The Family Information Service offers a Childcare Choices Brokerage Service, which is designed to support  vulnerable parents and carers during the process of finding suitable childcare. The team will provide information about the range of childcare options (such as nurseries and childminders) to parents who might have difficulty accessing this information for a variety of reasons. The service is referral only. The Outreach team can help families by:

• Contacting families to discuss their requirements and researching suitable childcare options in their area
• Accompanying the parents/carers to visit a variety of childcare providers if the family wishes
• Alternatively, the team can provide the family with the information to enable them to make an informed choice about childcare with no further involvement in the process
• Acting as intermediaries, by providing childcare choice information to a professional already supporting the parents/carers and who has formed a trusting relationship with them

If you have any further questions regarding the Childcare Choices Brokerage Service, or you would like to refer a family to the service, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 073 1214 or email fis@bathnes.gov.uk.