to ask about nanny agencies and nannies generally (London based)?

[EastEndQueen]

I know I am being massively U to put this in AIBU...

BUT posting for traffic as I noticed aother mumsnetter on the Childcare board had posted an almost identical question a month ago and still had no replies so sorry for annoying everyone (smile)!

Does anyone have any advice on London based nanny agencies? About to start searching as going back to work in the Autumn when DS will be a year old. Anyone have any recomendations or thoughts which would be helpful?

Also any advice for the recruitment phase would be wonderful as we are newbies to all this (had a nanny as a child but this is our first DC)

Thank you xxxx

Lulunanny and sleepingbabies seem both like great options, but what sort of nanny do you need? It dictates which agency is best

I've had good results from Kensington Nannies and The Nanny Service.

A friend recommended Eden nannies. Where in London are you?

Not an agency but we found our wonderful nanny on childcare.co.uk. We directly searched for the candidates and approached them about the job. Two fantastic interviews but our nanny was the better fit.

A little more leg work as you then need to do the referencing and background checks. If you have the time it will save you on agency fees.

Thanks everyone for their replies so far! We are based in East London (near Canary Wharf) and are looking for 4 days a week (probs mon-thurs) standard 08.30-18.30 hours, live out.
Hoping to find someone who looking for a relatively long-term position (spoilt by the way my nanny as a child stayed with us for a decade!) as would ideally like to have another DC next year and keep the continuity of care.

MuMuMuuuum - I'm so glad you found a great person. I'm being a wimp but (especially having had a traumatic drawn-out failure to DIY sell our flat last year) I quite want the guidance and help of a good agency. Especially as new to it. May very well try that website next time round when I have a better feel for how it all works....

There's also koru kids. They match families with nannies and nanny shares. They are London based.

happyfamiliesnannies.co.uk/

We're in the SE but did really well with Buttons and I think the agency covers London as well. I recommended Buttons to a friend who also got a nanny she is very happy with through them.

I'd try posting on a FB mummies group (yes, massively sexist and all that, but it is what they're called unfortunately). The ones for my part of London are quite active and v good with local recommendations for everything from nannies to cake makers and such.

Regarding agencies, as an ex nanny, I had a horrific time with London agencies, so rude and so catty and they give jobs to their friends and they do not care about whether you are the right person for the family but if they like you. They discriminated against me for all sorts of reasons, one agency told me I was not British enough, referring to my "accent" and as I had not lived and worked in the Uk the past 12 years or so, could not get a DBS and was told I could therefore not register despite having it from euope and middle east. I thought there were very dishonest and not very nice. Ive now gone back to being a PA and despite love my work with kids will never work as a nanny again
the worst agencies were Tinies, Morgan Mallett, Nanny and Butler, Imperial and Duke and Duchess, there were more.
the funny thing is that abroad I met so many families who complained they never were sent the right candidatese, which is why they endlessly trial, the reason being the agencies are run by young girls who are robots and know nothing at alland discriminate against mature nannies.

oh forgot to mention Kinderstaff, terrible as were British governess,