The Bretsa blog keeps you up-to-date with what's been going on at Bretsa along with useful industry news.
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Phones all sorted!
19 July 2010
We got there in the end - thanks for everyone who persevered by email and the mobiles!If you ever need to contact us in an emergency the office phone numbers are:0845 009 1929020 8858 595807894 205 165At least 1 of those should always be working!
Office Phone Problems
19 July 2010
Hi AllWe're having problems with our phone lines this morning. V Networks and BT are working on it now. If you need to contact the office urgently please call 07894 205 165.Thank you and sorry for any inconvenience!Fingers crossed!Nick & team
Independent Safeguarding Authority Facing Axe!
16 June 2010
The government yesterday announced that it was halting the proposed start of registrations to the new Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) that were due to begin in July.The ISA would eventually have registered a database of over 9 million people which would have formed the basis of a live register for alerting employers or organisations to suspicions or criminal activity of those people held.The scheme was going to charge people to register, charge employers to check and still require CRBs to be carried out - another cost directly to care workers in the adult, child and education sectors - not high paying fields in the first place.The new government is now reviewing the laws and duplications of services - fingers crossed we get some common sense!Read the news article here:Make your views known here:
Big Fall in Nursery Places
10 May 2010
Nursery World report this week that according to Ofsted, From Dec 2009 to March 2010 more than 11,000 childcare places have been lost. That’s 248 fewer nurseries! While 481 opened, 720 Early Years settings closed.The good news however is that it's still thought the industry is continuing to come out of the worst of the recessionary impact, and that occupancy levels should gradually rise over the next 5 years.Read the full article here:http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1000776/Big-fall-number-childminders-nursery-places/
Contact Bretsa!
10 May 2010
Calling private day nurseries, schools and all our staff. You can contact us as normal again via the system text message service.Of course you can alwayscall - 020 8858 5958 (0845 009 1929)fax - 020 8858 1789 (0845 009 9429)email - info@bretsa.co.ukweb - www.bretsa.co.ukblog: www.bretsablog.blogspot.comRefer a colleague or nursery today and earn your referral scheme - call the office for more info!
EYPS Clarification
10 May 2010
As part of our new Specialists campaign, we've heard this week of an open letter from the Children's Services Union ASPECT urging political leaders of the main political parties to clarify the status of Early Years Practitioners... see the full article here:http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1000817/Aspect-wants-answers-MPs-EYPS/
Text Message Problems
7 May 2010
For all our nursery nurses assistants and teachers out there please bear with us while our SMS (text message) service gets fixed - the little box went wrong last night and we're fixing it!In the meantime please let us know your availability or shift rotas for next week by telephone on 0845 009 1929 (or 020 8858 5958 if you don't like 0845 numbers).
Vote Today!
6 May 2010
The endless electioneering has come to an end at last - it's Election Day!Whichever party you support, or even if you don't think much of any of them, make sure you go down and vote! Even a protest vote is better than none.The polling stations are open until 10pm this evening and it doesn't matter if you don't have your polling card.Of course it's business as usual here and we're super busy registering Nursery Nurses, and endlessly chasing references.Give us a call on 0845 009 1929 if you need anything - we'd love to hear from you.
Bank Holiday Timesheets
30 April 2010
Calling all Bretsa Nursery Teachers, Nurses, Assistants!It's the bank holiday this weekend - time to relax and unwind.That does mean that we don't have as much time to process your timesheets on Tuesday. Please make sure they are with us by Tuesday at 1pm for payment by Friday.The easiest way to send us your timesheets is:1) scan and email them to timesheets@bretsa.co.uk, or2) fax your timesheets to 020 8858 1789 / 0845 009 9429(you can of course post them but that will normally involve a delay in payment)Thanks and enjoy your long weekends!Nick, Sharon, Darren, Jodie, Caroline and Glen
Nursery Nurses Needed in North West London
30 April 2010
Glen's having a busy old time looking after nurseries across NW1, Wembley, Notting Hill and even up to Watford.If you or any of your friends are NVQ2 or NVQ3 Early Years give us a call ASAP!Interviewing Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday in Greenwich, and every Wednesday with our friends at Marylebone JCP (Job Centre Plus).glen@bretsa.co.uk020 8858 5958
Goodbye Woolwich!
26 April 2010
We're in the midst of packing up the Woolwich office. Just 2 more sleeps till we're in our Greenwich office and we'll be able to restart interviews for Nursery Nurses and Nursery Assistants all over again!
The New Office!
24 April 2010
Well we won't be in until Wednesday 28th April, but here's a picture taken today (Saturday). We've got the top floor.
Bretsa comes home to Greenwich!
23 April 2010
As you may be aware we’ve been in serviced offices for the last 3 months in Woolwich. The reason being that we’ve been waiting on completion of a 5 year lease of a new office suite in Greenwich.We’re very excited about the new offices – we’ll finally get a long-term home with fabulous spacious facilities including interview rooms, reception and kitchen – and of course you’re all very welcome to drop in and try our new posh coffee machine!The office address is:BRETSA2nd Floor279-283 Greenwich High RoadGreenwichSE10 8NLThe entrance is on the left of the Nationwide Building Society (we’re above them), opposite Greenwich Picturehouse cinema. If you’re passing then pop in!The schedule of the move is as follows:Monday – all normal but please get any bookings in early!Tuesday afternoon – skeleton staff handling calls and bookingsWednesday morning – skeleton staff handling calls and bookingThursday – all back to normal!During the move we will be migrating phone systems from Woolwich to Greenwich. We’ve planned this meticulously and have an IT team on site at the new building, but BT can always surprise us so please make sure you use the 0845 009 1929 number. In case of emergency please use the office mobile 07894 205 165.If you have any questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0845 009 1929. Thank you and enjoy this lovely sunshine over the weekend!
CRB checks go paperless
23 March 2010
We've used www.disclosures.co.uk for all our CRB processing for a number of years now and they've just started rolling out paperless applications - so of course we jumped at the chance.As most people know the CRB application until now has been slow and cumbersome. We had to apply online for the application form which was then posted directly to us. We would then post to the applicant for checking and signature, then they would post back to us for more checking. Then we would finally send it to the CRB offices. So typically it would take around 2 weeks for the application form to even get to the CRB.The new system will cut that out. We'll of course do all the normal checks but instead of all that posting and signing we'll simply upload all the applicant copies - wonderful!We're already using e-Disclosures - where we download a copy of the certificate rather than wait for it to be posted. So this is the next logical step.We go live this week and we're looking forward to seeing average application times reduce from around 8 weeks to 6 weeks.If you're a Bretsa team member looking to renew your CRB then don't worry - you'll be contacted by the office when it's due. Otherwise, for any questions or queries please don't hesitate to drop us a line on 0845 009 1929
Darren Takes Over Finance!
2 March 2010
We'd like to formally welcome our new Accounts Assistant Darren Humphries who joined us in January.Darren is looking after all our payroll, invoicing and accounts matters and has recently pased his AAT qualifications so is now a qualified accountant - congratulations Darren!Darren can be contacted in our office on 0845 009 1929 or emailed at finance@bretsa.co.uk
Bretsa Jobs Board is Live!
2 March 2010
We're delighted to confirm that our new website has taken another step further with the addition of our jobs board.Every day our consultants speak to schools, private day nurseries, chain nurseries, charitable nurseries, children's centres , creches, after school clubs - you name the types of childcare setting, they're giving us vacancies! As we get those vacancies we'll be adding them to the site and candidates will be able to search by postcode and types of role to make sure it's the best role for them.Check it out today - don't forget you can upload your CV and apply to any of the roles immediately! Click here:http://www.bretsa.co.uk/job-search.html
"Fit" Notes not Sick Notes
2 March 2010
Sick notes have driven many employers to distraction over the years but it's all about to change.From 6th April 2010 GPs will need to issue a STATEMENT OF FITNESS FOR WORK in the place of the old sick note.They can of course still recommend the patient doesn't work, but may indicate the employee can work if certain advice is heeded. That may include a phased return to work, reduced or altered hours, changed duties or workplace adaptations to ease them back to work over time.The advice won't be binding on employers as not all employers will be able to provide the support suggested. The new notes will also be shorter in duration - a maximum of 3 months rather than the current 6.The changes should reduce the numbers of people on long term sick and hopefully save the economy £240 million over the next 10 years. Fingers crossed!FOr more information click here:http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2584.aspx
Bretsa is on the move!
26 February 2010
We’ve been in Greenwich for the last 4 years and we’ve loved it. But change is as good a rest they say. So we’re moving to new offices at Woolwich Arsenal on Wednesday 27th January. Our new address will be:Gunnery House9 Gunnery TerraceWoolwich ArsenalSE18 6SWWe’ll be getting a new telephone number but until then you can keep using 0845 009 1929.Why not come and visit and bring your qualified nursery friends to refer them!? Don’t forget we pay referral vouchers each time someone you refer works 100 hours!
