Just found a good nanny - now what?!?

[oinkyoink]

Hello,
Can anyone help me to get off to the right start with my first ever nanny? I have found the one I would like to employ and have offered her the job. She is delighted... but now what?
Contracts? ground rules? I would appreciate any tips etc from those that are experienced nanny employers please!!!!

She is live out, will be with us for three consecutive days a week, two of those I will be at the office and one I will be working from home. I have a three year old and a one year old.

Many thanks :)

Make sure you offer her a gross salary, and put that in the contract.
Details of what needs to be in the contract here www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_175704
Decide if you are going to do payroll yourself or use a company
Think about what duties you want done and any issues that are important to you (sweets, playdates, TV, whether she has to make pasta from scratch) and get them agreed in writing with the nanny
Agree on expenses/kitty/petrol money
Agree on what food the nanny should be feeding the children/what food she can eat at lunch time

I am going through the same as you. I have just issued the contract and she has signed it. I am waiting on references which she has been a bit slow in coming back with. Think about settling in sessions and how you want to work these before day 1. I also was thinking of doing some meal ideas for her just to ensure she is clear what I expect in terms of what she feeds my 2 (I also have the added headache that PFB has some serious food allergies so not entirely unreasonable of me to ensure he is getting a healthy and safe diet.)

Thanks for those messages.... Will make a note!

Anyone else got anything to add???

Have a probation period in the contract, so either of you can terminate the agreement at quite short notice if things don't go as planned - such as 1 week notice. After probation (say 3 months, maybe longer) then increase notice period to say 4 weeks.

Make sure you know the costs involved... have you done some detailed cost estimates? Have you considered the cost that is likely to be incurred for things like:

Activities/Outings
Mileage for trips out (if nanny is using their own car), or what fuel/maintenance costs are likely to be for providing a car?
Have you included all payroll costs, MrAnchovy's PAYE calculator can give you good estimates for things like Employers NI. Keep in mind that you will not know your nannies taxcode when they start with you - they may already have other income from this financial year and may already have another job. If you have not yet done so, register as a new employer and ask your nanny for their P45 from their previous job (if this is their only job and they have a P45 from their previous job) or get them to complete a P46. I am assuming you are in the UK. If you are not in the UK then you will need to follow whatever taxation procedures apply in your country.
Food - your nanny will be wanting to eat/drink whilst on duty... so factor in some additional cost for that. If you have been at home yourself for the past few months/years, then costs are likely to be similar to if you were at home all day yourself.
If you make things in advance or have anything special you keep in your fridge, cupboards, which your nanny must not use... then label it. In the early days it can really help to label things - nannies can not mind read, so if you make a stock which you want to use at a later date and it's not labelled then don't be annoyed if your nanny uses it to make a risotto.
If you wash clothes in a particular way, such as never mixing adult and children's clothes, never mixing pastel coloured items with darker coloured items... whatever the situation is, let your nanny know so they can follow the same procedure. Initially you may find it helps to write things down to avoid confusion.

Working from home - make it clear where the boundaries are... who is responsible for what. Your children may not follow the rules, so be firm and consistent to establish with them that you are working and nanny is there for anything they need. If you find that you can't work whilst your children are in the house - such as noise level - then consider how that could be resolved, such as by nanny spending more time elsewhere with the children, if there are suitable places for them to go... consider Summer and Winter places... indoor places can be costly.

did you say you signed contract before you checked her references?