Pls critique my job ad

[deliakate]

Does this look like I've covered everything - am going to put on Gumtree and Netmums...... Should I mention the wage too? Would I be better to just use an agency? Thank you

PART TIME MOTHER'S HELP - MORNINGS - WEST KENT

Would suit newly or partially qualified nanny, or someone with other childcare experience.
8am - 1pm x 3 days per week (pref not Mondays)
We are looking for someone to assist me in the home with one boy of 19 months, and a baby girl due in May.
Duties will include playing with the toddler whilst I feed baby etc, taking him to playgroups or the park, helping with light household tasks when required.
Very occasionally you may need to have sole care when I have an appointments during the day that I can't bring the children to. Hours can be fixed, but duties are flexible! There will be the opportunity for occasional babysitting.

I would specify a wage (gross per hour).

Do you want someone with a 1st aid cert? CRB check?

Are you happy for someone to use this as their observed placement whilst studying?

What do you mean by light household tasks? If you just specify e.g. Putting on laundry, hoovering (or whatever) that gives them some idea.

Is it a long term or temporary job?

Thanks SFAP, great ideas.

I will have to look into the studying option - when you say 'observed', who would be doing the observing? Would it be me, or would they have a course leader or someone doing it?

It would probably be an external assessor. I'm just thinking if you have a partially qualified person who's maybe finishing off their NVQ3 or possibly someone planning to start on their new diploma both of those require workplace assessment which means someone in your house watching your nanny work.

Equally you might find a nanny doing one of the OU childhood/youth courses where they're supposed to draw examples from their professional practice so whilst they won't have someone coming in to see them they would still be writing about your family.

Any nanny planning on doing that should of course raise it with you first and get your consent but if you're not happy about it happening under any circumstances it's better to say straight off because they might be applying for your job thinking it would be good for the reason that you've specified you don't mind a newly or partially qualified person so you're going to be more open to their study needs.

I feel the more you put in an ad the better. Other people don't always agree with me though. However given that the cost of an advert which is a couple of lines is no different to the cost of an advert which is a whole page, you may as well make use of the space.

As a nanny I prefer to see a salary figure (gross per annum or gross per month) as that can be compared to other non-childcare jobs. It also shows me that the parents have thought about how much they can afford to pay.

I think adverts for childcare are more appealing if they are a little more friendly and give you a feel for the family - so something like:

PART TIME MOTHER'S HELP - MORNINGS - WEST KENT

We are looking for a warm, friendly, part time nanny for our two young children. We have a son of 19 months and a daughter due in May.

We need someone three mornings a week (8am -1pm), we are flexible Tuesday - Friday.

Duties will include playing with the toddler whilst I feed baby etc, taking him to playgroups or the park, helping with light household tasks (such as emptying the dishwasher, tidying up) when required - we can discuss this fully at the interview so we are both clear about what needs doing.

Very occasionally you may need to have sole care when I have an appointments during the day that I can't take the children to.

There will be the opportunity for occasional babysitting

Would suit newly or partially qualified nanny, or someone with other childcare experience.

But this is just my opinion :)

No offence to you Deliakate but I would prefer chippingin s ad I think when I read an advertisement for a job if you`ve put that you want a warm friendly person maybe unconsciously I feel you are a warm friendly person .I f you put wage to be agreed at interview then if you have a really great person come along you may be able to offer a bit more,you may also have people enquire who may not if you had put an amount.

Thanks so much, Chipping. DH says I am a very good buyer but not a very good seller, and don't come across very warm (hope I am!).

Now for the million dollar question - how much should I be looking to pay? I was thinking neg. between £7 to £10 p/h. Given that the vast majority of the time will not be spent in sole care. Realistic?

I would guess NMW upwards.

However I would suggest that you select a wage you are happy to pay and just put that wage. No negotiation.

You can always do regular pay reviews.

The advert is to get people to apply for the job. I feel that by setting a salary you will get less time wasters, as people wanting more than you will pay with luck won't apply.

I'd put a salary too and mention you want a non smoker! Checkable references too. I think £8/hour net is fine.

Thanks, should I put down net, or gross though????

always gross (esp as part time hours or you may find yourself with a huge tax bill if person has another job)

tbh sounds more like a mothers help position then nanny and if happy with someone newly qualified then salary will be adjusted

I would put salary due to experience

Thanks. So would putting "£8 p/h gross, rising with experience" be OK, or is that very unappealing?

We would be willing to pay between £8 and £10 p/h gross, but how to put that in the ad without getting everyone asking for the £10....?

'Salary approx £8gross/hour but neg. dep. on experience' is how I would phrase it.

Personally I prefer ads in your style than chippingin's - you might want to double up on Gumtree!

Salary approx £8gross/hour but neg dep on experience is how I would put it.

snap frakk

And pop (but not yet please!)

pmsl - was going to put sounds like rice crispies