Should I use more than one nanny agency.

[silvestro]

I'm looking for a nanny to start in about 6 weeks. I've been with a highly recommended agency but so far they have only sent me two CVs. It's only been a week, but now the agency tell me they are going to be closed for the next three weeks for holidays.
I need to interview potential candidates in 3/4 weeks, surely?
Is there an etiquette with this? Shoould I engage another agency?

You want what is best for your child and yourself, sod the agency and find others. presumably the agency were told the starting date you required, and presumably they knew full well they would be closing for three weeks so they have not shown great etiquette anyway.

You don't want huge numbers of CVs, so an agency only giving you two CVs isn't a problem I feel - if both those candidates match your requirements.
Have you met those candidates yet?

Perfectly fine to be with more than one agency, or to even dump an agency and move on to another. With multiple agencies you can get sent the same nanny details, so you need to keep track of which agency introduces which nanny, so you can refuse to see a CV of a candidate you have already seen, thus avoid double fees.

You don't want huge numbers of CVs, so an agency only giving you two CVs isn't a problem I feel - if both those candidates match your requirements.
Have you met those candidates yet?

Perfectly fine to be with more than one agency, or to even dump an agency and move on to another. With multiple agencies you can get sent the same nanny details, so you need to keep track of which agency introduces which nanny, so you can refuse to see a CV of a candidate you have already seen, thus avoid double fees.

Yes use other agencies

most jobs are with more than one agency anyway... the nanny etiquette is you go with which ever agency told you about the job first, so there is an incentive for agency to actually do the work they are being paid for

Cant imagine parents paying double / triple fee's especially when the fee's can be 4 figures!

I'd ditch the agency and put an ad on nannyjob.co.uk for a fraction of the cost. You will get much better (free!) nanny employer advice on here than from most agencies.

I agree with Niock that you don't want loads of CVs, but I'd probably be looking for more than 2... say 5 or so SUITABLE candidates to choose from. If they can't give you that, what are you paying them for?

agree with strix

almost all nannies who are actively looking for work will check NannyJob daily.
Be prepared to get a lot of applicants from non-nannies and people you wouldnt leave your goldfish with (based on ex bosses experience) but amongst those applicants, you should reach the "real" nannies you would consider too.

and a LOT cheaper than using agencies, for the sake of filtering the CVs yourself

Thanks! I think I'll register with a second agency.

I have no problem with the CVs I've been sent, really and the agency are really nice. I only registered with them a week ago so I wasn't to know either way they were going on holiday.
I am moving to a new job and the company are going to pay the agency fee (yay!!) so I'm happy enough for someone else to do the work for me if it's free for me.
But yes, what I wonder is , if the agency lady is distracted running around getting all her work done the week before her holiday and not keeping her eye on the ball (to be fair, I'd be the same myself) and I don't get a fair cross section of applicants that are out there because of that.

OK, off to register with another.