Questions about hiring a nanny

[SpeedyGonzalez]

I'm considering hiring a nanny, having never done so before. I'd really appreciate any help with these questions as I decide whether or not to go down this route:

1. I want someone p/t but ideally in my home - just for 1 day a week. Would I still have to become their employer, or could they operate as self-employed, like cm's do?
2. how do nannies set their rates - ie is it usually a set rate or does it vary according to their responsibilities?
3. what should I look out for to help me spot the right person for me/ my child?

Many thanks!

1 - you're the employer. It's not as scary as it sounds as longas you negotiate a gross wage. Depending on how much you pay you may not be liable for employer's NI

2 - you set the rate, not the nanny, although some may want to negotiate on wages. Nannies are paid per family, not per child, and additional duties will attract a higher wage.

3 - that entirely depends what you need. Can you give us more detail on what your job is?

For example if you will be around it's more important that you get on than that nanny is able to take the initiative and self-start because you can give direction when they're standing around aimlessly. You don't say how old your DCs are but age relevant experience could well be important, more so with a newborn than with a 3yo IMO. What do you want them to do?

Thanks, snap - and you're right, the idea of being an employer is rather overwhelming!

In terms of what I need, I'd rather not say what my job is because I don't want to out myself. But basically I'd be at home sometimes and out at work at other times. I'd want someone who is on my wavelength as far as looking after children is concerned, so I guess I should start from that point when interviewing people. I'd primarily want them to look after my baby, who's nearly 1. But I'd probably also need them to pick up DS from school and look after them both from 3-ish until the end of the day.

Oh I didn't mean your job as in the one you do (although if it's something that means you're utterly unreachable/at home with clients and need total privacy then that might be relevant).

I meant your job that you're offering

So you need someone who's happy to take sole charge (otherwise there's no point in having them because you can't go out!), probably with toddler experience, but used to WFH parents. Are you within walking distance of school or do you need a driver? With own car? Are you happy to have a nanny with own child (reduces the cost but you have another child around)? Can you be flexible on hours? Do you need flexibility on hours?

You say 1 day - which? Mondays and Fridays are popular with nannies looking for a 1 day job to complement a 3 or 4 day but if you can be flexible that's even better.

Make a list of your non-negotiables first otherwise you'll be inundated with candidates who waste your time. Once you've narrowed the field down then you can start thinking about people who have the same ideas on childcare as you but there's no point meeting someone you click with and discovering that they don't drive and want to bring their baby with them if you don't want that.

Before you interview check that all candidates understand you're offering a gross wage (you will need to run payroll but it's not too difficult or you can get a company to do it), that they have or are willing to get nanny insurance and appropriate insurance for their car if they're using it, that they're willing for you to follow up on references after the interview, that they have, or are willing to get, a paediatric 1st aid certificate and a CRB (if the latter is important to you), and - if you plan to pay them with childcare vouchers - that they are or are in a position to be OFSTED registered.

You'll also want to double check that you have employer liability (may come as part of your house insurance).

It's important IMO to have the same ideas about:
Discipline
Eating/food - what will they feed your 1yo for lunch? What's a suitable after school snack? Does all food have to be eaten up?
Suitable activities (you can dictate this to a certain extent but if you don't want DS watching TV afterschool and they think it's the best way to wind down you're off to a bad start)
General hygiene/cleanliness - excessive cleanliness like sterilising until they go to school will annoy you, bad hygiene is dangerous

You are utterly marvellous. Thank you so much for this incredibly full and detailed post. You've given me loads to think about - especially the practical issues such as transport, etc.

Interesting that it lowers costs if the nanny brings their own child - that doesn't bother me at all as long as their child is nice, so I shall bear that in mind.

I shall give serious thought to all the points you've raised, this is a great starting point for me.

Thanks so much!

Consider working hours... Start time, finish time. Some people don't mind working long hours, others prefer shorter hours. Decide what you need and what you can afford.

You say you will be home at times and not at other times... some nannies won't mind that, others may want to feel they are in sole care. Reality is that these days nannies need to fit in with their employer, however your nanny will most likely want fixed hours - so decide on what hours would work.
I can often have a boss around at home, they may be working, resting, gardening, tidying up, studying etc. It works well most of the time.

There are many message threads on here about the practical side of things like Holiday entitlement, payroll, that kind of thing. So have a look through, or ask a specific question.

Consider what your children might need in 6 months, a year, two years. A nanny who is great with babies may not be as good with toddlers, though many nannies have experience caring for a vareity of aged children.

Outings can increase the cost of having a nanny quite a bit but also may mean your child gets to do things you wouldn't do with them. Your nanny can help your child learn about new things - I've asked children what they would like to do, got a one word answer such as Castle, Helicopter, and taken that as the thing to do - so visiting a Castle, going to see a helicopter up close, sitting inside it. Haven't yet been flying... that takes it a bit far perhaps.

Consider school holidays. Nanny will need to be able to care for all children at the same time and find things that with luck all will be interested in. Babies/toddlers luckly tend to like anything, so go with the flow most of the time.