As a new user,and new to the Algarve your forum was recommended, to which I would like to congratulate for your excellent work.
Upon reading a majority of posts, I must say I am left with certain concerns.

Are the people that advertise/offer services are they professionaly qualified? If so which Portuguese authority checks their credentials?
Are they registered in the local Finances? Do they supply receipts?

My major concern is to do with children or health as I have encountered various contradictions in some posts by your users.

My I say that in this day and age anyone can use the computer to make a certificate, if I was to use one of the services advertise in the forum is there an authority that I can use to check these qualifications are valid?

I thank you for your time and hopefully you can understand my concerns before I decide to use any of the services.

Francis J.

You will be safe with conventional medical care. Those who practice here are covered either by Portuguese or E.U. regulations.

For example I am covered by E.U. regulations to practice as a U.K. Optometrist provided I maintain my registration with the General Optical Council where you can check my qualification under my registration number of 01-7242. You might also be interested to learn that to maintain this I have to pass at least 12 correspondence course exams every year with a minmum pass mark of 75%.

Also because unlike Portuguese optometrists I am qualified to use drugs, such as antibiotics,anaesthetics etc. and diagnose eye conditions, the Portuguese had to find me a name - so here I am a Tecnico Paramedico dos Olhos !!

P.S. Yes I am registered with the Finanças and give receipts.

Hiya, you will also find that people like WR2 who advertises her babysitting etc is highly qualified and used to be in the police force and is well respected in her fields of expertise. References can be provided and families that have used her services will also provide testimonials.
As you said it is difficult to ascertain provenance, however if you feel comfortable in a situation be it medical or otherwise then you are normally ok, but always get references and talk to people

I would aslso like to know about qualifications etc regarding childcare workers.
I am NNEB qualified in UK, certified by CACHE. I have had various police checks done throughout my working life and in the past8 years been checked by CRB. I have also gone through many Ofsted inspections in all establishments I have worked. I am now involved in training Childcare workers in all aspects of childcare including Safeguarding, Every Child Matters and the new EYFS.
Would any of this matter if I decided to move to Portugal and open my own creche/nursery. Can anyone tell me if my qualifications are acceptible, does Portugal have their own qualifications/ regulations and if so what are they?