Scenario: Discussing Activites While Babysitting

[stephmills]

Hi! Hoping someone can help me answer this question:

Scenario:
A parent approaches and asks an educator if they can babysit on Saturday night for their children who the educator knows well from the service. The educator accepts. The next week, you overhear the educator talking with the parent about their discussion on Saturday night that included activities they had been doing in the centre recently.

Is this a legal or Ethical situation?
What is the issue or breach occurring?
What action would you take and who would you report to if required?

I am not sure that this is either an Ethical or legal situation providing the educator is not discussing other children with the parent. Am i correct for thinking this?
I would love some other opinions.

Thanks,
Steph

[Lorina]

First off, I think it may be an ethical issue... Just because most centres don't allow educators to babysit the families who attend their centres as it is conflict of interest and ethically it may not do to well for the centre in the future if some issue was to arise between the child's family and that educator babysitting. Also, even though the educator is not discussing "children" with the parent from what has been overheard she is discussing what is happening at the centre so you never know what has been told to this specific parent. I would just remind this educator to keep her relationship professional with the parent... I don't think it needs to be reported...

Hope this helps!

,
Lorina