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Clueless about hiring mother's help/nannies - please help!

5 replies

NWMom · 24/07/2013 16:08

Dear all,
I have 2 children, 3yo and 9 month old. Never hired any help, but now need to get part-time "mother's helper/nanny"
We live in West Hampstead. I don't work, my 3yo will be in nursery half day and I would like to hire help for 4 hours in the afternoon. Need somebody with proper English, with high hygiene standards, positive and energetic. Would like her to help around the house w various stuff as well as entertaining the baby or the 3 yo while I am busy w something else.
Do you have anyone to recommend?
Should I use some websites? Maybe Agencies?
What would be most efficient?

Please help! My head is spinning browsing the various website! Any info or advice would be much appreciated!

Thank you!!!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
NWMom · 24/07/2013 16:09

Also how much do you think I should pay for this sort of work? Thank you!!

OP posts:
Cindy34 · 24/07/2013 19:50

Def more a mothers help position as you will be there and they are not really having sole charge of children at the look of it.

You would have to pay at least national minimum wage. Expect as it is not that many hours you would be paying a bit more than nmw, so maybe £7 an hour upwards.

Nanny agency, gumtree, netmums local childcare board, mumsnet local, ad in a newsagents, ad on a community notice board, community newsletter, think of anything local that you could advertise in as your ideal person will need to be local given the number of hours is quite low.

Karoleann · 24/07/2013 21:45

Hello, we lived in west hampstead until a year ago, and had three shared care nannies during that time - very successfully.
I generally did two full days a week as its easier to get help for full days rather than half, especially if you want someone who speaks good English. Though our last nanny (who was actually more of a mother's help), did 25 hours flexibly over 4 days.

I've always advertised on gumtree, nanny job and childcare.co.uk, gumtree by far has been the most successful, but you do need to be very specific, but still you do need to wade through lots of unsuitables.

Have a look through some of ads posted by other people, basically you want to mention.
Non-smoker, professional childcare experience with children of a similar age with check able references, DBS/crb check (or willing to undergo one), valid visa for working in the uk.

You'll still be deleting lots and lots with no experience, but I've always had a good 20 suitable candidates out of maybe 80.

You will be paying £10/hour net, maybe less hourly if you want a full day.

The other place you could advertise is the library in west hampstead - the notice board next I the automatic doors is well read by nannies, though probably less so now that rhyme time has finished.

There are also sometimes ads up in the cafe in queens park (if you're that side f west hampstead).

Good luck with your search

NWMom · 24/07/2013 22:09

Dear Karoleann and Cyndy, thank you so much for your time and all the helpful information!!!!
We have just moved to West Hampstead, great to know the library has rhyme time and bulletin board :)
The shared nanny concept sounds interesting! Karoleann if i may ask, do you still have some good nanny contacts in West Hampstead?
Thanks so much ladies! So glad I joined this site!

OP posts:
Karoleann · 25/07/2013 11:17

Shared care is basically care shared between the mum and the nanny. If you want housework too you want a mother's help.

No nanny contacts though - sorry, our mother's help type nanny in back in Denmark. I don't think you'll have any problems getting someone though.

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