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Written reference for nanny - what do I need to include?

9 replies

EldonAve · 20/05/2011 19:41

I've never given a written reference before

I was thinking, dates of employment, timekeeping...
What else?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Samedi · 20/05/2011 19:52

Trust. My best refs say that the family trusted me completely. If nanny has dealt with anything out of the ordinary, special needs or proxy parenting or severe illness for example, include that I always find that very useful. Include as much info as possible- ages of children, if they drove, if they did a school run or did weaning. My best refs are a full page long!

nbee84 · 20/05/2011 19:54

Ages of children at start of employment

Whether sole or shared care

Duties

Reliable/prompt

Activities undertaken

Her strengths

nbee84 · 20/05/2011 20:00

Eldon - if you message me your email address I will happily send you a couple of my references (personal details removed obv) which you can use as a template.

Strix · 20/05/2011 20:06

Highlight anything she did well. For example, most of my nannies have had room for improvement when it came to tidying. So the one I had who was excellent at this had that mentioned on her reference.

nannynick · 20/05/2011 20:14

Things that have impressed you/that you didn't expect.
Examples of activities/places they have visited with your children and how that has benefited your children.
Reliability, trust.
How they manage caring for multiple children.

EldonAve · 20/05/2011 20:53

Thanks all, super helpful as always

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callaird · 20/05/2011 23:00

If you would employ her again. I have this in most of my references and perspective employers really like this, they also like the fact that I have gone back to 4 of my previous families for a week of proxy parenting/gone on holiday/helped out when current nanny left at the drop of a hat etc.

Also mention the reason she is leaving (if it is on good terms)

I guess a lot depends on if she is leaving on good terms or not. You cannot legally give a bad reference, you can give a basic reference, dates, ages of children and any good points but you cannot say she was a lousy time keeper, which, even as a nanny, I think is madness! You can go into more detail in a verbal reference, if I recall correctly.

If you really like her, had a good relationship and she is leaving because of a change of circumstance, then please gush about her in her reference! Write all the good things about her, time keeping, cooking, arty, organisational skills, if she had time off sick (in my 25 years of nannying, my references say that I have had the grand total of 9 days off sick and that I sometimes turned up when I really should have been in bed) All of my references are two A4 sides and a most of them say, she is and always will be a part of our family (which I think some of them regret saying as I am still very much in contact with all of my (22) previous charges, even the 25 year olds! In fact I am currently living rent free in a cottage in the grounds of a family that I left 10 years ago (I do the odd spot of babysitting (they are almost 14 so don't really need me) school pick ups and look after the dog/cats/chickens/house if they go away for the weekend.)

Oligo · 21/05/2011 14:11

looking at my refs. there are things like: How the children felt about me, communication, how I got on with parents/other carers/parents.

EldonAve · 22/05/2011 10:43

thanks

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