I am an absolute beginner to the world of nannies. Please help.

[bluetrampolines]

I am investigating the possibility of hiring a nanny. I'm a single parent. 3 young children. What are your tips? Experiences? Anything helpful you can share with me? Please.

Be aware of extra costs. Employers tax, pension contributions, fuel/ travel card for the nanny on duty, food expenses (though nannies can bring their own food if you prefer just be clear from.the start)

Cash to take children to activities

Covering nannies holiday costs (usual rule is 4 weeks 2 weeks your choice 2 weeks theirs)

Covering nanny sickness

Most importantly be honest about the hours you need. Nothing worse than parent only paying til 530 and never walking through the door until 545!

Be clear about the job expectation. What cleaning/ cooking/ other jobs would you like them to do. As a general rule its usually only duties that revolve round the children

Are you looking for live out or live in? If live in again you need to be clear about friends/family visiting. Weekend plans, making sure they have privacy when off duty xx

It depends on the ages of your children and your expectations, but be clear what kind of nanny you want. I also work for a single parent, and I'm paid at the higher end of the scale because with just one parent in the home, I have to be more flexible and relaxed about extra hours/finish times/early starts if needed. I do all the duties related to the children, manage their uniform, wardrobe, haircuts/dental appointments, keep their toys clean and organised, arrange their extra-curricula schedules, and cooking from scratch. Not all nannies will expect to do all this, so you have to line it out clearly in the job description. I'm live out but I live close by because the hours can be quite demanding and I was struggling to deal with a commute on top. I go on holidays occasionally with them too but find this very hard work (new place, different routines, you're just 'on' more than normal) and would expect to be paid extra for this.

I'm sole charge because I don't think roles where the parent is often around during my working hours tends to work very well for me.

Ny biggest bugbear in my previous job (not this one but I really was quite firm about it at interview) was lack of communication. If you're supposed to walk through the door at 6:30, don't wait until then to text and say you're running 30mim late! And never sit on something that you're unhappy with, it breeds resentment.

Yes I agree. So

• extra costs
• really clear expectations of duties
• draw up a schedule of what the kids days will look like
• extra classes/visits to attractions etc
• how will you cover holidays

You need someone who will work WITH you and not just for you. I have had the same nanny for 7 years and she is part of the family. I have paid her when she’s had to take emergency time off. Organised the odd gift. Let her go home early if I am back early. We agree on discipline and parenting (we are both quite firm and no nonsense). In return over time she has always done me the odd favour. Taken the bins out or put the laundry away. But I don’t expect this and I am grateful.

This is very helpful. My children are aged 3, 4 and 6.

I wouldn't need someone all day long. And i have some pre school child care already in place.

What is a rough idea of an hourly rate?

On the not needing someone all day, do you need the nanny to be 'on call' for school or nursery? In which case be prepared to pay for that time as she can't work elsewhere if she needs to be on call for your kids.

Hourly rate really varies by area, a nanny in London may well charge £12-15 per hour, but in Glasgow will charge £9-10. On top of that will then be the tax, NI and pension before any expenses.

Wow. I dont think I could afford for a nanny to be on call. How much extra would you be expected to pay for housework jobs?

So it's a part time role?

You need to make it an attractive pay package in that case. Do you want full time in holidays? What about if one of your children is too sick to go to school? Would the nanny be required to come in for a full day to cover that?

I used to work a job with 'split' hours- so 7-10am then would start again at 2-8pm, and 7am to 7pm in holidays.

I couldn't do much in the middle of the day apart from wait around to start work again, but was effectively 'on call' as I was available. So my term time hourly rate was high- £15.

It sounds more like you want a 'nanny housekeeper'.

Yes Harriet. That is what i want. Split shifts. But there would be more work available for 2 years before the youngest goes to school.

What would you expect to be asked in an interview?
What qualifications would i be looking for?

I wouldn't need any shifts in the holidays. Does that make it a more attractive employment or less?

Ask about approach to discipline, how they might deal with the demands of different ages, what a typical day would look like. I'm usually asked about what I liked/didn't like about previous jobs. Duties I'm prepared to do, whether or not I'm happy to support learning outside of school (homework, projects etc)

I don't have an official qualification. I have 10 years of experience in the UK and abroad though, an up to date first aid certificate, an enhanced criminal records check, and a degree.

No shifts in the holidays?

Sorry, no way I could take a job like that and I know most of my nanny friends wouldn't either. How am I supposed to pay my own bills if I'm only getting a term time wage?

You might get someone slightly older that already has their own kids and would need to be with them in the holidays, perhaps.

You want part time hours and Term time only - I think you'll be hard pushed to find someone.

Why a nanny? It sounds more like you need a cm to me.

A nanny who has her own child might be an option for term time only. I’ve had a nanny in the past for whole days and for short split shifts. I’ve found childcare.co.uk helpful and found my short split shifts person from there. I used a payroll service which made payment nice and easy when I had the longer hours one. I haven’t always used official nannies which gives you more flex.

Very good answers already.
Yes a nanny is costly, but the right one can be a godsend.

Would it be a child minder if i wanted them to be in my own home with my own children?

No childminders mind in their own home and can take on other children.
Nannies mind in your home and can not take on other children.
You have to think what would make your job attractive to someone? Because most people need to work all year round, not just term time only. It might be attractive to a mother with kids at school, if you let them also pick up their kid and bring them to your house.

You need to pay through the holidays too.

Is this possible?

Not a chance I could afford that.

Ok. I had thought the only term time aspect would have been attractive.

And if i found someone there is no legal obligation for them to have a qualification like a childminder?

Whereabouts are you?

Why would only term time be attractive to anyone unless they had a child too? Anyone without kids, or adult kids is going to want work all year round.

I think there is a nanny place rather than AIBU. Nanny’s are generally for the well off. The rest of us use Childminder or nurseries.

This kind of position would work for me- but I have a 1 year old I would want to bring along some of the time.
So i guess I'm saying that someone would want the job- but there may be other complicating factors!

What about employing a student as a mother's help to collect them from school/nursery and do housework? A student is still living around a term-time structure themselves.