Where would you look to choose a nanny agency?

[NannyTreeChelsea]

As the title says really... where would you look to find a nanny agency AND what would make you choose one over another?

I am on my second nanny. Both times I signed up with a couple of agencies and also placed some direct adverts, eg gumtree. Agencies were selected by a combination of word of mouth and googling for agencies in my area. Fee structure was relevant, as ws the extent to which they screened in advance. Some will just send through all cvs on their books. Others will pay more attention to specific requirements and send through only those which look like a good ft. Prefer the latter clearly. If I was happy to spend days sifting, it would be just as easy - and cheaper- just to use gumtree.

Unfortunately I hear that a lot about agencies - Mainly the big ones! Although its not usually put as nicely... More along the lines of "they throw enough s**t and hope that some will stick"

Word of mouth seems to be our biggest channel but It's interesting to hear that you use search engines! Our website isn't ranking very well at all

Word of mouth, seeing posts on MN, adverts on nannyjob.

But I do prefer to screen myself and use agencies if my deadline is tight. I do fairly comprehensive checking on candidates so I'm mining the agency database rather than relying in them to matchmake very accurately!

Thanks for sharing Fraktal... have you found that agencies don't matchmake very accurately?

Some do to the point of saying they don't have anyone who meets all the criteria and therefore they can't help. Others get it about right, get the non negotiables and it's a 90% fit and some just seem to send every nanny on the books who ticks one box.

I wish agencies had a option for how much legwork was needed on their part and took responsibility for screening from the nanny's POV (whether my job would be of interest).

My problem is that we attachment parent (mostly) and many agencies neglect to mention it to nannies or assume nannies aren't interested because it's not something which is explored at any agency interview.

Why dont you give www.childcare.co.uk a try first. Just make yourself a profile stating what childcare you need etc and see who applies. Making a profile is free and child carers can contact you if they are a member. To enable members and non members to contact you costs about £20 per month but will be much more economical that agencies and you can filter those you like and not like yourself by asking for cv's

Good luck

Is there a need for agencies to visit families in person? One thing I don't think someone can tell via a phone call or email is how tidy someone is. Walk into their home though and it hits you in the face. I like a home with children to have that lived in look, not the museum/art gallery look.

Where would you look to choose a nanny agency?
As a nanny I would Google for local agencies. I would also get in touch with agencies I already knew via social media like Twitter, though they would need to be local. I don't want to be travelling to London to meet with an agency when there are agencies nearer to me. I do however wonder if parents contact a local agency, or if they contact a London agency when the job itself is in Surrey/Berkshire border area (outside M25).