Nanny off with depression

I would say you need to speak to her, not.her parents. If she was working for a company they wouldn't accept a family member phoning in sick for them.

I don't know legal on this. Sounds to me as though even if she does come back to work you won't be able to trust her - is that how you are feeling?

ACAS may be able to advise you as an employer with regard to what employment rights your nanny has in this situation. Call the ACAS helpline them in the morning.

What are you doing for childcare at the moment? What will you do longer term - another nanny, or something else?

Pay wise, SSP kicks in on the 4th day (I think). Look at Statutory funding on the HMRC website with regard to help you get as employer. I'm mobile so can't look it up and give a link.

I suspect giving notice may be your best option if you don't feel you can trust them to care for your DD.

Sorry for typos I am on ipad

I had a very similar situation. Our nanny had worked for us for 3 years though. I was very worried about her AND about my children. She had no family in the UK and i felt I simply couldn't abandon her. Especially as I had suffered pst natal depression myself and had some idea of how she was feeling. She was only part time though and I was studying from home not working so could keep an eye on her, phone her regularly if she was out of the house with the kids. It was incredibly stressful though an I felt very torn. I also was constantly fearful if she was lat for work that she had attempted suicide again. She has now recovered, no longer works for us as my kids are a bit older but still babysits regularly and is now "fine" though I suspect always will be fragile.

To be honest although I am glad now to have stood by her and seen her come through I am not sure I could face it again - not without a long term relationship with the person.

Good luck - it's a hard one.

I think you need to talk to her.

What grounds do you have for thinking your dd is at risk?

People with depression don't usually hurt anyone and just because she has attempted suicide does nt mean your child is not safe with her.

Presumably she didn't do it while caring for your child.

Talk to her.

If she's so ill that she can't work safely then she'll need to stay on sick leave anyway. I'd wait until she is feeling better and get a note from her doctor about her fitness to work unsupervised with a young child before sacking her.

I think if you are concerned or worried about you child whilst she is in the care of your current nanny, for what ever reason, then you need to be looking for a new nanny. It sounds harsh given the circumstances but your top priority must be your child surely.

Ahh, sorry missed she'd been working less than a year, i would look at terminating her contract then, or paying ssp and hiring a temp. however attempted sucied suggests she has serious problems to deal with and needs months if not a year sorting herself out. You need to be having some sort of conversation with her.

And in all honesty i wouldn't want her looking after my dd untill i was sure she was sorted and better

I would look for a new nanny. My nanny had some time off after her husband beat her up. I felt terrible for her but was worried about her mental state and whether she was in the right state of mind to look after my DS when she was black and blue. luckily she got rid and is much better now, but you do have to put your child's well being first in these instances.

I know sacking her will be a big blow and you will worry about worsening her mental state but.... in the same situation I would absolutely put my DCs first. She may not be a danger to them directly but she is a danger to herself and that would be enough for me. It's sounds tough but I just wouldn't want somebody so clearly unhappy and troubled (and I do sympathise hugely) spending all day with my DCs. Not fair on them and probably not what she needs either - being at home with little ones can be lonely for anyone.

Poor girl though, I do hope she is getting help.

Is she OFSTED OP

You have to put the needs of your dd and yourself first.

It's fine to ask her if and when she is planning on returning to work.

I really feel for her but wouldn't be happy for her to look after my children after a suicide attempt.

Well said Fiona

OP she should speak to her doc re this. He will probably sign her off anyway