To hire a nanny and offer her this set up?

[plplz]

A quick run down, five-month old DD and have had her nursery for a month or so, and she's not been doing as well as we would like, so looking at a nanny.

The dilemma is that it's only a few months before I think she would do a lot better in the nursery, and the costs of a nanny are eye-watering.

We interviewed a great nanny who isn’t working at the moment, and while I would love to have her in I don't want to mess her about.

Would it be unreasonable to ask her to work for us while she finds a suitable gig, and pay her cash (would probably meet her halfway between her gross and net rate as as sweetener).

Any warnings, advice or thoughts?

Um... find a better/different nursery?

With a cash-in-hand nanny, you are evading tax (illegal) and putting your child at risk.

@plplz

Issue with nursery is that she doesn't feed or sleep well there, which is creating massive headaches at home with her sleep.

She also has a red raw dribble rash which they just aren't managing well.

In that case OP I would speak with the nursery about your concerns - you’re likely to have a similar ‘settling in’ battle when you eventually return her to nursery. It’s d worn through them with the nursery (maybe a trial period 3-6weeks?) and if you’re still not happy then I would look at childminders over a nanny. Childminders you are fully covered legally and should have no negative recourse in that respect. Good luck.

I agree with others, I think you need to look for alternative childcare.

Did you consider childminder/nanny before the nursery? What were your pros and cons of each and is it time to re evaluate that list?

It’s probably too late (I have no idea of the rules) but is shared parental leave an option?

If you get caught trying to evade tax and NI it could cost you a lot more than the nanny’s fees! Don’t do it.

OP you sound a bit like you don't know what you are doing.

What's her current schedule and what do you want it to be
What do you want them to do about the rash and what are you doing to manage the rash.

I don’t see the connection between it being a short term arrangement and the cash in hand option, they’re entirely separate points.

It’s fine to arrange a nanny for your DC.
It’s fine to anticipate needing the nanny short term & be clear that she’s free to seek a more permanent role.
It’s not ok to evade tax.

Reading your update OP, surely it would be easier to look for another nursery or find a childminder.

I really don't understand the mentality of people who want to cut corners on childcare and then complain about the quality of care their DC receive. I've had a bad experience with a CM so I know my current one is priceless to me.

No decent nanny will agree to no contract and cash in hand.

This. Our nanny is expensive. I started looking a full 8 months before I wanted the person to start. As someone said upthread, our son is the most precious thing to us. Practically all his clothes are second hand or bought as gifts and I economise elsewhere where I can.

But skimp on childcare? Nope.

Could be that she doesn't settle well without you, regardless of where she is. I think the disruption of having a nanny at home and then sending her back to nursery is not a good move. Why can't the nanny be a more permanent thing?

Aside from the tax fraud, sounds fine.

I used to be a nanny years ago

Employers used to try to treat us badly back then too

When will nannies be seen as a respected career?

I reckon they might also struggling with sleep at nursery because your child is still fairly young; I remember fighting that battle myself to get my son into a good sleep routine when he was that age.

But that happened while I was still on maternity leave so by the time the nanny started, his sleep was nailed down and we knew when he could he expected to sleep (barring illness, basically).

How would Tax, Insurance, liability insurance, first aid, food hygiene, qualification and CRB checks work?

I worked for a family for 6 months, they then wanted to pay cash in hand, I said no and they made me redundant

They then started paying a ‘nanny’ with no insurance, no first aid, no police check...
More fool them !

@GirlCrush absolutely.

A nanny is an early years professional, and all the ones we saw had all the qualifications that support that. I was very clear about what I wanted and wanted to give myself loads of time to do the requisite due diligence about one of the most important appointments I’ll ever make.

Stupid idea. Pay a decent nanny a decent wage otherwise find a childminder.

So you want to go from nursery to nanny to nursery...

Thats alot of upheaval for a 5 month old

@user183684257424

You do realise you can be imprisoned for tax evasion?

Oh ffs, she's not going to be sent to prison for paying a nanny cash, just as you aren't sent to prison if you pay your window cleaner cash.

I was a sahm. My child had terrible dribble rash. It's the time of year and their age. It's horrible to see I know but I wouldn't be sure 1:1 care would sort it either.
Sleep deprivation is a killer. Can you hire a night nanny (legally) for just a few weeks to give yourself a break. Hard to think clearly when you're shattered and thinking about work.

Career nanny here

All good points up thread. Too much change for baba. So by the time she’s nearly settled in nursery you bring her back home to start to settle and bond with nanny then back to nursery again?

And you can have contract and arrange payroll for a short term gig...... to be honest I’ve done cash temp jobs but only if ad-hoc work or a week or so.

If you’re happy with nursery, speak to them about the rash but sleep and eat regime will be different in a nursery. Ask them for a proper break down of her routine and speak to the room leader. I found nurseries to be liberal with the truth and a bit general with updates......

Oh ffs , she’s not going to be sent to prison for paying a nanny cash, just as you aren’t sent to prison if you pay your window cleaner cash

Agree, it is unlikely that prison would be the outcome, but a criminal conviction and a hefty fine are likely.

It is not remotely like paying the window cleaner cash though! The window cleaner is not an employee or worker, a nanny is.

This is a no on SO many levels.

• Your nanny is YOUR employee, not self-employed. You could get in a lot of trouble if you don't do it right - i.e. pay tax, give her holiday pay, ensure she's getting breaks, maternity pay entitlement, etc etc etc
• You could go to prison
• Clearly she's a liar and breaks the law and you're willing to trust her with a child? Do you trust her with seatbelts then (as just one example)?
• No insurance if anything goes wrong....

Stop being so silly and advertise for a short-term nanny.

No you can’t do that.

YABVU

If you hire a nanny you need to do it properly with tax and NI and employment rights. Even if it’s a short term contract.

Nursery to nanny to nursery is going to be very unsettling for your baby.

Don't employ someone illegally to look after your child.