Your assistant should not begin working at your setting until they have been fully registered.
Note: The average time to register a non-household member as an assistant is between 3–5 months. This is due to Local Authority background checks and the time required to receive them. We actively follow up with Local Authorities on these checks and do everything we can to minimise the processing time.
The registration process:
The childminder must | The assistant will | tiney will |
1. Send over assistant’s details to tiney & complete the form in the app | 4. Apply for DBS checks | 7. Run additional background checks through your Local Authority |
2. Read the guide to having a tiney assistant | 5. Complete first aid training |
|
3. Collect references for assistant | 6. Complete safeguarding training |
|
1. Sending assistant details to tiney
To register an assistant, go to the tiney messenger in the app and select ‘I need help registering an assistant’ then ‘I have found an assistant’. You’ll be prompted to provide all required details.
This information is essential, without it your assistant's application will not be received or processed.
We’ll then add them as a new household member in your app. Although they aren’t a household member, this form collects the address history and consent needed for background checks. Please select ‘Assistant’ as their relationship to you, regardless of your actual relationship.
2. Read the guide to having a tiney assistant
You MUST read our guide on having a tiney assistant. The information within this guide covers your responsibilities as an employer, the requirements to employ an assistant and helpful documents such as job descriptions and employee contracts. The guide can be found here
3. Collect references for assistants
As part of the changes to the EYFS you now must collect references for them
The following criteria must be met:
References must come from a senior individual (not a family member) at the candidate’s most recent employer, training provider, or education setting.
Electronic references must originate from a legitimate source.
For more details, please review the Safer Recruitment section of this document: https://assets.ctfassets.net/889j3qro40br/rlEGaQFhZbOK9v6c4q2yu/e68e563e568f41169e4e73600a71fc5b/tiney_s_guide_to_supporting_Childminders_with_planned_changes_to_the_EYFS.pdf
4. Applying for DBS
Along with providing the details for background checks, you will also need to apply for a DBS check for your assistant.
Your assistant will need to complete the DBS portal.
Follow this link to access the DBS portal
They will need to complete information about their personal history
Complete information about address history
Upload at least 3 different documents which prove their identity and current address.
DBS FAQs
How much does it cost?
£55.50
What if my assistant already has a recent DBS Certificate?
It must be an Enhanced Child Workforce DBS that either was issued within the last three months or is currently registered with the DBS Update Service*.
What details/documents will my assistant need before they start?
Address details for the past 5 years
Details on any names previously used including dates
Documents which prove their identify
Multiple documents proving identity
5. First aid training
Your assistant must complete the same 12-hour Paediatric First Aid course you did in training. If your assistant has completed this course within the last 12 months, please send us a copy of their certificate — they may not need to do the training again.
Tigerlily is our chosen provider for First Aid courses. Below is a list of their courses: https://tigerlilytraining.co.uk/first-aid-courses/full-paediatric-first-aid-blended/
Once you've found the best option, you or your assistant can purchase a discounted voucher code from the tiney shop for First Aid Training with Tigerlily.
6. Safeguarding training
Your assistant will need to complete some safeguarding training in the form of the following workbook: safeguarding workbook
Please either print and work through, then scan and email back to us
ORClick ‘make a copy’ on the document, mark your answers on it then email back to us at assistants@tiney.co.
7. Background Checks
tiney conducts background checks on all prospective tiney assistants, a Local Authority check and a Known to Ofsted check. If your prospective tiney assistant lives with you, we’ll already have this information. These checks can take between a few weeks up to a few months to return. We will chase them every four weeks.
8. Registration complete
As soon as we have all the required details and documentation we will register your assistant. This will involve checking through all registration documents and you will be sent an email with a letter attached as the confirmation of your assistants registration. Once this email has been received your assistant can begin working in your setting. We will also send you details on how to get your assistant registered on the tiney app. Additional details about this can be found in the guide
*If the DBS is on the Update Service, a copy of the physical DBS must also be sent through to us, with consent from your assistant so that we can check this against the DBS Update Service, or we would not be able to accept this. Please note that if the existing DBS certificate was applied for through tiney and dated within the last year, this should be fine to accept. If your assistant has a DBS in place, then please do send us through a copy.
Want to find out more? You can watch this webinar recording of a session led by Sam Beech, a tiney home leader, on working with an assistant and how she does it!
(Passcode: 3!*cU3&7)