Nannies: market rates (bit controversial)

PS. I'd never really thought about the English nanny image. Do you think that should be my USP when we move?

OMG. I really do hope some of you were playing devil's advocate!

I am English and I believe what tosh when comparing UK to overseas nannies. If they have experience and are qualified they are the same and should be paid accordingly. I think there have been some terribly sweeping statements from soem potential BNP supporters that I made me think I am glad that I am leaving the country.

I have worked professionally in childcare for many years and prior to doing that worked putting on and administering conferences and I KNOW I got paid a lot more for less work previously. However I chose to do work with children regardless of the lack of money because of the sense of satisfaction it gives me. I could easily go back to working in an office and the 9-5 but I don't think its for me.

However working with children while having children and a family of your own is very difficult and I know few people who do it completely successfully and earn a decent wage. Finding a family that will take you on, or even interview you, if you have a family is virtually impossible especially since I have 2 children. So much so I gave up and began work in a nurseries but even that was difficult because some places won't allow you to bring your own child and if you are they charge you the same as everybody else normally. You earn possibly slightly more than minumum wage and are given LOOKS when you have anything to do with your child like you somehow showing favoritism among the children.

I am a nanny who is happy to do any household chores just as would in my own home. I actually think that its good for the children to be involved and learning and understand what is to run a home. I consider myself to be a responsible and intelligent person, my children are well behaved, nicely mannored children and yet with 2 children I could not find work as a nanny. I understand parents concerns and the parents point of view, however from my point of view its frustrating.

I am qualified and have 8 years experience of working with children full time and then another further probably 10 babysitting experience. If I am brutally honest about by NNEB it was easy and only formalised what I already knew but people like qualifications. I personally think watching me with the children and speaking to me will tell you I earn my wage.

Have to have a look at that later
like your take re euronannies... my point exactly, now I could possibly afford a nanny. Also it's not that easy anymore to find a childminder since they've been Ofsted'd there seem to be less around. I guess the paperwork scares them off.

English nanny = brand image? That's an interesting question. It probably used to be when it was the exlusive domain of the rich and few and they had a stern nanny (stereotyp I know ).

I myself am not so worried about 'qualifications' as I much prefer common sense, a friendly patient nature (essential with my dd... 3 and asking all those annoying and incessant questions ) and just good with the kids.

Better go and spend some 'quality time' with my children ... and I'm not talking Miriam Stoppard's Golden hour. My kids get much more than that.

Off now to play Barbies' Horseshow on this pc with dd I know I'm such a bad mother letting her play computergames

Nannyjob is a support group for nannies - it's at www.nannyjob.co.uk

Interesting take on their Mumsnet thread. It seems that asking valid questions makes one a bitch. God forbid how they might deal with crazy and incessant questions from an average 3 year old .

I wonder why no one can say what you get for the salary premium? Do no answer equate to "nothing". Is an English nanny simple "brand image"?

I'm fascinate to know why English nannies believe that childcare jobs in this country are their "entitlement" (re: the foreigners are taking our jobs).

It seems to me that not so long ago, very few families employed nannies - they used childminders and nurseries.

It's only with the influx of foreign whippersnapper nannies that has brought the price down to something slightly more affordable and therefore a realistic choice for more families.

If these Euronannies weren't here affecting the nanny market, those childcare positions are far more likely to go to a childminder or nursery than they are to an expensive British nanny.

daft question... what's nannyjob?

Wow, I've made it to the hallowed chambers of Nannyjob. What fun!

'note to self' really shouldn't stay logged in when dh is home!

Told him to get his own mn account ...

Mr BigD here again. Not retreating at all, will be signing up the moment I've a chance sometime today. Sorry! Well to those who don't appreciate my comments, just too bad!

I'm one of those damned foreigners that comes over and takes the high tech IT jobs. I've worked in numerous countries around the world and am generally in demand. Actually the UK encourages my likes as they want the high tech skills and can't get it with local labour. Since being in this country some 6 years I've been out of work a total of 4 - 6 months, part travelling and just having a good time.

Now why am I so popular? Is it because I'm cheap? No, I'm actually the most expensive in my team next to my manager. The main reasons are because I work my butt off and do a bloody good job! I put in the long hours and I know what I'm doing. I'm also more than the average worker if I don't say so myself. I'm not a specialist who can only focus in one area but have skills outside of my expertise. Good nannies are the same hence most 'foreign' and 'european' nannies are popular with the 'locals'. If the work wasn't there and they weren't wanted then they wouldn't be 'coming over here' and stealing local jobs as it were. People want them and theres obviously a market otherwise lets face it, we wouldn't be here! And on top of that the present government wants this and so do the opposition parties so you're pretty much screwed on that one!

And as for working in other countries. Sorry to say but been there, done that. Most English Nannies I know couldn't get a job in NZ, Australia or the USA. Why? Straight up, most don't have 12 years experience which can be fully backed which is one of the requirements for a US H-1 Visa. Second they don't have the education! 2 years in some 'poncy' nanny school just doesn't cut it for the Visa staff I'm afraid! Then we have Australia which is based on a points system. So again 2 years nanny school training = no good and not acceptable. Job experience counts though so if you've got 10 years plus then you've a chance in that way. Of course you could do like most do which is the 2 years up to the age of 27. Now the problem with this access method occurs both in the UK and Australia. You're not supposed to work in your primary industry AND you're only allowed to work part time so needless to say the money is rubbish and if you get caught then you're banned from the country for 10 years, sometimes more.

Gotta say though, a good Nanny is worth her/his weight in gold but finding one is another story. I've interviewed Nannies for home and team members for my company and getting a good one in either is flamin hard. And most of the time, I'll take a good old foreigner! They generally know more and they'll work harder! I don't need to babysit them 7 x 24 either which means I can do what I need to do without worrying whether they can carry out their own tasks.

As for the financial side of it. I'll pay a person what she's worth. I know my value to my company and what I save them but when it comes to a Nanny thats a bit harder. And lets face it can be quite expensive! When you add in the Employers NI Contribution, Tax etc trying to pay a Nanny £25K after Tax is just not affordable, at least it isn't to me. And I know what others in other skilled industries are getting having friends in the Media, Nursing, Education and Catering industries. £25K for a nanny makes her worth more than quite a few skilled professionals who did do University etc and do work their butts of to gain and keep external qualifications!

But as a Foreigner I'm here to stay, keep paying Taxes and contributing to the UK Economy. I'll leave it at that but I'll be back shortly. So as they say 'Fire in the hole'!

BigD

Sorry, that was to lockets

I felt as though that was what you were applying and i didnt like it!! Your rude!!!

The nannies have appeared because of a link on a nannysite, where there is lots of chuckle on this thread!

p.s. I wouldn't expect my nanny to do all the housework, but a little help would be highly appreciated

'But we are small country and I think we need to help the people already in it, paying taxes and contributing before we help the others.'

Erhem... I'm a 'foreigner who's come into this country and taken somebodies job' and believe me... for the last 14 years I've been paying lots of NI and taxes so actually contributing to this country's coffer a lot! So nobody's been helping me!

Also, I'm not sure whether I read the post correctly re 'eastern nannies are coming over here because they can't get a job at home'... if I read it correctly I think that's a lot of bull. IMHO they're coming here a) to experience another country and b) it's a matter of demand and supply. Especially London, where there is a big emphasis on being in a career opens the opportunity for child care jobs.

Also may I point something out for which I probably get my head ripped off... regarding those 2 ladies who are so proud of being UK nannies (nothing wrong with that in itself I may add )... I've noticed that their spelling and grammer seems to be ever so slightly worse than most others so how does that fit in with good qualifications and supplying an educational environment. I know typos can happen but some of those things I spotted were very obviously not typos

at some of the blatant racism in this thread!

and anyone else wondering how many of these posters are the 'same' people that have changed their names............lots of nanny's 'suddenly' appearing................

You're welcome

Thank you for answering.

No, I am not American.

No, I am not American.

My question asking if you are an American