New to the world of nannies

[vicks71]

Hi
I know that this will have been done to death, but any pointers would be great. Currently have a CM who looks after 2 year old and picks up 5 year old from school 3 days a week. Thinking of switching to hiring a nanny instead for reasons I won't bore you with, but largely due to the increased flexibility that it will afford (despite the fact that I might have to sell one of said children to afford a nanny - ha!)

I might have struck lucky in that before I go down the road of advertising, I've had a recommendation from a friend regarding a nanny currently working for a friend of hers who will be free and looking for a job at exactly the time I need someone and for the same number of days etc. I've had an initial conversation with her and have high hopes and am meeting her next week.

Apart from the obvious practical issues - such as CRB, references, pay, vouchers (ie whether she accepts CC vouchers - I think she's Ofsted registered), holidays etc, and the more childcare focused issues such as what activities she'd do with kids, what are the main things I need to think about asking? Does anyone have a link to a good checklist? Does anyone (from experience) have any "must ask" questions? Any guidance appreciated.

A few thoughts off the top of my head:-

• she's asking for £10 an hour net which seems to be standard for London, as I understand it
• with 6 weeks holiday which I think is more than average but doable (she'd probably actually get more in reality). She said that with her current employer, they each get to pick 1/2 the holiday dates.
• what do you do re meals? Do you tell the nanny what you want them to cook? Do you provide food for the nanny (I would imagine so).

I'm sure there is a whole raft of issues/questions that just haven't crossed my mind yet, so if anyone could offer advice, it would be much appreciated.
Cheers

Hi Vicks

You may find some useful info on our site www.bapn.org.uk

£10 for London is farily standard but always depends on experience/qualifications.Always agree a gross salary in your contract.

50/50 with holidays is standard.
Meals- discuss at your meeting how your nanny likes to meal plan and yes, you would provide food for nanny to eat while on duty.

Hi i was a nanny for 10 + years for the same family. I used a notebook to write down what/how much/when they ate, when they slept, so we could keep to the same routine through the week and weekend. I used to take my own food as it was easier for me to do so. How would she discipline the children, what for ? Have you checked her car insurance ? (Should be suitable for use at work) Of all the children I have had in my car over the years not one parent has asked !! What do you place importance on with regard to your children ? Learning numbers, letters etc or arts and craft type things ? I prefered being told what to feed the children day, one less thing for me to think about, and I wouldn't have used something for the children that might've been for the adults. Show nanny where the first aid kit is, and tell her the doctors address, just in case. I liked to keep a friendly but professional relationship, she is paying my wage, not being my best friend. But that might just be me! :-)

Moneybox Live (Radio4) on Wednesday 3pm (will be on iPlayer later) is having a call-in about nannies - may be worth a listen.

Think about non-childcare things: what would you expect to be done around the home as part of their duties? Dishwasher, children's laundry, children's bedding, general tidy of children's bedrooms & playroom.

Consider what activities you would like your nanny to do, and any that you would never want them to do. A parent commented to me last week that they didn't think many parents would like their 7yr old to learn to build a campfire. Yet the 7yr old I care for has been asking to make one for a while, so we did when the opportunity arose and cooked burnt some toast.

Nannies friends coming back to your home? Children's friends coming to your home, such as after school? What would and would you not permit - it's your home.

You mention flexibility - how do you see a nanny being more flexible than a childminder? Check the nanny would actually do whatever it is that you are thinking makes them the more flexible childcare option.

Thanks for the tips. Some good points made. I'll definitely listen to the Moneybox call in and have a read through the bapn site. Thanks

nannynick - re flexibility - I just meant in terms of my particular childcare needs. DD is starting a couple of morning sessions at a nursery school in September (one of one of the days I'm off work - and one on one of the childcare days) and CM won't pick her up at lunchtime (whereas the nanny will be booked for the particular hours that I need). I can understand why, it's a service in her home and she can't work around the pick up needs of one family when eg another baby might be asleep at that time. Also, my elder child is getting to the age where he we want him to do more after school activities (and play dates) and this isn't something that we are be able to do with a CM. I take your point though - I will make it clear in any interview that I want a nanny to take DC to any after school activites, and that there might be the occasional playdate.

Booked for hours - are you thinking of varying the hours on a regular basis? Would that appeal to many nannies - may appeal to the one you have found but if they don't work out, would it appeal to anyone else?
Personally as a nanny I like fixed hours, fixed days. If my employer needs slightly different hours a particular week - such as work on my day off but get a different day off, or needs more hours a particular day, less hours another day - then if I am able I will adabt to fit. However it isn't contracted that I will be that flexible.

Keep in mind that you will be typically contracting for a certain number of hours per week, as your nanny will probably need a steady income.

Certainly a nanny can pick up from pre-school - where as a CM may already be picking up from another pre-school and can't be in two places at once.

Consider how long a probationary period you feel is necessary.
Whilst your nanny may want 10 net per hour, you are not going to offer that - you will be offering a Gross per hour figure, probably somewhere between 12 and 13. Avoid making promises you can't keep - even if you know your nannies taxcode and can calculate pay such that the gross amount now is as close to 10 net as possible, the situation can change over time. Make sure your nanny understands how payroll works. Pay may vary month to month by a few pounds or may be the same for periods of time, then change suddenly come new financial year.

"Booked for hours" - I just meant that I'll be looking to hire a nanny for 2 full days and 1 half day (ie on the day when DD is going to be at preschool in the morning). It won't vary from week to week (except in school holidays when I'll need 3 full days). It will be fixed days and hours. I appreciate that there might not be that many nannies who will want to work 2 1/2 days which is why I'm hopeful that this one who does want to work those hours (approx 25 hours per week) will be someone that I like (and likes us!).

When I was talking about flexibility of a CM v nanny - I just meant that I can hire a nanny who will pick up from pre-school, whereas the CM won't (she already does a pick up later in the day from my DS's school and understandably doesn't want to be doing multiple pick ups - especially with other children in tow), and also the flexibility of being able to do things after school (whether it be after school activities or play dates), whereas with our childminder, they just go back to her house.

Yes, I will make sure that ultimately we agree a gross rate and that will be the contractual rate.

Also worth taking into account that when you employ a nanny as aposed to a child minder, you are responsible for maternity benefits and redundancy should the situation arrive ie When your need for a nanny ends, say all the children are at school etc this woud be classed as redundancy as the job has come to an end.