Part-time nanny reference: balance between giving a glowing reference and risk of losing nanny

[SuiGeneris]

Our lovely part-time nanny has signed up with an agency to find work for the two days she does not work for us. I have written what I think is a truthful glowing reference but now am wondering whether I am selling her so well that the agency will tell her to use the reference to gain a full-time job.

I have therefore made it clear in the reference that we hope she will stay with us for a long time etc (I think this is only fair to other families, in case they hope their part-time nanny will become full-time).

if anybody has faced this issue before and has dealt with it successfully I would appreciate any help. Also views from nannies and agencies would be great.

Bump?

You are not "selling her so well", you are giving an honest account of her strengths as an employee. You owe it to her because she, presumably, can't pay her bills on the part-time salary you pay her. If she's a good nanny she deserves a good reference.

While you may well want her to stay, your job on it's own isn't enough. So they are having to find other work as well for which having a glowing reference is important. So give the glowing reference in the hope they will find work which fits around their current commitment to you.

There is always a risk that an employee will leave, that's why there are notice periods in contracts.