It can be very stressful being an Owner/Manager of a Early Years’ setting. Rarely is it more stressful than when you learn from Ofsted that a staff member has made a malicious complaint about you to them.
This is incredibly common.
When someone wants someone to blame for their situation they often lash out and want to hurt someone. What better way to hurt their employer in Early Years’ than to make an allegation about their conduct to the regulator Ofsted.
Ofsted see this day in, day out. Whilst it’s the first time it’s has happened to you, I am afraid it is not at all uncommon.
Here’s my tips for staying in control if this happens to you.
- Remain calm. If you weren’t working out of ratio on the 13th of last month, then you weren’t. You will have staff rotas, time-sheets to prove it.
- Remember this isn’t personal. It feels like it is. But this is a business, its not about you. Its someone reacting against an employer, an entity, not you.
- Ofsted have to log all complaints including the malicious ones and to take all accusations seriously. If you have record of what happened then they may want to review that. Be diligent with your paperwork.
- Politely point out to the caller from Ofsted that you believe this to be malicious complaint. No need for name calling. As Michelle Obama said “When they go low, we go high!”
- Keep records in the form of a timeline. This allows you to get it all down on paper, which again can be good to stop it swirling round your head. Try to be as objective as possible.
- Remember this is about someone not being able to accept something. Malicious grievances and complaints are about redirecting the blame. Some people can’t help themselves but do this. It doesn’t mean they are a bad person. They may regret this action too.
- Build your team. Make others aware on a need to know basis. Build the team’s confidence if knocked that they did the right thing, these things happen and it won’t be a problem.
- One lady we know who had an unannounced inspection on the back of a malicious complaint went up to an Outstanding. We call that Karma Baby!
If we can be of any assistance with any aspect of being an Early Years’ employer, please don’t hesitate to call on 01527 909436 or email info@cbctest.co.uk