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

How to hire a nanny? Clueless!

40 replies

Penthesileia · 04/05/2009 10:16

We would like to hire a nanny from early to mid-August this year for our 11mo DD (she'll be 14mo by then, of course).

In my head, when we first talked about it, it seemed so straightforward, but now that we need to get down to the nitty-gritty of finding and interviewing and choosing a nanny, working out the hours and the salary, etc., we find ourselves totally lost!

We need a nanny for 3 days a week (Monday to Wednesday), from 8am to 6pm. My DH is insistent that s/he have about 5 years experience.

I would really appreciate any advice about:

  1. where to post a job advert
  2. how to compose said job advert (are there any templates, or samples, etc.?)
  3. how much to offer as a salary (we are in Cambridgeshire, btw).

etc.

Thanks in advance for any advice or pointers.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
nannynick · 09/05/2009 17:55

That ad looks very similar to one I have seen on Gumtree. Hope the agency only puts forward suitable candidates, not any rif raf.

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/05/2009 16:20

boffin - go and check your email

is this your ad

i got it sent to me via one of the sites i am on

bofs ad??

Millarkie · 08/05/2009 18:18

Thanks for the info Boffinmum.

hanaflower · 08/05/2009 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoffinMum · 08/05/2009 09:44

Thanks, Blondes.

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/05/2009 08:55

my dc has same uncommon (but lovely) name as another younger sibling - both will be in same school class, and both are blond and blue eyed -sure teacher will mix them up

course my dc is lovely and the other child a monster

congrats btw on felix

BoffinMum · 07/05/2009 23:03

Hanaflower, imagine if we inflicted a nanny share on someone, with having two kids the same name ... 'clear that up please' 'no because Felix did it' ....

BoffinMum · 07/05/2009 23:01

Aw shucks, thanks, Nannynick

Millarkie, one person wanted live in on weekdays only. For us that's ideal!! But she was the least qualified of the applicants so far (still better than agency fodder). I have also registered with a London agency for live-in, and they reckoned £300 pw net live-in in this area for good qualifications and 4-5 years' prior experience would be OK. They don't place live out people outside London. You can also get a Norland for £300 pw net as well, but their placement fee is crazily high.

I think you are all right, btw, the agencies are clearly sending me any old crap lying on their desks. Glad I didn't fall for it and waste time interviewing them.

Millarkie · 07/05/2009 21:49

Boffinmum - (assuming your ad is the live in or live out one), have you had any good applicants for live-in? If we went the nanny route we would need live-in, so interested to know if there are candidates out there (are never any live-in jobs on nannyjob).

Original poster
Penthesileia · 07/05/2009 20:29
OP posts:
nannynick · 07/05/2009 19:14

Boffinmum - your ad was easy to spot on Gumtree... it's a great ad, clearly sets out what you want, what you expect, what you will pay. Glad it's getting you applications from suitable candidates.

Millarkie · 07/05/2009 19:00

Glad you're getting some good'uns from gumtree Boffinmum - I replied to you on another thread telling you my experience of nanny agencies quoting ridiculous rates in Cambs.

nannynick · 07/05/2009 18:58

I am quite surprised by the level of candidates being offered by an agency. Doesn't seem to me as though they are matching suitable candidates to the job - more like just sending details of anyone they have on their books. Poor show by the agency... luckily not all agencies are like that. In my area agencies will aim to avoid even taking applicants on their books who don't meet Level3 qualification standard (maybe agencies in my area are a bit picky).

Good luck BoffinMum, Penthesileia and Hanaflower with recruiting nannies.

BoffinMum · 07/05/2009 18:47

Can I once again offer a huge thanks to all the nannies helping us mums on here. The recruitment thing is incredibly fraught, and getting good solid advice from experienced people at the coal face has really helped me personally keep a degree of sanity. Thank you. xx

BoffinMum · 07/05/2009 18:44

Hey Penth, I am getting really excellent Gumtree responses so it is definitely worth posting there (but please give me a few days' grace so they don't all choose you instead of me!) Frannikin was right, you can get very good people for the salary we are offering. They all have between 3-15 years' experience so far and sound a lot more promising than the agency runts applicants.

Hanaflower, great minds think alike.

hanaflower · 07/05/2009 15:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Penthesileia · 07/05/2009 10:19

Yes, it would. Yikes. This finding-a-nanny business is quite stressful, isn't it?...

Welcome, Felix! (What a great name, btw!). Take care of yourselves.

OP posts:
BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 22:20

x posts somehow. Bugger, that would have been too good to be true.

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 22:19

He has indeed, Penth. Felix arrived on 6 April weighing 7lbs 9oz, and is a joy . I'd quite like him to have a little chum during the daytime, hence the interest in a share.

If you email me at boffinmum at hotmail dot co dot uk we can chat about it if you like. Geography will be the biggest factor, I imagine.

Original poster
Penthesileia · 06/05/2009 21:00

Hi again BoffinMum. Seen your ad, I think, and unfortunately, it looks like we probably won't be a suitable match for each other: your family have a very busy morning, and I think it would be too much for the nanny to try to add my DD to that mix, particularly as we are in a village north of the city. Shame. Best of luck finding your nanny though!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Penthesileia · 06/05/2009 20:50

Thank you all so much for taking the time and effort to help me out. Very much appreciated.

BoffinMum - hello! Hope you are very well - presume your latest has arrived! If so, congratulations!!!! I will look now for your advert. I am indeed interested in a nanny share... It would be too convenient and lucky, I suppose, if we could work something out!

OP posts:
nannynick · 06/05/2009 18:01

I would not agree that SimplyChildcare is the industry standard online magazine. I feel www.nannyjob.co.uk has a larger audience, especially for jobs outside of London (Simply Childcare used to be only jobs in London, they do now cover more UK wide jobs).

Just did a test... I looked on SimplyChildcare.com and Nannyjob.co.uk for Nanny jobs in Surrey, Full Time, Permanent.

Simply Childcare: 2
Nannyjob: 108

Think the figures speak for themselves!

bumpyboo · 06/05/2009 16:06

Great post NannyNick, totally agree with all your points esp about agreeing a GROSS wage. I have something to add to the op. We put a little ad up in our local independent chemists as its a complete magnet for Mums and Carers and have gotten great responses from that. Also have you tried www.simplychildcare.com I'm told its pretty much the industry standard online magazine.

FabulousBakerGirl · 06/05/2009 14:34

I got all my nanny jobs from The Lady magazine except for one.

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 14:34

Penth, I can't remember if I have mentioned this, but I am also in Cambridgeshire and currently recruiting for something similar. If you are near me and interested in a nanny share, I'd be happy to discuss this. I have an ad on Gumtree at the moment you might want to look at.