Nanny/Housekeeper part-time position - your advice, please!

[wolfhound]

Our lovely part-time nanny has just given her notice (she is moving to a full-time position) which is very sad for us. I'm about to go on maternity leave so probably won't replace her until next year. I'm thinking about a different set-up, and would really appreciate your advice. Does this sound like a reasonable position to ask for - would anyone want to do it? What would make it more attractive.

At that point we'll have 3 children - DS1 (4.5), DS2 (2.8) and DC3 (12mths).
My ideal set-up would be 15 hrs child-care a week, and 8 hrs cleaning/housekeeping. (I would take care of the kids while she was doing cleaning - wouldn't expect her to multitask). I work from home so can be flexible about the spread of hours over the week. E.g. 3 whole days, or 5 part-days etc.

One oddity of the situation is that in December/January, I would need DS1 to be picked up from school each afternoon (but not the rest of the year - however, if easiest to arrange things so that the pm pickup is always part of the regular hours, could do that.

DS1 will be starting school. DS2 will be at pre-school 2-3 mornings. In the school hols, child-care would cover all 3 of them, otherwise mainly DC3 and partly DS2. All very well-behaved children (well, don't know about DC3 yet!)

Was thinking of £8 per hour gross.

What do you think?

Should have added that we are in the north of England (relevant for salary).

I think salary sounds fine and pehaps a mothers help/housekeeper may be a better title as you would be at home and a salary of £6-£8 depending on their previous experience.

It may suit a mum with a child at school if you are happy for them to work school hrs and bring own child in school hols. Or a mum with a child at secondary school who can be left on own in school hrs or for an hr after school.

or suit a nursery nurse looking for first nanny job - although may not want part time hrs.

Thanks eastmidlandsnightnanny - hadn't thought about the 'mothers help' description. I would be in the house, but not actually with her and the children - does that still fit the 'mothers help' idea? And there would be the occasional (perhaps four or five times a year) where I have to go away, so wouldn't be in the house.

You are right about the mum option - though might be a problem with combining school pickups, perhaps. And having four children in her care in hols might be a bit much (tho' a secondary school child who can do own thing perhaps different.)

Would I be best going through an agency or are there other avenues? Got my first nanny through an agency, but reluctant to pay humungous fees all over again (though would for the right person who would stay long-term).