mums, nannies - recommendations for nanny agencies?

[microserf]

hi, this thread is a little duplicative of some other threads, but i need a very specific type of advice. i've spent ages writing out a family description, job spec, etc for a nanny, and now i need to take the plunge!

can any mums or nannies recommend good nanny agencies that they have used? PM would be great if we are not allowed to promote businesses in this way. i am based in sw11 if this helps.

i would like to use an agency in our search but there seem to be masses of them charging widely varying fees and offering a big fat nothing only limited recompense if things don't work out for any reason? (i am not really concerned about the second point, but it does amuse me to see how little help you get if it all turns to custard).

any agencies that really added value?

ideally one that gives a full disclosure of how they bill? many don't, or use some arcane formula i can't relate back to the nanny's net or gross pay and it's annoying when trying to choose.

i can't face gumtree.... only ever got nutter flatmates off it when i was single!

I had a very bad experience with Imperial. I am a mother of two. First they did not do any screening of the nannies, athough I had given them very clear specifications. They did not even check if the candidates have a recent CRB! When we found a nanny I did all the checks, asked her to update her CRB etc. After paying the agency fee, the nanny told us that she needs to leave. Surprise surprise, the replacement service of Imperial was not offered to us. I have asked to speak to the proprietor, after the manager did not even want to listen to me but the manager is blocking me. Is there time for some regulation in this sector? Very poor service. Very expensive and do not work for their money.

I am looking for a good Nanny agency can anyone recommend one that is affordable as most I have looked at are pretty expensive.
Thanks

Applejack quite good - have used them as have friends. Had so so experience with abbeville

Ditto re very opaque agency fees....I have a problem with a nanny agency I just registered with. They randomly sent me a weekly fee of £20 (they say discounted from £65 - the cheek')! ld also I paid their annual £150 fee for their babysitting service and I mentioend from the start that I would also need two mornings/afternoons. They never mentioned this weekly fee - they only sent me their T&Cs after I complained about the weekly fee. I was ill with nasty flu when they sent the daytime help - I feel they saw me vulnerable and are trying to take advantage of the situation as I seemed desperate. Their argument is that £150 only covers evening babysitting service. Anyone have experience of dealing with a situation like this? Thanks

Why would you use an agency? Genuine question. Have been looking at some over the past week (nanny resigned) and cannot see why I would want to pay £2.5k for somebody to read through CVs and follow-up on references (which I would do anyway). Am I missing something?

To compare fees, decide what would be ideal hours and realistic pay (net and gross), then do the maths. The ones I have spoken to (sw12, so near you) all seem to be in the region of £2.5k for a full-time nanny on £8-9 net. And refuse to talk to those who will not send details of fees and terms and conditions in advance (yes, another pesky lawyer here).

I recommended the nannyjob website to a parent I know and they had great success.
Alternatively, agencies I like include Sassi at Imperial, everyone at Occasional and Permanent and have also heard good things about Little Ones. Little Ones is a small agency who seem to really get to know the family and nanny well. Very personal service. If I was continuing as a nanny I would be keen to use them.

I registered (or tried to register!) with a lot of agencies. I agree with those who recommended Wimbledon Nannies - also Elizabeth Henry Nannies - Sam is brilliant - and Pure Nannies - Angela is lovely. Some were very wary of taking me on - I am an 'older' Nanny - but the above were very supportive and I have got a job through Pure.

Just been through the nanny agency experience and tried little ones and peekaboo. wouldn't recommend either of them. after speaking to 6 different consultants at little ones, it became clear that unless you want a bi-lingual nanny, they struggle. i don't mind if the nanny isn't english but i didn't require a specific language - that seemed to blow their whole system. peekaboo tried to sell me an arrangement where i paid a "discounted" fee (thousands of pounds) upfront tying me into them or i paid a registration fee (£120). i paid the registration fee and heard very little from them once the fee was paid. ended up hiring a nanny through another NW london agency who were fantastic (hampstead nannies) though sadly not much use for a position in wimbledon.

This is a four-year old thread! Not only that, but it's not 2014 so you might want to sort your site out

I had a great experience with Kensington nannies, I was very impressed with everyone they sent. In the end we couldn't afford the fees and went with someone we had found ourselves on childcare.Co.UK which really didn't work out

I could recommend my friend Lucy she has set her own agency up. daffodil nannies.