Blackcat31]

Today one of the most terrible things I can imagine happened.
I work for a qualified childcare agency that recruits and hire staff for childcare workers to help creshé in need when staff members are low.
I have also all the qualifications needed and have been Garda vetted through my agency and have worked in a lot of crechés in the past.

I have worked for this new agency for almost 2 months now and everything was going well until this incident happened.
I stumbled upon this creché after they have requested help through our agency and have been working here for a good 3 weeks, it was enough time for me to know how their crèche worked and their schedule along with getting to know the staff and the lovely children.

As usual I arrived into work on time and started my day serving them breakfast and afterwards we would walk out of the garden, in the morning a staff member would help me out there would be days when I am inside cleaning and I was put in a room around children age 2-4 years.

This one particular afternoon we headed out to the garden as scheduled after their snack I supervised the children by myself and it started to pour rain so we I yelled and called out the children's name and in the playground there was this 'tunnel' below the slide and I made sure I checked it twice and I don't know how the stupid me made it happen but after 5-10 minutes when we were all inside a staff member suddenly came in with one of our children and told me he was in there outside by himself in the rain. I was so shocked I couldn't look at anyone in the eye as I was there to help and this had to happen on my watch.
I was called on to the managers office according to this incident I was so lucky to be only given a warning and no legal activities but my relationship and trust I grew with the staff members have been ruined and it made me feel horrible through out the day, I badly wanted to cry.

I started to think back professionally within this situation if I compare it to my other crechés that I have worked in they have never left me alone completely for no longer than 15-20 mins as I was not trained and I was always there with afterwards with a room leader even if it's only a short time to be outside there is always someone checking on me.

I am going back there for another two days but after this incident I am so nervous to work there again, I do not know how to apologise to the manager as I can there to help but caused trouble in the end. I geniunely enjoyed working here but the environment whenever I am left alone the children are sometimes in a ruckus and I heard a child called me a '****ing stupid head' another staff was there but she didn't take much offence from the word they used and lightly scolded them. Of course I understand that they are children so I to let that go.

I am not blaming the crèche nor am I asking for pity I understand that this is entirely my fault but now I am not sure how to start again and come back up from this mistake.

Where are you located?


NOT making light of your situation but I have never heard the word crèche before so I looked it up.....and it does mention "daycare" but the definition that made me laugh out loud was:

Crèche (zoology), animals taking care of young that are not their own.

:: ::

[krislee96]

Haha in Europe that's what we call day care here I thought that was a normal thing to call it until now 😂😂 it's cool I need a laugh as well

[Blackcat31]

Haha in Europe that's what we call day care here I thought that was a normal thing to call it until now 😂😂 it's cool I need a laugh as well

Aha, well you learn something new everyday!

In regards to your situation I would just put your best foot forward and do your job the best you can. Things happen. People make mistakes. Yes, it could have been super serious but it wasn't so we either let the mistake define/ruin us or we learn from it. I used to tell my kids when they were struggling that every experience (whether good or bad) is a learning experience and we can either let it hold us back or help us move forward.

Maybe you can come up with a better way of making sure all kids are accounted for... head counts, check lists, name tags, etc There are many ways to make sure you have covered the entire roster of who is there.

Also, your employer and co-workers should be supporting you in learning how to do things better the next time. Making someone feel horrible about a situation doesn't teach them anything.

If I were you, I'd take the lead here and go into work with your head held high...you made a mistake and are taking action to not let it happen again.
They should also be taking some responsibility in the fact that it is their job to teach their employees how to do things, what methods work/don't work and what standards and regulations need to be followed or adhered to.

Partial blame falls on them too.

Don't be too hard on yourself. We've all made mistakes that could have turned out really bad but like I said, don't let it define you. It doesn't make you a bad person at all. It just makes you one that now has experience in keeping track of kids and what to do and not to do.

:hug:

[Josiegirl]

If it had been that horrible I think they would've given you more than a warning. I know you feel terrible that it happened, I would probably be too hard on myself also. But it's a mistake and a situation you can learn from(we ALL make mistakes!!). I think the hardest thing to do is forgive ourselves and be as kind or gentle to ourselves as we would be to our best friend.
Try to take something away from this that's positive; it taught you where to be a little more careful and I bet you'll be 100% more careful from here on in. Please don't beat yourself up for it. It's all about perspective.
Just have a heart to heart talk with your supervisor and share your feelings. It's hard but you need to clear the air.

:hug::hug: