Bubble was created by parents, for parents. We know that when it comes to childcare, trust and safety always come first. Bubble was built with the belief that parents want to book carers who are already loved and trusted within their own community, and we've built our platform around making that as easy and as safe as possible.
On top of connecting you with sitters your network already knows, every sitter who joins Bubble goes through our own multi-step verification process. Only one in four applicants that sign up end up being approved on our platform.
Verified profiles
Before any sitter's profile goes live on Bubble, they must pass the following checks:
Background check - Every sitter is cleared through an online background check, cross-referencing their name against criminal watchlists and an adverse media scan across millions of published sources. This is separate from, and in addition to, a DBS certificate.
Identity check - Every sitter is verified through an ID check by submitting identity documents for our onboarding team to review.
Reference check - Sitters are required to provide references or recommendations.
Right to Work check - Sitters must confirm their right to be self-employed in the UK.
DBS - A DBS is not mandatory for all sitters, but many hold one and submit it to Bubble for verification. Where verified, the certificate type - Basic, Standard, or Enhanced - is clearly displayed on their profile. An Enhanced DBS with barred list check provides the highest level of assurance for anyone working with children and the majority of DBSs supplied are Enhanced.
Sitter interviews - Lots of sitters have been interviewed directly by a member of the Bubble team. Those who have carry the "Interviewed" badge on their profile.
A trusted network
Parent reviews - Read verified reviews left by parents who have used that sitter on Bubble. You can also message those parents directly through the app if you'd like to ask questions before booking.
Friends in common - We show you the sitters loved and trusted by your friends and wider community, including parents at your child's school or nursery, and your colleagues.
Pre-sit meet-ups or trials - Bubble encourages parents to meet their sitter before the first booking, and the app shows you which sitters are happy to do so.
Profile videos - Thousands of sitters have a video on their profile, so you and your children can get to know them before booking.
Bring your own sitter - Already have a sitter you and your kids know and trust? You can invite them onto Bubble and use the platform together for free!
Secure bookings
£1m sit insurance - Every sitter and every booking on Bubble is covered by £1m Public Liability Insurance as standard. There is no additional charge for this when payment is made for a booking through the app.
Secure payment - All payments are processed securely through the app.
In-app safety tools - Our Safety Bubble feature gives users access to multiple safety resources during a sit, including location tracking, emergency contact information, and safeguarding advice, all within the app!
Fast, live support - Our team is on hand to help if anything comes up. We are online from 9am-9pm every day.
Our approach to safety and safeguarding
The safety and wellbeing of every child and family on the platform is our priority. If a concern about a sitter's conduct were reported to us, we would review the account and take action. Depending on the nature of the concern, this may include feedback, a warning, temporary deactivation, or permanent removal from the platform.
Our in-house safeguarding team always follow established safeguarding procedures, which would include referrals to relevant authorities if appropriate. Read more on our approach to safeguarding here.
If you have a concern about a sitter or a booking, please contact us.
What Bubble is, and what it isn't
Bubble is a marketplace, not an agency. Sitters on the platform are self-employed individuals, not employees or contractors of Bubble. We don't match specific sitters to families - that decision rests with you as a parent.
What we do is give you the tools and information to make that decision with confidence. For tips on staying safe on Bubble, please check out a guide we’ve written here.
And if you’ve any questions at all, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at support@joinbubble.com.