Questions for nanny interview for someone who's not really a nanny...

[HeadFairy]

You may well ask why I'm interviewing someone who's not a nanny to be the nanny for our children... she's my mum and dad's neighbour, she knows ds and he really likes her. She was a nanny 20 or so years ago, then had her own children and left the sector. She has no qualifications to speak of, just her previous experience as a nanny and a mother.

Anyway, I thought I'd give her a chance as she's so fond of ds. Anyway, I haven't a clue what to ask her. I've found Nannynick's interview questionnaire but none of it's really relevant, because I can't really ask her about her experience, or to give a sample menu or things like that.

Any ideas as to how I should approach it?

Give her a scenario and ask her what she would do in the situation ?
Ask her what meals she would cook for ds ?

Yes you can. Ask her what she would cook, rather than what she has cooked. Ask her all the same stuff you would ask a nanny with glowing refernces, qualiications, etc. She is going to be a nanny so she needs to demonstrate she knows what that means (or be prepared to be led by you in a bit of on the job training).

You should interview everyone who has applied in the exact same way, so ask her same questions etc you will be doing with any nanny that has applied.

Everything should be equal as if you employed this lady and another nanny found she had been interviewed in a different way to suit her then she could potentially say you unfairly discriminated against all other applicants.

I am not sure how it works in private home interviews but just know this is how it is in public sector inc using same interview panel for everyone.

thanks for those suggestions... I've been trying to use the famous nanny questionnaire as a guideline, but so little of it applied to her. However, it has been helpful in guiding my thinking.

Nannynick's interview questionnaire
I didn't make it originally... think Strix should get that credit

As others have said, interview all candidates the same as much as possible so you can compare. Adapt questions to suit your situation. There should not be any reason why someone without formal qualifications can't tell you answers to the majority (if not all) of the questions... it's mostly about common sense.

The questions list isn't meant to be used as a list to run through... it's more a pick some things out to chat about type of a list. Pick things out which are important to you and adapt the question to suit the specific job.

Actually, I send that list out first thing to everyone (after I have seen their CV / picture /profile). Anyone who can't be bothered to complete it or doesn't have the computer/English skills to to complete it doesn't make it very far in my interview process.

However, my questions have evolved over the years to suit my children's ages. So, think like nap time have been replaced by questions about homework/education.

But that list of questions is a first pass. And when we get further into the process and I have narrowed down the number of candidates, I talk more about what would you do in situation x or y?

agree you neeed to ask what would you do if questions

she may not have recent nanny exp,but hopefully has good common sense through being a mum

it helps your parents know her and you like her

other thing you may neeed to check is how agile she is as she is older is she on the ball,can she run if your child suddenly dashed infront of her towards a road etc