recruiting a nanny....top tips???

[OverflowingMum]

Hi all...
so as you may know if you have read my many other thread, I am having a bit of a childcre nightmare!
I have recently gone back to work after 5 years as a SAHM. I have gone back 60%, but have my hours spread over 4 days. I have 6 kids aged 12,11,8,6,4 and 2 1/2.
Life is incredibly stressful right now. I am finding coping very hard. It breaks my heart to think ds is so unhappy....
I have looked into childminders, but with no success.
We are at the point now of considering a nanny, although it would work out at about 2X what we currently pay for childcare a month I just feel that the advantages would be huge, (if we found the right person) and would be worth having a couple of years where most my salary went on childcare if it kept my sanity and meant I could carry on with my job/career.
We have had a nanny about 10 yrs ago when ds1 and dd1 were little....but things have changed since then!
So....I want to find one myself, rather than go through an agency. I am prepared to advertise/interview/check references etc...
So...where is the best place to advertise....I am thinking netmums, and have begun looking round childcare.co.uk....where else should I try?
any other key points to consider????
I will be negotiatinhg a gross wage, and have an ideas of what experience/qualifications/characteristics I'm looking for...I will most likey be using a payroll company (used nannytax in the past, but think there are others these days...)
what else do I need to think about ??

any tips welcome!

thanks nannynick
gosh, 3 to 6 months is longer than I realised for her to be ofsted registered...oh well!
She did meet all the children. She interacted nicely with ds2 I thouhgt, even when he was having a couple of his "less charming" moments. (he had a temper about something or other)and seemd nice with the older ones. She didnt spend ages with them, but long enough to give me a feel of how she might be with them which I think is important.
will consider over next day or 2...thanks

You can sometimes save up the vouchers for a bit... they are often valid for a 12 month period. However you may not be able to start getting them until you provide the carers registration. Best to see how it goes, ask them to get the paperwork done ASAP.

Always good to see how someone reacts when a child has a "less charming moment". Sounds to me as though you have already made up your mind... trust that gut instinct. Follow up the references, meanwhile offer the job subject to references.

Unless there is something bugging you? You have not mentioned anything negative about your meeting with her. You may never find an ideal person... there will often be a compromise but from the sounds of it, this person is meeting all your requirements. Did you feel you could get along with her?

thanks again nannynick....
Nothing really bugging me.
Just nervous as recently we were considering a childminder, I met a couple, and then decided on one who I thought was good (after initial meeting of just me) but asked if I could take ds round to meet her before signing contracts etc...and she turned out to be TERRIBLE!! Long story, but was horrible to ds, had no toys etc...and it scraed me to think I even condsidered sending my dc to her
So I supposeI'm just scared about making the wrong decision...
Also it will cost us significantly more having a nanny than we currently pay, and I suppose I am just hoping it does turn out to be worth it...which I think it would with the right person
I think I am just rubbish at making these sort of decisions really LOL
Going to ring up to check references tonight...will see how that goes...

i would interview another nanny, no harm done and the 2nd one will either make you relises you like the 1st or that there are better options nannys about and you can go from there

tbh i have been offered many jobs at first interview and i insist that they see someone else to compare me - just so that the family know they are making the right decisison

OK...I have had a look at a few more, and emailed some, but tbh none I would even want to interview...

AND since then I have rung up to check references and both have spoken REALLY highly of her. Said their children were happy with her, she did lots of fun stuff with them, was patient etc.. also very reliable, with no days off sick in 2 years and very keen to comunicate with parents and follow parents wishes etc... Also another big plus for us is one of the Mums I spoke to has a son with Aspergers, who also had some behavioural issues at the time she was her childminder, and she spoke very highly of how brilliant she was at managing him - useful for us as one of our dds has Aspergers - although has no real behavioural problems - but we have discussed this with potential nanny and it is useful to know she has some experience in this area.

Sooo I am just going to have a final look at all the figures...need to look into a couple of things like insurance for her to use our car etc...and just double check I can change my hours to what I want, then think we will go with her.
I have messaged her to say we really liked her, but are just looking at all the final little details before finalising decision...so fingers crossed!

That all sounds really positive.

Good luck x