The curse of Boff. Again.

I'm posh. It does help I hate to say...

I can ride, swim, ski and shoot. My parents are titled and I talk nicely. I call homework prep, always have a (clean, monogrammed) handkerchief and insist on proper manners. These virtues got me interviews and offers from very interesting people but I didn't like them so I told them where to stick their job politely declined.

Anyway, I came on her to pass on some interesting gossip regarding the truth about The Place We Do Not Name - no fewer than 3 of my mother's acquaintances have got shot of their just qualified nanny, most recently the one who behaved very badly on a family ski trip. Stats not looking good for them. I don't usually care what Lady Crumpet is up to but I love my rather gossipy mother at times like these! You're not alone in having these problems, boff, one just can't get the staff nowadays.

Another recommendation (from a family member): Hyde Park Nannies, though they are more southerly. But they might well know someone nice. Hope you find something soon Boff!

i aint posh

though i hate tar with a passion!!!

Hello Boff

Dear Lord what a stress festival: just reading about it leaves me tired, I can't imagine what is going through your head right now.

I'm also in Cambridge and have tried the DIY route (trying to recruit a full time nanny on a very limited budget). Gumtree, Nannyjob, a couple of online 'aupair' matching services. I can't really recommend it: it generated many waste of time responses and was a lot of work, even though I recruited my first (excellent) nanny that way eventually.

In my experience, the only agency in the region who seems to make any effort at all for parents was Apricot Nannies, based in Bishops Stortford. They sympathised with my plaintive - frankly ill mannered - mutterings about people who were looking for a fat London salary based on very skinny CVs and found me my current nanny who actually fitted the requirements I had set them.

If they can't help you and you find yourself still having problems in May I'm looking for someone who might be interested in a nanny share: could 3 days a week work for you?

Just to be difficult, I am the least posh nanny ever lol, I am covered in tattoos and I once temped for someone that owns a castle - a job that I found myself I might add

If most of the nannies who post on here applied, I expect Boff would consider us. I expect many of us don't work for Upper class families... though do work for middle class / upper middle (what would be considered upper middle?).
I don't ride, I don't ski, My dad is a retired civil servant. I do however know what prep is, as I went to a prep school.
Boffin, have you tried the local newsagents window? Just wondering if that produced any applicants, or not.

Something is going a bit wrong in the recruitment process - could it be that you're a bit dazzled by nice accents and lovely manners rather than the qualities that actually make for a good nanny?

Yes you do sound a snob. Think about it, you have a high flying career and complain no one is reliable or dedicated or good enough to look after your children. I drew the line when I was looking for temporary child care - it wasn't good enough for my children. I wasn't going to leave them with a stranger for the sake of my career.I'm not slagging you off or trying to start a row, but we all make different decisions, all I am saying maybe the whole thing needs a rethink ?

It's only politically correct to pretend to be liberal.
Most people aren't so don't be ashamed of the snob closet. Let's face it; if I had children and was paying somebody else to care for them in my absense then I'd want somebody who talked properly, used a tissue and both knew their table manners and used them.

Understand how to pack for posh hotels but don't stay in a job for more than 5 minutes... I guess that's your pay off

When I was nannying I found The Lady magazine the best place for getting a job. Agencies weren't fun. I don't understand why someone would pay an agency a lot of money to read references when you really ought to be checking them yourself.

I don't ride or ski, and I went to a comprehensive. Posh agency didn't find me a job...

It doesn't necessarily but it does have to do with social class. Nannies from a higher social class often can do these things and can command higher salaries by virtue of what your mother and father do, whether you have a posh voice or can fake it. The whole class thing is alive and well in this industry. The families who hire nannies are upper and upper middle class mostly; they;d have to be with fees like that and they want somebody from a similar background in my experience. My household is fully staffed but I'm, the only English one and come top of the pecking order. I'm not agreeing with it but I've learnt to play it to my advantage (without obviously doing what the agencies suggested.) I spend more time discussing my HP dad rather than my childcare skills. It's really boring.
One of these days I'll write a tome on the subject. When I'm not working that is.

I've found the same Tavvy - most important questions are, Do you ride? Do you ski? What does your father do?

"If their nannies are so ace, then surely they should be prepared to guarantee them for a really decent amount of time ...

ditto - say a year if not then the nanny has to pay back your fee lol

normally agencies fees are 4 weeks salary, so a months wages