How to find a nanny

[Suzihaha]

I am still unsure of my return to work date, could be any time from December onwards. Where would I start looking for a nanny and do you recommend any agencies?

Thanks. My parents were supposed to look after DSs but I am not sure they can really cope full-time so looking for a live-out nanny now.

We're based in SW London.

Are you up to doing the recruiting yourself? There is lots of great advice in here about all stages of the nanny recruitment process and you can be as picky as you like with no pressure but it's very labour intensive!

If so then gumtree, nannyjob, childcare.co.uk and netmums local childcare boards are all good places to start.

If you'd rather just outsource it and just interview the nanny/double check refs then I'm not sure about specific agencies in SW London although have heard Wimbledon are good. My favourite 3 - Eden, Imperial and Nannies Inc cover all of London - but are very pricy.

Either way, before you start, do your sums on a gross salary so you know your budget and don't interview nannies who want more than you can offer, work out what kind of nanny you want, things which are desirable, things which are non-negotiable and write a rough job description. It's also worth checking things like whether you get childcare vouchers, which would mean you need an OFSTEDD reg nanny which is worth specifying on the ad.

Thanks for the tips. It's such a big life change for the kids so I want to get it right. It's tough to put speficis when I don't even know what salary I'll be getting!

Think you need to sort out some specifics first... such as what salary you will be getting, what hours you will be working, what days you will be working... a date for when you will be going back to work. Without knowing that, will be hard to choose suitable childcare.

A combination of your parents plus a nanny can work... I've done a job like that before, where I did 3 days and grandparents did two days (plus may be able to cover days if I was ill).

I agree with nick - specifics really are necessary before you can sort anything!

I personally won't look at an ad twice on gumtree if it doesn't have all the information I want: area, days/hours, salary, age of children and brief job description. If they font appear it indicates that the parents haven't thought it through/aren't that invested in having a nanny and might pull out at the last minute because they've found an alternative form of childcare or realised they can't really afford it.

Even interviewing is a big commitment as nannies may turn down other interviews for you, spend time preparing and money getting to you and be giving you personal info and details of references v

I started this exercise a month ago. I soon discovered that nannies work in net salaries, £8 an hour is a competitive rate for 40+ hours a week. My problem was the tax. I worked out the Nanny would want £400 but the tax was £170 on top. An agency wanted quite a steep placement fee but you have the reassurance they have vetted the nanny. I advertised on all the sites except Gumtree (will try it shortly) and I'm considering a nanny share even for just 2 days to help me with the cost. Otherwise you have the cheaper option of a childminders - unfortunately in my area (East Sheen, Barnes, Mortlake) only one childminder had a space for a baby of 3 months and then not until the new year. I go back to work in November and this has become my biggest headache. I will delay my return if I can't find the right solution. I hope you have more success than me.

Oh don't pander to the nannies net salary trend! State it gross and give a net equivalent with the caveat that you're assuming a standard tax code and no other deductions (eg student loan).

Any nanny who negotiates a net salary at the moment is a fool anyway...

Thank you frakkinstein much appreciated. I am looking at 5 days and 50 hours a week. How should I position it. If you want to keep confidential please email me at my private email which I would gladly supply.

Net salaries are used by agencies for some daft reason... luckily some agencies do advertise jobs as Gross.

Nannies are clued up these days... and can convert Gross to Net if they really want to know a take-home salary figure.

Don't pamper to it... just put it as Gross salary - give a net equiv if you feel it will get you more applicants... but tax codes vary, so it may not be the net salary the nanny actually gets.

For an experienced, qualified nanny
50 hours = £10 gross per hour outside of London (home counties and major towns/cities elsewhere), dropping by 20% nearer the coast. Probably looking at £12 gross per hour in London area.
Then it drops by experience... so a newly qualified could get say another 20% or so deduction.
That is roughly about it - maybe we need to come up with a Mumsnet Nanny Pay Scale

We do indeed, nick!

Kanna if you don't want to post specifics you can use the message another poster button on the top right of the post. I'm happy to give my opinions openly but for the moment basically I agree roughly with nick (again).

But really you should work out what you can afford and then we can tell you the various options you can get for your money!

thank you both so much. Can you help me with another dilemma I'm having to go unexpectedly into hospital on Tuesday for a back op. Out of action for 2-3 weeks. Can you recommend an agency for 2 week 24/7 support as I cant lift my baby girl of 3 months. Hubby with me next week though. I live in East Sheen. It doesnt rain,it pours!

What kind of support? The 3 agencies I mentioned in my first reply to the OP all do temporary nannies and maternity nannies (who work 24/7).

Otherwise sign up to nannyjob and have a look on Gumtree - quite often people have bookings which have fallen through.

Just try a local agency - as you will be wanting possibly two people maybe more to cover 24/7. If the people are local then they may not mind working long hours as no long commute.

as frakk and nick said state a gross salary - it is beneficial to both employer and employee

unfortunately many agencies STILL quote jobs in nett - many in my area do

us nannies are not the ones who started this nett wage and many of us ask for gross butoften nannies go to an interview and state they want Xgross and the family turn round and say whats that in nett

we cant win :(

kanna - its hard to state what salary is good for your job, i would want more than others as i have nearly 20yrs exp and fab references - where as a younger girl would be happy with less iyswim

so work out what you can afford and go from there

regards to 24/7 for few weeks,yes there are nannies that do this but i think you would be better off finding a daily temp nanny and then someone else for the nights- or the temp to do a few nights, but tbh you are unlikely to find someone happy to do 24/7 for 2/3weeks

kann - I could definitely help you out. I just completed the NEST postnatal carer (maternity nurse) course, so very relevant for you! I have 7 years experience with children, 5 yrs with newborn babies, and as I've just qualified I won't charge you as much as super-experienced maternity nurses would.

I will also PM you this message but just in case you see on here first, please feel free to contact me on [email protected]

Thank you :)

Thank you all for your help I will be in touch shortly. Kanna

Im looking for a nanny job, mature from New Zealand, honest reliable, hard working, easy going, wanting a good family. Live in London SE, happy to move to area of work, if anyone looking or know anyone thanks. 07780592775

Oh wow, thanks for all the advice. I had thought it'll be difficult to start searching without knowing what days I need and when to start.

I just worry that I will get a job, get asked to start in 4 weeks (say) and not have enough time to find a nanny.

If you get a job to start at short notice then have an agency lined up to provide you with a good temp. Finding a nanny isn't something you want to hurry and a not-quite-right temp recruited in a rush is better than a bad perm nanny! Obviously it's perfectly possible to find Mary Poppins in 4 weeks - there are always nannies looking for work so your ideal candidate may be able to start immediately.

In general, though, 4 weeks is a short lead in - I'd say 6: 1 to advertise and get CVs, 1 to interview and check refs, 4 weeks notice for the nanny to give if she's currently in a job.