Questions - new nanny

[Pistachio14]

I am thinking about leaving a current role within a nursery to become a nanny. I have some questions if anybody could please help!

1. How long does a nanny contract usually last? Also, is there a get-out clause in a nanny contract usually, so I would be able to give notice of leave if I chose not to work for the whole contracted time?

2. Can nannies give children medication? Coming from a nursery, parents have to fill out a medical administration form, would your employer need to do this? Also, in the nursery we can't give children anything not prescribed (eg. calpol), would this be ok? Is it better to have the parent sign something to say it's ok for you to give it?

3. Similarly to the above, in the nursery we have to keep records of all children's accidents and injuries and have the parents sign this to say that they have seen it at the end of their session - do nannies need to do this?

4. I really like the idea of learning journals, and know that settings and childminders have to do these - would it be weird for me to do one for children in my care as a nanny?! I feel it's really beneficial for both me (to be able to look at planning and development) and also for the parents to see the things that I am doing with the children

Any advice on the non-usual questions would be greatly received, for example things that you came across in your nannying experience that you hadn't thought about beforehand, but are good to note. Thanks in advance :)

Also, should parents provide a consent form to let you know what they will allow their child to have, for example sun cream, sudocrem, etc.?

Contracts are not usually fixed length, so the job could last for many years. It is not unheard of for a nanny to be in a job for 10+ years. Like with nursery contract, if you wanted to leave you would need to give notice, that is typically a month, though can be longer, and can be shorter during probation period at start. It really depends on the wording in the contract.

Yes nannies can give medication. It is good practice to have a signed consent. You should follow anything your nanny insurance provider requires, which may mean keeping a log of medication given. This is also necessary so that the parents know when last medication was given, so that an overdose is not given.

Accident books are something regulator and insurer may like but would you record every little scrape? Use your judgement, record incidents for head injuries, blood loss, anything that needs more than TLC.

Up to you and the parents to decide on what and how you may document things. Just like in nursery, you don't want to be telling a parent about their child's first steps.

You may document things like trips out using photos or video, you may let parents know if you feel their child is not reaching a developmental milestone though you must never diagnose.

Keep in mind that children you nanny may attend pre-school or school, they won't all be babies/toddlers. So learning journals may not be appropriate but helping them with reading, homework, expanding their knowledge and understanding of the world and more specifically the area in which they live, taking them to after school activities, may be more of what you do.

It will vary from family to family, so talk to parents about what sort of thing they want in terms of tracking development, what activities they want and don't want.

Thanks for the help, you've been very helpful. What do you mean by 'Just like in nursery, you don't want to be telling a parent about their child's first steps.'? Do you mean that you don't want to be taking a special milestone away from a parent by claiming that you saw it first?

Also, any thoughts on the other question 'should parents provide a consent form to let you know what they will allow their child to have, for example sun cream, sudocrem, etc.?' I reflectively tagged it on in another comment, so may have been overlooked. Thanks :)

Expect everything...

Can you deal with escaped chickens and other live stock, ride a bike/horse, swim and be confident taking children swimming, cook on an open fire (as there is no gas or elec due to a storm), play games by candle light, build a dam to try to stop the house flooding, plant crops/flowers, build a wendyhouse.

If it can happen, it probably has to a nanny somewhere!

Yes, avoid telling of milestones achieved before parents say they have seen it.

You can have too many consent forms. If parents are providing creams then they are consenting to their use. You would not usually be buying such things for first time use, parents would have their preferred brands so if you did have to buy more you would get the same thing. Consent can be verbal, so you can talk to parents at beginning/end of day, or however they like communication to be, such as text or email during working day.

I've thought of another question;

If a family has a certain religion, would a question of theirs be 'we know that you don't follow this religion, but would you be happy to teach my children under the principles of this religion'? Or is this overlooked? This would be regarding a part-time nanny job

Interesting question. No idea, have not come across it.

I guess you would need to respect their religious beliefs, not impose your own. I would doubt there would be any religious teaching but I suppose it is possible.

As a nanny you decide who you will work for, so as part of the job interview process you may discuss religion and establish if having a different religion would be a problem or if it is workable.
It is their home, their rules, so you would be doing things their way much of the time.

Thanks a lot for your time :) You've been a lot of help!

Working as a nanny there are far fewer rules and regulations. It's up to you and the individual family to reach an agreement on these issues. It's generally a more relaxed and informal relationship than the nursery worker/parent relationship.

1. Nanny contracts are generally open ended. Nanny jobs are often quite short-lived, maybe 2/3/4 years because the children grow up and they no longer need you. Of course there are jobs that last longer, but they are in the minority. You can leave anytime you like.

1. Yes. How you deal with it is up to you/the family. I have it written into my contract that I am authorised to use my discretion re. giving medication. I always record who had what when in the daily diary.

1. You dont have to, although it's probably wise to. I record a anything like this in the diary and the parents sign. Only big bumps/scrapes though, not every little thing.

1. Learning journals can be good. It's up to you and the family to decide. Some might like it, some not. I think some families don't want the formality of planning etc, they want you to go with the flow. Also bear in mind that a nanny doesn't only do childcare they do nursery duties as well.

1. I've never known parents to provide a consent form for this kind of thing. They tell you on the first day what their children are allergic to and you avoid that. Anything they already have for the child assume you can use.

1. Re. religion: they could ask you that question, they can ask pretty much whatever they like. It's up to you to accept or not. Personally, I couldn't teach children as fact something I believed to be nonsense. Whenever I've worked with a family with a different religion I've never really done any 'teaching', but if the children have asked anything I answer honestly and then do the whole 'but everyone thinks different things and that's ok, we can all respect each others opinions and still be friends/live each other etc.'

Working as a nanny there are far fewer rules and regulations. It's up to you and the individual family to reach an agreement on these issues. It's generally a more relaxed and informal relationship than the nursery worker/parent relationship.

1. Nanny contracts are generally open ended. Nanny jobs are often quite short-lived, maybe 2/3/4 years because the children grow up and they no longer need you. Of course there are jobs that last longer, but they are in the minority. You can leave anytime you like.

1. Yes. How you deal with it is up to you/the family. I have it written into my contract that I am authorised to use my discretion re. giving medication. I always record who had what when in the daily diary.

1. You dont have to, although it's probably wise to. I record a anything like this in the diary and the parents sign. Only big bumps/scrapes though, not every little thing.

1. Learning journals can be good. It's up to you and the family to decide. Some might like it, some not. I think some families don't want the formality of planning etc, they want you to go with the flow. Also bear in mind that a nanny doesn't only do childcare they do nursery duties as well.

1. I've never known parents to provide a consent form for this kind of thing. They tell you on the first day what their children are allergic to and you avoid that. Anything they already have for the child assume you can use.

1. Re. religion: they could ask you that question, they can ask pretty much whatever they like. It's up to you to accept or not. Personally, I couldn't teach children as fact something I believed to be nonsense. Whenever I've worked with a family with a different religion I've never really done any 'teaching', but if the children have asked anything I answer honestly and then do the whole 'but everyone thinks different things and that's ok, we can all respect each others opinions and still be friends/live each other etc.'