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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

*SIGH* She's resigned due to bombs. Any agencies in N London do live-out part time?

35 replies

majorstress · 01/08/2005 09:02

The London bombers have put my nanny's Mum over the edge and she is going to blow HERSELF up if her darling doesn't come home to Czecho RIGHT NOW. Leaving my darlings and me with no one 3 days a week. I am lucky Nanny stood up enough to mummy to give me a months notice! Now I am back right where I started a year ago-getting notice just when it is most impossible to get anyone, and this time I have booked 2 weeks holiday starting next week as well in the US, which I now can't afford timewise or financially as I will have to take an unknown amount of unpaid leave to cover this crisis.

I really like her too. WHY DO WE LIVE HERE???

OP posts:
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expatkat · 02/08/2005 00:19

I actually know of a nanny who needs work 3 days a week starting in a month's time. She worked for me for 3 years (& is filling in for me this summer) and worked for my friend for 2 years, and worked in a montessori nursery school for a year. I can't recomend her highly enough. If you want her details, CAT me. She's Polish, speaks very good English, and lives is Willesden (N. London).

bluebear · 01/08/2005 23:14

Haven't had time to read whole thread - just wondered if it was worth you trying sharingcare.co.uk website (puts people who want to share nannys in touch with each other) - don't know if it's any good.
Good luck.

uwila · 01/08/2005 21:22

can't, not "can"

uwila · 01/08/2005 21:21

Oh my goodness... I can believe you are looking again. Three's a charm you know.

Original poster
majorstress · 01/08/2005 16:07

Somehow, I thought that if I forgot about the live-in au pair option, paid a good wage and all the tax, perks and paid leave for 3 days a week, for a good person who could find work on the other 2 days, I would not have a huge problem finding someone - but it hasn't made any difference at all!

OP posts:
Original poster
majorstress · 01/08/2005 11:21

Thanks! That is a good idea to do the bonus, I meant to but forgot back in April! Though in fact this time I don;t think it would have worked, I really don't think she is lying in this case, it was developing before the bombings and I think she has tried hard to resolve the situation, including a very inconvenient (for me) visit home in June to try to sort things out. Her mum has become mentally unstable, her siblings have tried hard to help but now are asking her to come back as they are very worried about the mum, and Nanny isn't happy to be manipulated like this, I believe. She's not slacking off at all having decided to go, and we all love her. She hopes to come back in a couple of months, but understands that by then I won't have a job anymore, or may have found a replacement who I might not want to just dump. I have already used up my annual leave and my bosses' patience with problems all year, and DH has asked me to quit work, though we will really suffer in the long run. I really don;t have the stomach for any of it anymore.

So I thought maybe an agency would help me find a temp while we work out what to do, but only need a couple of days a week and can't pay over the odds either. And of course it is the dog days of August.

OP posts:
goldenoldie · 01/08/2005 09:50

If you get another AP you might want to put a clause in the contract to encourage them to stay for the year - or whatever period you want - say a cash bonus or a flight ticket home or payment for a course?

The problem we found is that if we made it clear we wanted someone for at least a year all the APs would say that was what they wanted too, but nearly all would move on after 6 or 9 months, some used feeble excuses, some lied and some were honest (at the end of the six months - not before)and told us they had always planned to go back to university/job/family at this time or they wanted to earn more money/move closer to friends or whatever.

What becaome very clear is that many of these girls/boys lied to us just to get the job and were prepared to leave us in the lurch when it suited them.

Have to say i would be suspicious that mummy wants her back urgently but is prepared to wait for her darling to work a months notice? Not that this helps you....................

Good luck

Blu · 01/08/2005 09:22

And try simplychildcare.
Wide range of people offereing p/t, temporary, everything.
And no expensive agency fees.

Original poster
majorstress · 01/08/2005 09:19

Thanks JOSIE3, the reason I posted is I just got told by one big established local firm, that I thought would be prefectly placed to help me out as they are nearby, they only do full time live in. So that's very helpful about Eden. I guess this is a nanny share, since I at least already have other arrangements on Mon and Tues thank heavens, but I want the NANNY not ME to sort out her other days, I don't want to know what she does on the other days.

I got my last one from gumtree, after much searching on the other such DIY resources, she's great but has only lasted 5 months, and the stress of having 100s of unsuitable people constantly emailing, ringing, and even coming to the house uninvited in one case was too great. That weekend of interviews was absolute hell, and then I had my mum to childmind while I did it; she had a stroke on the plane on the way home so I have no support at all now even to do the searching.

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JOSIE3 · 01/08/2005 09:10

All agencies will take live out positions. I can recommend Eden, very professional and don't waste your time with unsuitable applicants.

Otherwise, advertise on www.nannyjob.co.uk
www.gumtree.com
or look at greataupairs (can't remember if it's .com or .co.uk) They do nannies and au pairs.

It may be worth looking into a nanny share too.

Good luck.

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