Bit of an odd Nanny job offer...?

[LauraNu]

Hi, so I realise this isn't the BEST place to ask as I'm guessing most users here are mums/parents, not nannies/carers, but an interesting/weird situation has popped up and I just wanted some advice...

I found an advert for a job on Gumtree that advertised for a Nanny for a two-week cruise in June. I've now telephoned and emailed with the family, and the situation is that they would pay all expenses (single room in the suite, all meals, excursions if they want me to come along) and I would look after two boys, aged 2 and 6, for most of the time - it's a family of 6, the children, their mother, her brother and parents. So if the adults went to the formal dining room for dinner, I would eat with the kids and put them to bed, if the adults wanted to take a day out I would stay on the ship with the kids, or if they didn't need me along that day I would have the time off to just stay on the ship or go out (at my own expense, I think). The salary would be 500 USD, which I think comes to about £300 - now I know that they'd be spending a lot on my ticket and expenses and so on, but that does seem a bit low for two weeks of basically round-the-clock care? I mean, I'm not very experienced, having only babysat and assisted in classrooms etc before, and I'm only 18, but still?

Also there are the safety and legal things to consider - I mean, I'd obviously need to check that I will be safe and treated well and everything. Any advice on how to make sure of this? A written contract would be good, I'm guessing, but how could I make it legally binding? It doesn't help that this family is based in Delhi, and will be coming over to England for the cruise, so I'm not sure how much opportunity there would be to meet and get to know one another beforehand. Then there's insurance - terrible worst-case scenario, I know, but what if something happened to one of the kids in my care?

Anyway, it's all kind of confusing for me right now...Any advice? If you were hiring a holiday nanny, how would you go about making sure of all the details on both sides beforehand?

Seriously I wouldn't touch that. It seems very odd, though the salary isn't particularly low (assuming they're talking net which isn't advisable for a UK based job for various reasons). If it were through and agency I'd have more confidence but anyone can advertise on Gumtree and it's the sort of arrangement where they'll ask for your passport details and I just wouldn't go there.

If you're going for any job then you need to agree a contract and there's lots of advice on here about that. A contract gives you some protection although that's limited if the family aren't based in the UK.

If you want to work outside the UK it's likely that you won't be able to get professional insurance to cover you. I advise you to read up on being nanny and the sort of things you need to consider. There are sites aimed at nannies where you'll be able to get advice although here is fine - plenty of nannies too, and ex-nannies!

I have been a nanny and now have one myself. My nanny came here from England to work for me without meeting us and I have also gone to work for families blind but it is difficult! You would need to make sure you're clear on what they expect, whether you're guaranteed time off during the day, whether you're expected to be on call overnight or if it's just babysitting until they come back etc. by their nature holiday nanny arrangements are more flexible than a standard nanny job and you are there to make live easier for the family. In that sense it's not particularly well paid for the amount if work and responsibility but you do get to see done amazing places!

I have just read a book - true story - about an English girl who applied for a job as a nursery nurse in Holland. She ended up being forced into prostitution at gunpoint and fed drugs until her addiction forced her to continue with the prostitution. Awful story. But just goes to show that not everyone is who they say they are. I would be extremely wary. I'm not saying that they are not genuine, but even if they are, you risk being treated terribly without any real protection.

what cruise line are you going with?

I have "nannied" (for people who i knew) on 4 cruises

The deal was baby (who was a gina baby who slept 7pm - 7.30am always) was in my room... i met with the parents for breakfast

kids club started at 9am and went until 2am (though they didnt have meals in kids club)

When in kids club (which was FANTASTIC, amazing facilities, all the kids loved it) an adult had to be on the ship... if parents did excursions i stayed aboard, or if they were on board i went ashore, or daddy stayed on bored and me and mummy went ashore OR we all went ashore together

Whoever was on board took the child to lunch (with them)
There was kids tea at 5pm, and again whoever was on board took her to tea

Mummy and Daddy settled her to sleep (in night nursery, yes a dark room with cots and beds) and i went to formal dinner with the parents (who i knew and got on with, though i didnt HAVE to go to dinner with them, i could have chosen not to)

I collected sleeping child, wheeled her in a her buggy when i was ready for bed, and transfered her from buggy to bed where she slept all night.

It was FANTASTIC

I did 4 cruises (with P&O) and loved every second. We did arctic / baltic and caribean twice

As far as i know most of the big cruise lines have similar kids facilities, and so longas they do (and you can leave the kids there) Im sure you will have an amazing time.

If they expect you to stay with the kids though, all the time, then thats different... i would have found that hell-ish

But doing what i did was amazing and a great experiance

Oh the other thing, if they expect you to eat kids tea, with the children, on P&O at least adults arnt allowed to eat kids tea, kids tea is for the children, and the restaurants (or 24 hour room service) is for the adults (and children)

what cruise are they asking you to go on, and which cruise line?

I spent 10 weeks nannying on the cruise ships and it really WAS a holiday for me too. (over 4 years)

BTW 2am isnt a typo..... kids club WAS 9am - 2am

Think of it as a great holiday but get confirmation of x hours/days free so that they don't work you 24/7.
Could be really good experience.
You would have to spend once on board (except alcohol)

NannyL, it's a 14-night Mediterranean cruise with Royal Carribean. I know they have a ton of kids clubs and activities, but as the littlest boy is only 2 years old I'm sure he'd need an adult (ie me) with him for some/most/all of the time?

The impression that I get is that they do expect quite full-time support...So I would settle the kids to sleep, watch them if the adults went out for dinner or ashore by themselves - I'm guessing I could then get some food by myself later or earlier if the Kids Tea is kids-only.

I've emailed again with some specific questions - like would I get any full days off, would my hours be fixed or just wake-up to bed-time, could I have a daily expenses budget, what about insurance, etc.

When you went on your cruises, how did you sort out insurance? Obviously this would be a terrible worst-case scenario, but what if one of the kids got seriously hurt while under my care? So many things to consider!!

It did sound a bit "too good to be true" at first, but hopefully I can sort out the details enough so I (and my parents, heh) feel comfortable and safe with the arrangement...It just sounds like a great way to spend my time after exams, on a working kind of holiday AND earning /some/ money... I mean, I'm not naive, it will be a lot of hard work - but that honestly doesn't put me off.

You say they are based in Delhi. Are they an Indian Family or a British one? I live outside UK and know many Indian families who employ nannies; their expectations regarding working hours are quite different to a typical British employer. Most expect their nanny to work from wake-up to bed time (this being 11pm or later) and to sleep in with the children, as well as doing all bath and bedtimes and all meal times. It's a 24 hour role. Might be worth checking.

Are you wanting to go into childcare professionally or is this a holiday gig?

If the former you really want to maximise the time and role, rather than earning cash.

P&O allow kids to be left in kids club from 2 years (ie 24 months)

i went when the child was 2 years (ie 27 months)
3 years (35 months)
4 years and 1 month
5 years and 1 month

the staff in kids club were fantastic, and she certainly didnt need me, even at 2.

parents paid for my travel insurance, i already had nanny insurance for nannying.

Royal carribean are another great cruise company (spoke to so many "cruisers" on the cruise ships") the food / standard of ship is amazing

if you can leave kids in kids club (with a pager, just in case), take them for dinners (amazing food as well and fish n chips and easy "kids" food for fussy children) and spend 2 weeks lieing by the pool, like i did, then go for it

But i will say you will NEED the kids clubs... the other areas of the ship arnt that "fun" for children... but the kids clubs really ARE good. (and i have herd that royal carribean are as good as P&O were)

the other thing to bare in mind, what if the children are sick? If children (or anyone) is sick on board, then norovirus is assumed and you are confined to cabin for 48 hours.... if any of the children got sick, and you were supposed to entertain them in the cabin for 48 hours it would be a nanny job from hell.

seriously i wouldnt touch this with a barge pole

if through an agency then different but sounds very weird and yes the salary isnt great, tho at 18 you would obviously earn a lot less then i would at the ancient age of 38 lol

£300 for two weeks work, I wouldn't do it no matter where we were. You are there to work. Worst thing is if they are horrible you have no way of leaving!

I saw this advert on Gumtree and already thought that's a bit dodgy. I personally wouldn't do it. I went on holiday with a family I've never met before and it was brilliant but that was skiing and I could have easily left if I wanted to.

I wouldn't go near that job either. as blondes mentioned your age would dictate a lower wage but not that low and certainly not that level of responsibility. Are you hoping to use it as a foot in the door to nannying? And if you are going to nanny nannyjob.co.uk has a forum

We went on a royal carribean cruise this summer.

I wouldn't say the kids clubs were up to much, mine did a brief foray but didn't like them. They did look pretty dull, more like holding rooms for children who didn't want to go the excursions with their parents.

Also the food was pretty average.

Kids liked to pools & the climbing/ surfing but that needed supervision.

I think you might find all your time with the children.