Following the initial contact with the child care provider by
you or the CCRO, you may consider you need to obtain further
details, to check information, or test explanations, supplied by
the claimant(s). If so, you should consider whether it might be
appropriate to meet the provider, either at the same time as the
claimant(s), or separately. You cannot insist that the provider
should attend a meeting, but if you believe a meeting would offer
the most efficient way of obtaining and evaluating the information,
you should suggest one and give your reasons.
You should normally ask the claimant(s) in the first place
whether it would be acceptable to them and to the provider to meet
you to discuss the child care arrangements. If the claimant(s)
declines, or is unable to set up a meeting, you should consider
contacting the provider direct.
If you do not consider a meeting with the child care provider
appropriate, or have been unable to secure one, you should write
informally to the provider detailing the information you need. You
should tell the claimant(s) you will be seeking further
information, including the relevant text in your letter if you need
to write for another reason, or writing separately if
appropriate.
