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Paid childcare

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

"Minimum" rates for sitters.co.uk

40 replies

CocoaBeanPlease · 15/05/2011 21:57

Hi,

I've just registered with sitters.co.uk and have been sent the link to the Guidance for Parents section. I was surprised to see that there they say "the rates of pay we recommend should be considered as minimums" - didn't see that on the website before registering.

So if you've used Sitters, could you please tell me how much you actually pay? If most people overpay, I'm worried that if I use the suggested rate my babysitters will be offended and refuse to come back!

Thanks

OP posts:
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pinkchick1 · 24/11/2012 18:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lalulalu · 15/08/2013 17:15

hate Sitters.
They NEVER listen to you .
They NEVER are Wrong.
They are ALWAYS grumpy
They sent me 24 miles away!!!!!!!!!!

ConfusedPixie · 15/08/2013 18:48

Could you not have turned down the job lalu? & this is a 2 year old thread...

lovelynannytobe · 15/08/2013 18:48

lalulalu didn't you check the distance before accepting? I never take anything over 7 miles away.

SimLondon · 15/08/2013 21:52

I was thinking about sitters, we have no-one to babysit and the girls at our nursery aren't allowed to babysit for parents :-( sitters have a great reputation but it feels odd to leave a stranger at home -hhmm

Jemjem12 · 18/11/2013 19:05

Although this is an old thread I totally agree with lalualu. Having worked for sitters for a number of years I would definitely NOT use it for my own kids!

My 'interview' was by a local mum which consisted of two questions - what's your favourite book and how do you know if a child is ill (duh)

I built up good relationships with regular clients who told me of awful experiences they had, ones who had rifled through drawers and even one who let an expensive cat out and lost it!

All sitters cares about is filling jobs and making money. They are rude, unappreciative and greedy.

I would 100% recommend Likeminders over sitters! A pleasure to work for and extremely professional

pinkchick1 · 01/03/2014 16:57

I also worked for sitters and I ran a nanny agency for years as well as being a nanny. I also agree with comments above, I would never leave my child in the care of the sitters company.

They are rude, uncaring from the sitters perspective.

I actually can say, I interviewed many, many years ago. I worked very well with the company, it was then bought out in 2007 I think, don't quote me on that. I was never once re vetted from the time I started to the the time I left. I also stopped and started working for them over the years so I technically could of done anything and they would not have known.

After working in the agency industry, I realised, they work under the nanny agency guidelines, this means they are basically a data base of names, parents and child carers. This means that the parents need to be interviewing their babysitter before the babysitter looks after their child, they then need to be taking up references, preferably 3.

So basically I ask, if you were to employ a nanny for your children, would you simply call the agency, have them turn up on a Monday morning and care for your children, no references or interview, this is in effect what you are doing with this company.

Yes the child care providers may be in the profession, or may have been in the profession when they registered. But are they still, if not and why, or have nanny agencies black listed a nanny etc for a serious reason.

I won't use this company for my child ever, I won't trust her safety.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 02/03/2014 01:59

So is Likeminders the one to go to? Any other good ones in London?

Btw would a babysitter think it was awful if the child was up when they arrived? In pjs & washed, possibly teeth done... But awake and wanting to play/ read books etc?

I loved it when I was a babysitter but I loved the children I babysat for so probably was different!y Ds sleeps late and there's no way I would be able to present the sitter with zonked out child for the evening...

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/03/2014 06:40

Depends what time the bs arrive and age of child. But generally it is nice for child to meet bs incase they wake - so yes I'm happy to put child to bed after a story

This is an old thread but rem Reading it then - thought I did reply but often sitters threads so prob replied on another one

I won't bs through sitters as pay is rubbish and also have a 4hr minimum booking and even if use less I make clear they still pay for 4hrs updront

Pink chick1 - I'm intrigued what your old replies were that you asked to be removed then bump up old thread with a new reply

Tanith · 02/03/2014 10:51

Blondes, the deleted message answered one of my earlier ones about their rating system with some very detailed information that I think could have identified Pinkchick. I'm guessing that's why she asked for it to be deleted.

Basically, what she said was that the rating system was calculated differently to what it said - ie, not customer satisfaction at all! My experience bore that out.

I can also confirm that they don't continue to vet their siitters: I know an ex-childminder who stopped working with children 8 years ago and is still accepting bookings.

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/03/2014 15:20

thanks tanith - im nosey lol

tho agree that sitters dont seem to vet their sitters :(

TracieSitterssitter3 · 01/07/2018 23:25

Hi...I am a sitters sitter in Berkshire. We get to see the jobs on offer and the rate of pay offered, which varies on postcode and whether a weekend or not. We don't have to take a booking, so if your sitter knows the rate, they shouldn't expect anymore...other than a small roundup. We are all told to carry change too. I have many regulars who do roundups but I am just as happy to work for them as the people who round up big time or pay extra. I work in a school during the day and have 16 years experience of childcare. Sitters only take people with childcare experience and we are interviewed and referenced before we can be offered a booking. Hope this info helps, you and others too.

Charlitto86 · 20/04/2019 12:59

I currently work for sitters on a regular basis. All the families I have worked for have been lovely and have always rounded up . Sometimes I even get a tip too. My reviews have been amazing too which is really good to see. They are really good agency to work for. Its a shame some of the girls have not had a good experience. I can totally relate though I only do jobs locally at the moment and I also am conscious how many hours I do as I work full time. It has to be worth my while to do it.

EachandEveryone · 24/04/2019 15:34

Im glad this thread is here. Im a fully qualified paediatric and nnu nurse.ive started to work for sitters because I dont always want to go to work on my days off. Going to someones house for afew hours suits me fine. Ive always been paid rounded up and it badically is £10 an hour which i think is right for London. Some of the mat nannies i see at work are on £35 an hour and are always telling me to do it but obviously im not go8ng to leave my job for it.

Sitters are bloody awful. Not the vetting process or the interview that was actually thorough infact they turned my highly qualified mate down because she doesnt like cats 🙂

They are disgraceful inthat they send you offers of jobs and when you accept them 9/10 you dont get them as they go to the parents “preferred” sitter. Well why not just ask the blinking preferred sitter in the first place? They put you forward the more reviews you get even though most parents dont leave reviews. So basically the same ditters get the jobs all the time.

They are rude and cant justify why they do this.
Luckily i dont need the money but i live alone so sometimes its nice just to be around other dc and have fun with them. I wish i could find a more reliable agency.

Has anyone tried Bubble? Thats fine except, they do no checks whatsoever!

EachandEveryone · 24/04/2019 15:37

Sorry for the mad spelling its being like this since i updated the ipad.

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