Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Useless Nanny has arrived, what shall I do?

30 replies

moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 10:47

Right, I am supposed to have a Nanny for two days to help because of my bad back.

They have sent an unqualified 17 year old who appears clueless around babies.

There are only about 20 people who live in this town so I don't want to offend anyone.

How do I deal with this nicely?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
pol26 · 11/10/2006 15:09

ladymuck- was it an agency called antoinettes by any chance???

Glad to hear you told her to go home and didn't apoliogise to the agency! Why should you??? Well, any news about a new (and suitable) nanny?

nannynick · 10/10/2006 22:45

Sorry to hear you experience of having a temp nanny turned out so bad. It's honestly not always like that, at least not if I'm your temp nanny

I don't know what your agreement with the agency was, but the 'match' clearly was not right in this case. A danger of not meeting a nanny before they start working for you, is that you don't know what you are going to get, thus you trust the agency to select someone appropriate. With temp nannies it is often the case that you can't meet the nanny first, so you take the risk, some of the time it works out, other times it doesn't. Pity it didn't work out on this occasion, as being in a small community, if it had worked, you may have used the nanny (and agency) again in the future.

Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 21:24

At lunchtime she asked for a fag break and I kindly let her go.

She was very sweet, but totally useless. I rang the agency and they said she was clearly awful but didn't apologise. I said I wouldn't need them to find me another Nanny - because they are clearly rubbish.

What an awful day!!!!!

OP posts:
Ladymuck · 10/10/2006 16:26

It was a local agency rather than a national one. I have to say that I suspect that the agency was trying to make a point - I'd turned down the older lady once before as I had a very boisterous (and large) 2 year old, and wasn't sure that she would be up to it. She was of course wonderful, and we've used her many times since. In fact if she would be willing to take a permanent contract I would gladly go back to work. However she prefers the variety and flexibilty of short term work.

MP - if you're in SE london she might be worth a try though?

pol26 · 10/10/2006 14:51

lol, ladymuck! at the butcher!!! Although guess she'd feed your children the better cuts of meat ... out of curiosity which agency was that from or daren't you say???

And I would call agency and say she is totally unsuitable, you asked for a nanny and a nanny is supposed to be qualified or experienced or both and you are meant to be able to leave your children with her and feel safe! She sounds more like a mothers help to me. Have you asked her how much other work she has had from the agency?

LauraM20 · 10/10/2006 12:15

Why not post an add on here and see if there is a nanny/mothers help or babysitter free to help you tommorow rather than using the agency again?

LauraM20 · 10/10/2006 12:09

I would ring the agency and tell them your concerns! After all they are going to place her with someone else after you and should know that she isnt very confident in her job. Where abouts do you live?
A butcher-thats very unlucky! lol

Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:53

at butcher

This one said she has been studying for the last year at college because she wants to go into nursing but has realised she was studying the wrong course

gosh, I said, that's bad luck

OP posts:
Ladymuck · 10/10/2006 11:51

Definitely wouldn't pay £8 ph for a 17 yo! Phone the agency and let them know that this is not what you had expected. Explain that you must have someone with recent baby experience for tomorrow.

I think that you will need to give direction to her today, and be explicit. Obv difficult if she is clueless about babies.

Sorry. I did once have a similar experience - I was offered 2 nannies for a temp contract, one a very experienced 56 yo who really was Mary Poppins - ds1, then aged 2 didn't want her to leave the interview! The other was a very timid 19 year old, whose "qualification" was in general health, and her previosu employment was as a butcher!

bakedpotatooooowoooh · 10/10/2006 11:51

Oh yuck.
I agree with Soapbox.

Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:48

What's the difference between slipped and prolapsed? I thought it was the same?

I've been under GP/Physio care for a couple of months - they are now considering 'graduating' me to the Back Pain Clinic which is the next step apparently.

OP posts:
edam · 10/10/2006 11:46

MP, re your slipped disc, is it prolapsed? Have you been referred to an orthopaedic surgeon? A micro-diskectomy might help - would stop the problem recurring.

No idea re nanny, sorry.

Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:42

AND she is a smoker

I mean she isn't lighting up a Cuban and offering it to the children, but she stinks of smoke like all smokes do and sounds like she is going to cough up a lung any minute

OP posts:
Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:23

It was only for two days - not a long term thing - the children are at nursery Thursday and Friday and we are away for a week after that

OP posts:
Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:23

I don't want them to send anyone else because the agency is clearly crap/mad

OP posts:
Earlybird · 10/10/2006 11:22

So the agency sent you someone that you've never met before? Is she supposed to be permanent, or simply helping out until your back gets better?

I'd simply call the agency and say you'd like to try out a few different people before making a final decision on who best suits your family/needs.

Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:20

I'll give her an hour or so after the baby is awake again and see how she gets on

I can't exactly let her out of the house with them if she doesn't have any qualifications, can I ?!?!?!!?!

bloody agency

OP posts:
soapbox · 10/10/2006 11:20

Ring them up, tell them she wasn't what you ordered, or paid for, and tell them to send over someone who is. Tell them the girl can stay too for work experience if she wants to, but you are not paying her.

It is a business transaction and you did not get what you asked for or what they promised to deliver. Just sort it out, or it will annoy you more the longer she is there!

BloodyTenaLady · 10/10/2006 11:20

Ahh, I was going to say go to a Physio, probably cheaper option.

ssd · 10/10/2006 11:19

I think the agency that might help is homestart.

poor you, but the 17 yr old might improve?

bakedpotatooooowoooh · 10/10/2006 11:19

pick up the phone

Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:18

recurring slipped disc

having lots of physio etc. but it seems to be recurring so keeps fcking up again

OP posts:
Original poster
moaningpaper · 10/10/2006 11:18

I am livid but also feel sorry for the girl

She is NICE, but not what I'm paying for

OP posts:
HappyMumof2 · 10/10/2006 11:18

Message withdrawn

BloodyTenaLady · 10/10/2006 11:17

~What have you done to your back? btw