Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Original poster

Not sure what to think about this....

156 replies

HeadFairy · 23/08/2013 10:48

I started work early this morning so left before our nanny came. Dh left once she'd arrived. He got half way down the road when he remembered he'd left a vital document at home so went back to get it. As he arrived he saw our nanny taking her dd (whom she brings to work with her) and wearing her coat and carrying her bag back to her car. Dh said she looked "sheepish" and said she was looking for her phone as she couldnt' find it. She apparently went back in to the house, left her dd and her bag and then went back out to her car to look for her phone. Dh says the front door was double locked and he's convinced she was going to drive back to her house (5 mins away by car) to look for her phone leaving our kids alone at home (they're 5.11 and 3.7).

I can't stop thinking about it. How on earth do I get to the bottom of what she was doing? If she was just popping out to her car to search her car why did she have her coat on, was carrying her dd and had her bag with her, and why was the front door double locked? If I ask her outright if she was going to leave my children alone in the house she will deny it.

Of course, nothing actually happened, does it matter that it appears the intent was there?

I don't want to drip feed so I will mention she's had form for this sort of thing in the past and I gave her a warning it must never happen again. Last time it wasn't malicious in the slightest, just poor judgment.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

LadyHarrietdeSpook · 01/09/2013 16:48

Despite what happened previously I I think the OP would be raked right over the coals if she tried to fire the nanny on the basis of the latest story. I don't think the proof is strong enough. A very difficult situation to be in but I could well imagine at a tribunal it being concluded she and her DH had imagined it all if they went down that route. If sounds to me like they've employed her for more than two years; could be wrong though. I would have gotten rid after the shop incident but hindsight is a beautiful thing.

OP are you planning a few drop in unexpectedlies over the next few weeks?

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/09/2013 16:05

Maybe hf nanny should get nanny insurance - lets hope she doesn't do anything stupid again

and no money can ever compensate if anything ever happened to a child :( - but money also gives choices / ie can buy the best care if something terrible did happen

As I said I know several nannies who don't have insurance and they are insane

Wickedgirl · 01/09/2013 14:27

Like callaird, I have had nanny insurance for 20 years. Most nannies do now have even if they're not ofsted registered. IMO, all professional nannies will have it

Callaird · 31/08/2013 18:45

I have had nanny insurance for 24 years. I'd not heard of it until I moved to London to work and have had it ever since.

If you are a nanny you would be mad not to have it. It covers you up to £3 million pounds, as a nanny, I wouldn't earn that if I worked until I was 90!!

NomDeClavier · 31/08/2013 17:51

I know it's the DM but this was 2003 Girl gets damages after car crash - although I don't know whether that would be a car insurance issue? But it was probably big news in the industry that a parent went so far.

NomDeClavier · 31/08/2013 17:48

10 years ago it was mentioned by agencies as a good idea. There might have been a court ruling against a nanny awarding damages or something that sparked it?

It's certainly gained momentum since OFSTED made it compulsory for registration. It'd be interesting to see figures from Morton Michel on the uptake over the last couple of decades.

valiumredhead · 31/08/2013 15:46

Last time I was a full time nanny was 12 years ago-no one had insurance, when did it change? It's a good idea but wasn't the norm.

urmydarlings · 31/08/2013 15:46

id have got rid the first time when she left 4 year old alone!!

ReetPetit · 31/08/2013 15:33

i think you are mad and desperate -sorry to be blunt....

NomDeClavier · 31/08/2013 15:14

She does have extra insurance to cover our children in her car, she also has up to date first aid (she only updated the course recently). She doesn't have professional insurance, but she's not formally trained (been working in childcare for 12 years).

She said she doesn't.

Employers Liability is compulsory, professional liability for nannies isn't but bloody well should be.

fackinell · 31/08/2013 14:36

HeadFairy, I used to be a nanny and although personally alarm bells are ringing for me, I am glad you're satisfied with her explanation. If you change your mind at all, PM me and I can ask around for someone to help you out (the nanny jungle drums are an amazing thing.) Are you in London?

Just one last thing, she wouldn't have seen your post would she? Just a bit that she pretty much gave you a word for word account of what you thought may have happened. I personally wouldn't have left the kids in the house even to go to the car. Accidents take seconds. Horrified at the bath/broken glass incident. I sat outside my 8yo charge's bathroom to give her privacy but be near if she needed me.

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/08/2013 13:15

sadly nanny insurance isnt mandatory unless ofsted registered

i know several nannies who dont have it and i think they are insane, and also the employers are mad to employ someone who doesnt have it

have always said for a price of a large G&T/glass of wine a month the nanny is covered

we dont know for sure that HF nanny doesnt have nanny insurance, unless you cant get it legally if not english? not sure of morton michel rules (who i am with)

soooziesheep · 31/08/2013 13:11

She doesn't have insurance! ? Nanny insurance is mandatory surly?

Baffled.

OP don't get so defensive, I'm hardly telling you to ltb etc. Im just shocked that your continuing to employ someone who displays such disregard for your children's safety. I'd have suspended her after the shop incident.

NomDeClavier · 30/08/2013 22:33

What I can't get over is that this woman has no insurance and a track record of being a bit flaky and you're okay with that?!

I know you'll say you'd never sue her but if your DC ended up injured because she was negligent and left them one, and you were faced with medical costs for the rest of your life wouldn't you consider it?

It all sounds very reasoned and logical, a bit too close to what was previously suggested here in fact. But then I'm a suspicious bag.

SPBisResisting · 30/08/2013 21:23

I agree it's fine in general but disagree its ok for the nanny to do it when the parent has specified otherwise

valiumredhead · 30/08/2013 21:20

It's fine for a 7 and 5 year old to be in the bath alone. You sound unhinged!

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 30/08/2013 21:06

She probably meant for the glass cuts - which could have happened anyhow.

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 30/08/2013 21:05

todaysdate - it is perfectly fine to leave a 5yo and a 7yo in the bath - how long exactly do you plan on supervising them for

SS would be as interested in that as you giving them brocolli for their tea.

todaysdate · 30/08/2013 20:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

christinarossetti · 30/08/2013 20:31

No I don't think you should ltb, nor do I think you're a fool etc.

It just doesn't make sense to me, and I'd be suspicious; but it's great that you're not and feel that you have resolved this issue and can trust her.

rueyrichardson · 30/08/2013 20:25

and from me to. Glad it's all resolved.

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 30/08/2013 20:18

HeadFairy - you know what it's like around here! Take it with a pinch of salt.

SPBisResisting · 30/08/2013 20:07

for HF - tough thread

Original poster

HeadFairy · 30/08/2013 20:04

Ok I'm a fool, and an idiot, report me to social services. I'm obviously a hideous parent.

Thanks.

dh was rushing back to work because he was late and had to grab a document, he rushed past her and made an assumption that played on his mind all day. When he questioned about her at a time when he was not dashing about he was convinced she was telling the truth. Obviously dh is an idiot and I will LTB instantly.

OP posts:

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 30/08/2013 19:27

Thanks for the update HeadFairy. I'm glad DH spoke to her and is reassured he misread her body language and has been reassured that she wasn't going anywhere other than her car to get her phone. All quite logical.

SPB -

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Swipe left for the next trending thread