Nanny advice urgent !

[walkingonthecoldsand]

Hello,

NC as it's quite identifying.

Two days ago, my nanny announced that she will no longer be working for us (after 3 months). Giving me a weeks notice. I'm a bit () because I have a feeling she would not have told me if I hadn't of contacted her about possibly changing her days in the next couple of months. Anyway, that's life. These things happen.

I'm shitting myself as I really cannot afford to lose a day off from work but I don't want to pick any nanny for the sake of getting childcare.

I really do not want to make the same mistake again as I did with this nanny, they were a few questions I should have asked in the interview which would have signalled alarm bells. But I'm new to the whole nanny world.

I usually look for agencies to help find a nanny. But I really do not want to waste money and pay the agency fees- hence I'm trying the low cost options first. I've signed up on childcare.co.uk and had a few replies already. However, I am a bit cautious- I'm practically willing to take on strangers to look after my child, whereas agencies seems like a safer option as the nannies are already known to them and have gone through the necessary checks.

Are there any crucial questions I need to ask the potential candidates and things that scream alarm bells which I need to look out for ?

Make sure they are ofsted registered and ask if they have a DBS check, ask what qualifications they have/experience
If you find someone who potentially could fill the spot take some time to see how the candidate your considering is with your child/children/pets/home/partner before hiring
Once everything has been asked and discussed and only after (not to give candidates any ideas for their responses to you during interview) a list and rota with all that will entail looking after your children and that comes with it and go over all aspects of the list and rota with them and listen carefully to responses.
How long was you previously with other employers/reasons for notice or no longer needed
How flexible their working hours are
What was their most difficult situation and how did they manage it
Why they become a nanny
And my favourite ask a question listen to response and then ask why that response they have to go into far more detail this way explanation for their answer
Ideally hiring a nanny especially without a agency would be a lengthly process though

Bump :)