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Childcare

Advice need: live in nanny

6 replies

bodgerthebadger · 03/11/2014 07:28

Hello, first time posting here as I'm looking for some advice as we're thinking about switching to a live in nanny.

Currently, our almost 3yo is a private nursery part time. I also have a 9mo and back at work in a few months, so considering switching to a live in nanny due to the extortionate cost of nursery for 2 as well as the stress of having to do drop off/pick up on my own. My OH's hours don't offer any flexibility for him to help with this. My job is high pressured with long hours, so I don't want to start each working day already stressed from having to get two ready for nursery and then be at my desk logged-in by 8:30am. So we're thinking of a live in nanny as a live-out nanny would be too much of a financial strain. We need to keep my oldest in nursery at least 1 day a week to keep our place in case she doesn't get into a state school nursery next Sep (heavily oversubscribed where we are) so we have that cost as well. My OH freelances in the arts industry (so not well paid anyway), work is unpredictable and he never knows when he's going to hit a quiet patch (with no pay). OH would if he had to but doesn't really want to be a SAHD.

So a live-in nanny seems the best compromise. We live in a nice part of London (not central but easy access to central London) with lots of English language schools nearby. She'd have her own double room with wi-fi and share a large, family bathroom with the kids. We'd be on the floor above so she'd have a sense of increased privacy. The proposed hours would be Mon-Thur 7:30am - 6pm (42 hrs a week) although in reality I'd be back by 5:30pm everyday (I then work again once the kids are in bed). I just don't want to say 5:30pm and then be late because of delays on the tube/train. I will also WFH once a week and OH would also be at home to help on days he doesn't have work.

I have some questions that I'm hoping parents/nannies would be able to help me out with:

  • What would be a reasonable rate of pay say for someone with less experience?
  • Would it be normal to offer a subsidy towards travel even if everything here that she would need to do with the kids is within walking distance?
  • In practice, do you think it would be hard to find "career" nannies wanting a live-in position?
  • What's the difference b/w a live-in nanny and AP? We need someone Spanish speaking so I think the days we are offering would attract someone wanting to attend English school in the evenings and on their day off?
  • Would you use an AP for a 12 month old or are they usually for older children? (Sorry, very new to the whole nanny/AP thing....)
  • Finally, how far in advance do i need to start looking?


Thank you for making it this far!

Any advice/tips/insights gratefully received :-)
OP posts:
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hollie84 · 03/11/2014 07:39

Live-in nannies will tend to be younger nannies at the beginning of their career, so you are likely to find ex-au pairs/mother's helps, former nursery workers or newly qualified nannies wanting live-in. Wages tend to be lower, maybe £7-£8 gross an hour? Start by considering what you can actually afford.

An au pair is a young person coming from abroad to live as part of your family and does about 25 hours babysitting and chores a week in return for pocket money. They generally aren't professional childcarers and are usually employed to do wraparound for school age children.

Travel subsidy isn't standard but could be a nice extra if you want.

The employment situation in Spain is pretty dire at the moment so you may find it fairly easy to recruit a Spanish nanny.

Give yourself enough time to advertise and interview, and consider that currently employed nannies might have to give a couple of months notice.

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FishWithABicycle · 03/11/2014 07:41

You definitely need a nanny not an au pair with hours like that. Au pairs are supposed to have very limited hours, plenty of spare time for going to language classes etc e.g just covering before-and-after-school, not full time.

I don't know the going rates for a live in nanny, hopefully someone else will be along for that

I do know that minimum wage legislation still applies to live-in positions (I think you're allowed to deduct 50p an hour for lodgings - at least this was the case 10+ years ago when this affected me) so that would mean you couldn't legally pay less than about £275 pw gross = about £14,300pa - but I suspect the going rate would be more than that anyway.

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nannynoss · 03/11/2014 15:30

Hi, I'm a live-in nanny and I know a few others who have years of experience, so you could find a 'career nanny' but equally you could hire somebody less experienced if you wanted to pay less.
I'm a live-in nanny in London and work 45 hours per week for £320 net per week. £300-£400 per week seems usual for a full time live-in nanny.

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NannyNim · 03/11/2014 17:19

I'm a nanny and definitely think you could find a career nanny who'd be willing to live in, especially if you're so near London.

An AP wouldn't be advisable in this situation because of the hours and the age of your youngest. An AP is normally a young, untrained girl looking for a cultural exchange and does basic housekeeping duties and babysitting for a small allowance. The house you are describing definitely sound more suited to a nanny who is employed solely to care for the child/ren, including their cooking, laundry and cleaning and tidying their playroom and bedrooms.

As for a travel allowance question: I'm given a "nanny purse" every week that I can spend on activities with my LO but we've also gone on day trips that cost more but had to ask for more in advance. You could provide her with enough to cover the local activities and agree that if she wants to take your DCs further afield she must ask you in advance if you're happy to cover it. I don't think you need a separate travel allowance.

You say you're going back to work in a few months so you could probably start approaching agencies etc now. You never know how long it might take to find the right person for your family and some nannies may be willing to wait a month or two before starting.

All the best with your search! Smile

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Callaird · 03/11/2014 20:24

I'm a live-in career nanny, been doing it 28 years later this month!

I get £11.15 gross per hour for a 52 hour week but that refects my age and experience. Looking at adverts on Nannyjob.co.uk the going rate is £350 - £400 a week net, £431 - £505 gross. Plus roughly £40 employers NI.

Although I've just seen you want a 4 day week so you may get someone for £300.

I wouldn't work for a family where the parents were around during the day unless they had an office in the house and promised to stay out of the way until set times and that we were on the same wavelength reguarding childcare.

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dontblameme · 06/11/2014 23:28

I second Callaird, nannying while parents work from home is hard for everyone.

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