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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

Becoming a nanny... how realistic is this?

20 replies

themothership · 13/02/2006 15:30

Am currently on maternity leave, looking after dd who is nearly 9 months. She's my first child, and I'm supposed to be going back to work in June... I'm a business psychologist and work for a consultancy. I should be able to negotiate perhaps one day a week at home with dd but the thing is this - I desperately don't want to go back and leave dd. I am already in the process of retraining as a child psychotherapist and had planned a career change before I got pregnant. The training is part-time (evening and weekends) and it will be 5 years before I qualify.

Unfortunately, me not working is not an option, so short of winning the lottery I don't have many choices. However, because I'm retraining anyway, I have the advantage that not returning to my particular job will not have an effect on my long-term career plans. I am trying to be creative about how I could work and still look after dd, and the most viable option seems to be working as a nanny and taking dd along with me (I understand that this would probably be seen as a nanny share arrangement). As someone with a psychology degree, I know a fair bit about child development, but have no formal experience of caring for other children besides dd.

My current job is very stressful and I find that working in a corporate environment doesn't really fulfill me or necessarily make the most of my strenghts. I love looking after children, and have some experience of working with children in a research context. My desire to become a nanny isn't solely based on wanting to be with dd - I know many women don't have a choice but to return to existing jobs or actively want to return to work, yet struggle to find childcare with gives the standard or quality of care that they'd want.

How realistic is it that I could get work as a nanny given all of the above? I'd prefer to look after a child younger than dd so that I have the relevant practical experience of caring for a child of that age IYSWIM. What can I do to increase my chances of employment? What kind of salary could I expect and are there any specific issues that I'd need to be aware of with regards to also caring for dd?

If it all sounds a bit far-fetched, then be brutal with me - I need to know!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

oops · 13/02/2006 15:38

Message withdrawn

Original poster

themothership · 13/02/2006 15:42

Aw thanks Oops

I live in Hackney, although it's pretty easy for me to get to surrounding areas eg Islington, Stokey etc...

...but I guess I need feedback from others before I know whether this is a realistic option for me. And I'd be worried that looking after 2 kids in addition to dd without any formal experience apart from being a mother (although I'm sure that helps a great deal ) might be a bit much for me to start off with.

Hope you find someone though.

OP posts:

bluebear · 13/02/2006 15:48

When I've been looking for a nanny I've had applications from people in the same position as you - Have you looked at how much you would likely earn - with no childcare quals you would be competing with the 'nannies from abroad' who tend not to be qualified but are a lot cheaper than qualified nannies. Try looking for jobs on nannyjob.co.uk or gumtree.com.

If you want to do this at the minimum I would suggest taking a peadiatric first aid course (the st john's ambulance run them but it's £120 round here) - and try to get some experience at local playgroups, You could also get CRB checked (if you help out at a local school or playgroup they may be able to help arrange this.

Have you considered becoming a childminder? If you ring your local coucil (try www.childcarelink.gov.uk and go to the page for your region, the children's info service will have a phone number there) you should be able to get some info on what this entails. In this area you attend a day course to tell you all about childminding, then you need your home OFSTED inspected, you are CRB checked (cheaper than other routes) and you have to undergo a short evening course in childcare...if you come out the other end and would rather nanny than childmind at least you've gained some qualifications for not too much cost.
Hope this helps.

oops · 13/02/2006 15:49

Message withdrawn

Original poster

themothership · 13/02/2006 15:55

Thanks Bluebear, thats really useful. I hadn't realised that training for a childminder was just a short evening course - the only other reason I hadn't considered childminding was that our house isn't very big, but will follow your advice and look into it a bit more.

What would other posters say that the benefits of being a nanny over a childminder are (and vice versa)?

OP posts:

uwila · 13/02/2006 16:08

I think you are qualified enough to find a job as a nanny. But, I think £100/day is quite a lot to expect. That's £500/week for a nannyshare. That's an awful lot. I think you'd be looking at about half that.

uwila · 13/02/2006 16:10

You might prefer being a childminder as you could skip duties like children's laundry, and you could pick the activities and you wouldn't have to get your baby ready and out the door for work with you. You would just come downstairs when the doorbell rings. You also have more freedom to choose your holidays whenever you like. However, you won't have the perks of being an employee.

Jackmummy · 13/02/2006 17:10

I have worked both as a nanny and a childminder. I am a qualified nursery nurse with several years experience and I have never earnt £100 a day... where have I been going wrong! The most I've earnt as a nanny was £80 and that was before I had my own!
I haven't been a nanny since having children, because I think childminding is a better option in my case.
I agree with Uwila in that as a CM I have to be dressed and ready when the child/ren arrive, but my DS doesn't. He has even still been asleep at times!
Also you have the extra time to yourself that travel would take up.
You are paid less as a CM than a nanny if you are only caring for 1 child. But if you have 2 or 3 you can match or beat it finantualy!
Also when the children are asleep,in the day, as a CM you can do bits around your house.
Negitives are its your house that gets messy every day and you need to supply all the toys which can initially be costly if mindee older than your child...
Oh i culd go on forever!! Still undecided which is best myself! Am currently advitising as both and will see what comes up!

bluebear · 13/02/2006 20:13

I just googled 'Introduction to Childminding Practice' which is the minimum qual for childminding - it came up as a 12 hour course...so not that long.

Can I admit that I wouldn't employ you currently due to your lack of first aid cert and experience with children over 9 months..but then maybe I'm a fusspot.
As for salary - I agree with Uwila - you're more in the ball park of £50net per day (for a 10 hour day) if you have your own child (slightly more than a nanny-share which is more like £40net per day ie.nanny gets £80net, round here..that's for a qualified nanny)

Good luck - hope you find something that suits you!

HappyMumof2 · 13/02/2006 20:37

Message withdrawn

ThePrisoner · 13/02/2006 20:42

I didn't think that the child protection, equal opps and Birth to Three were compulsory??

HappyMumof2 · 13/02/2006 20:45

Message withdrawn

mumlove · 13/02/2006 20:56

ThePrisoner - child protection, equal opps and Birth to Three, I don't think they are compulsory but I think ofsted would LIKE you to do them and also the food hygiene every 3 yrs.

nzshar · 13/02/2006 21:07

Soon OFSTED will want us to roll over and beg for food too but I for one aint playing their game ....sorry for being flippant but OFSTED are not my favourite people at the moment

ThePrisoner · 13/02/2006 22:27

nzshar - you can beg for food already, but only if it is free-range, organic and home-cooked.

The child protection etc. courses are basically compulsory if you want to be in a Childminding Network, so I've done the lot (and often more than once, just in case I get it wrong )

bluebear - they're scrapping the Introduction to Childminding course (and the whole of the Certificate in Childminding Practice,although you can continue the DCP and ECP if you've already started). It's all being replaced with something new and super-duper.

Original poster

themothership · 14/02/2006 09:51

Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice and feedback, it's all been immensely valuable.

Bluebear - I agree, I wouldn't employ me either right now without any training etc. . I'm due to go back to my job (at the consultancy) in June, so I just need to decide what I'm going to do before then, by which point dd will be 13 months.

Happymumof2 - thanks for the Hackney-specific stuff. It's actually reassuring to know that the training is more comprehensive. I'll get in touch with the council and find out some more.

OP posts:

NannyL · 14/02/2006 12:44

Im sure you can do it!

I have a psychology degree and I'm a nanny!!!!!

Actually all my employers LOVE it and im paid a VERY good salary as a result! and everyone who i have worked as been greatful to have had an intelligent nanny looking after their children! (no offense intended to nannies withoua a degree at all, its just thats what they have said to me)

With a baby you are right to expect to be paid a little less than than a nanny with no children (although very experianced nannies often dont take a pay cut when they go back to work! which surprises me!)

The area in which you live / work will greatly affect the salary to expect, but i would imagine that even in areas where pay is lower you could expect a minimum of £230 nett per week, and more if in London.

Im not sure how you would go about getting the first job.... most (although not all) agencys only want experianced and / or qualified nannies (and many want both) but have a search around and phone as many as you can and im sure the agency staff will be happy to help you out!... once you have got your first job you will have the experiance (also im sure many employers prefer a more "mature" person to an 18 year old staright out of college!)

But my advice to you is to "go for it" have a look at nannyjob where you can advertise yourself (for free) and also search lots of jobs.... Alot of agencies put all their jobs on there, and parents can advertise as well, and they may be more willing to accomodate your situation, tho im sure some agencies will as well.
You can also search for agencies in your area etc!

Im sure you can do it!

oops · 14/02/2006 21:55

Message withdrawn

omega2 · 15/02/2006 17:41

If you wanted to be a childminder you would not be allowed another baby - please correct me if i am wrong, but as a nanny there is no limit to numbers (except for insurance).

riab · 16/02/2006 12:52

I think its realistic. I have a nanny and had an application from a woman who wanted to bring her son with her. I turned her down because there was a 13 month age gap which I felt was too much. ds was only 6 months and the differences in ages between them I thought would make a difference.

I pay an hourly rate of £5 an hour for an experienced but unqualified 'first job' as a nanny girl of 19 in east yorks.
the questions I'd ask would be;
what would you do if they both were crying
what would you do if one hit the other?
will you bring your own childs toys?
what arrangement will you make if your child is ill
will you fit your child into our routine?

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