Dilemma: verbally offered nanny position to one person; now met far more suitable candidate

[PacificDogwood]

This is the first time we have interviewed for a nanny.

Met 8 candidates, our first choice then pulled out and position was offered to second choice first reserve.

I was no longer actively looking for further possible candidates, but have been unable to pull my Gumtree ad (don't ask; Gumtree will not talk to my computer apparently), so had a late reply who lives around the corner from us, well qualified for the job, nice, sounds reliable (I've not had time to check references yet).

The person I have offered the job to has been slow in providing references, seems oddly hesitant about the job and I just find myself not 'gelling' with her.

How big a complete cow would I be if I withdrew the joboffer from Nanny1 and offered it to Nanny2? Jobstart is the 1.11.2011.

Please be brutally honest.

Maybe I phrased it wrong. I meant stating the things which you would specifically sack for, in addition to the usual items covered in the Gross Misconduct section.

Would putting "Smoking Whilst on Duty" as a statement rather than as an example make it an instant sackable offence rather than being misconduct? That I feel is the aim of that section, to say what would result in instant dismissal.

Yes, smoking while on duty (or for live-ins, "smoking while on duty or in the home or garden at any time") should be specifically included as gross misconduct (unless you are OK with smoking of course).

I know we have knocked this one around before, but I am going to start a new thread...