Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

Original poster

How to find a nanny without using an agency?

20 replies

2gorgeousgirls · 12/04/2011 21:56

Hello, does anybody have any tips on how to find a nanny without using an agency?

All of the online databases charge to become a member, and Gumtree charges to place an ad, and so I was wondering what kind of success people have had before I shell out.

Thanks for any advice!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

southeastastra · 12/04/2011 21:57

you could try singing like in mary poppins

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 12/04/2011 22:00

Since when did Gumtree start charging?

www.childcare.com doesn't charge you to place an Ad, only to message if you want to contact someone, but you can place them on your favourites list, they get a message and if they are a member they can contact you.

What part of the country are you in?

Original poster

2gorgeousgirls · 12/04/2011 22:09

We're in Ham, near Richmond. Guessing it's an expensive area!

When I went to post the ad on gumtree, it said that as I am hiring, the cost is £29.70 for 60 days - I was a bit surprised.

southeastastra - you haven't heard my voice....

OP posts:

nbee84 · 12/04/2011 22:14

As a nanny, when I am looking for work, I always check nannyjob (think an ad costs £30) childcare.co.uk and my local netmums.

I've just found a job through childcare.c... and did as chipping suggested - viewed and added to my favourites. I would generally expect the parent to pay to subscribe and contact me - then I would know that they were seriously looking for a nanny and that they found me to be a suitable candidate from my ad.

nannynick · 12/04/2011 23:05

I agree with nbee84 - as a nanny I would first check NannyJob.

You may not get many applicants via an advert on there but those that you do get I would have thought would be serious applicants, who had bothered to read your advert.

Gumtree I might look at on occasion, though hard for me in my area to know which part of Gumtree is appropriate - in my case Reading or Guildford are the choices and I'm about halfway between them.
You would be looking at London gumtree, so large area, lots of potential ad views. That may well equal lots of applicants but will they have read the advert sufficiently to make sure they meet your minimum requirements, that the job is in travel distance etc.

Childcare.co.uk - an ad is free. Contacting people costs. So place an ad now and see who views it, who favourites it. (Click the ad on Mumsnet, so mumsnet gets some recognition)

As a nanny I've not advertised for a nanny... but I would say that if you are not having to recruit someone urgently, then start with NannyJob and a free listing on childcare.co.uk (as nannies who are serious job hunters may well have a paid account themselves). Then if nothing comes of that, consider paying for Gumtree (making the minimum criteria very clear in the advert and then ditching anyone who replies who does not meet that criteria) and paying to contact people via Childcare.co.uk

nannynick · 12/04/2011 23:06

Keep in mind that an agency could cost you £1000-£3000, so spending £100 or so on ads/member fees is far less than using an agency.

pickcherries · 12/04/2011 23:20

2gg, im looking for an annying job at the moment if your interested??

im Level 3 qualified, Paediatric First Aid Trained, CRB checks, references available on request.

Can give you more details if interested - can email siobhanboland 1991 at hotmail dot com

Samedi · 13/04/2011 07:25

For Ham, you may want to consider sticking an ad in the St Margarets Gymboree, then just up the road theres a newsagents with a big old notice board.

Original poster

2gorgeousgirls · 13/04/2011 10:34

Thanks for all the tips, have just put an ad on childcare.c and have already had a couple of messages. Will put one on Nannyjob too, and see what happens!

pickcherries - have emailed you, but not sure if the address was right with a space between d and 1991, so please let me know if you don't get it and I'll send it again!

OP posts:

pickcherries · 13/04/2011 10:37

no space!

Ktay · 13/04/2011 10:49

If you haven't already tried it, it's worth emailing the Richmond NCT distribution list as they often have people on there who no longer need their nannies/need to find them extra hours elsewhere. [email protected] (you need to register first.)

Sorry to hijack but was interested to read about the childcare.co.uk messaging. I posted an ad on there last week and have had lots of views but no messages. Does this mean I'm supposed to contact nannies who fit the bill? I'd just assumed people weren't interested in my (extremely part-time) vacancy!

frakyouveryverymuch · 13/04/2011 11:39

As a nanny I'd check my local netmums, nannyjob, gumtree if I could be bothered to wade through all the misplaced ads.

I've advertised for a nanny on greataupair and will put something up on nannyjob soon (although I'm overseas so not that relevant!).

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 13/04/2011 14:30

Ktay - most nannies don't pay the subscription as if the parents are serious, like their profile etc, they will (pay &) contact them.

The best way for a non paid up member to show interest is to mark you as a favourite (you will get notification that they have done this), so if you like them I would contact those for sure.

I would also have a standard 'cut & paste' message you could send to the others who have viewed your Ad. Something that basically says - 'I see you have read our advert, if it is of any interest to you, please let me know' Once you have messaged them, they can reply to you. You are also allowed to give them your other contact details.

HTH

Ktay · 13/04/2011 14:37

Thanks ChippingIn, that's very helpful. Sadly I've not been 'faved' yet though!

Samedi - that Gymboree is near me, will try posting my job there too.

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 13/04/2011 14:50

Ktay - you can PM me your childcare.com user name if you want to and if I can offer any suggestions I will... up to you :)

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 13/04/2011 14:51

& that would be .co.uk not .com of course!

Ktay · 13/04/2011 15:41

Thanks, that would be v. kind - will PM you now.

Sorry OP, you can have your thread back now...

Nightsdrawingin · 13/04/2011 21:50

We posted on the free 'babysitting' section of Gumtree and found our nanny like that! Not sure if that still works but there were definitely quite a lot of ads for nannies rather than babysitters there when I did it.

culturemulcher · 13/04/2011 21:59

I found our nanny without placing an add - MN, netmums, etc, but the method that actually cracked it was putting up ads. in local newsagents. I also printed off a few flyers at home and put them on noticeboards / coffee tables at local playgroups.

I was desperate! We live in an area that doesn't seem to have much call for nannies.

I spent less than £10 in all, and it worked.

culturemulcher · 13/04/2011 22:00

Sorry - that should have said, without paying for an ad. I did post on MN, netmums, etc...

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread