Register as a childminder (Northern Ireland)

Contact your local Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) to apply for registration as a childminder, or to provide day care services.

You must register to look after children:

under 12 for more than 2 hours a day
you’re not related to
in a private home
if you’re running any type of day care service that’s not charging money, such as a playscheme or out-of-school club

All the adults living or working at the home where you’re based must also register.

You don’t have to register to do babysitting.

Before you start

Once you’ve submitted your application the HSCT will:

ask you to attend an information session
check your references
carry out checks on you with your doctor, your council and the Criminal Disclosure Service
do checks on anyone else who will be living or working at the home
inspect the home

If you’re approved, you will receive a certificate that shows you’re a registered childminder. This usually takes between 2 and 3 months.

You must keep your certificate of registration - or a copy of it - where it can be easily seen.

If you don’t register as a childminder, you can be fined £5,000, sent to prison, or both.