When the look for first nanny

[Alljan]

Hi all,

We are considering employing a nanny for DD when I return to work in Early Jan. DD will be almost 1. In order to get the best possible range of candidates when would it be best to advertise? I am not sure what nanny notice periods are typically.

For context we are in Bucks and hoping to pay no more than £17k as salary for live out 4 days a week 8-5. Not sure if this is realistic!

Also can anyone give me a ballpark figure for the non-employment related costs of having a nanny? Would be great to know what to budget for her food, reasonable activities/mileage, supplies etc? I guess all the suff that would be included if we went for a nursery place.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Most nannies have 2 months notice so start 3 months before you need

Not sure about the salary for area. As a ball park £25-30k is a more usual figure for 5 days. Higher candidates at £30k+. £17k for 4 days is roughly a newly qualified nanny wage. For 4 days experienced nanny would prob be looking more at £24k+

Thanks Artandco, that's v useful info - my salary figure of c. £17k came from an approx of what £10 per hour gross would be for the hours we want which I think are prob 2 if not 3 hours shorter per day than what many live out nannies do.

Am hoping the role may appeal to someone who would welcome getting home earlier because they have their own kids or other commitments - would be good to know if I am being totally unrealistic however!

The hours may be attractive to someone. I have done jobs with that sort of hours before but the income did prove in the end not to be enough to pay my bills so I did end up leaving for a better paid job. That is not to say it won't suit someone, it just may take a while to find the right person.

I would start advertising now, just low cost ads. Then as it gets towards Oct, then do more and use an agency perhaps, if you have not had much interest.

Activity budget I expect would be 15-20 a week, it depends on what things they would be doing and if you were paying for anything in advance (some things like music classes are paid termly). Consider what sort of things you would expect nanny to do, then look at the costs. Going swimming for example can be quite low cost in some places, higher elsewhere. Sometimes can be worth having membership of a leisure centre if going often.

Mileage is hard to know, it could be quite a lot, or not very much depending how far they travel on outings.

Employers insurance, check your home contents policy as it may include it. If not, then it can be over 100.

Payroll costs such as using a nanny payroll company. Perhaps say 150 a year. Then don't forget about Employers national insurance which is a tax that HmRC collect from you. www.mranchovy.com/calc will give you a reasonable estimate of what employers NI will be for a given salary.

Food wise, consider what meals would be eaten at home by child and nanny. Cost is hard to say as will depend on what is cooked.

Car seat - would you provide that? What about a car, or would you expect nanny to use their own car for work? Decide on this sort of thing so you can create a job description so applicants know what to expect.

Nanny Costs

Weekly Expenses Kitty (for activities/outings): £5 per day, you may find the cost varies. The more children you have the higher the activity cost may need to be – perhaps consider £2.50 per day, per child. Based on a 48 week working year, nanny working 4 days per week, £5 x 48 weeks x 4 days= £960 total.

Nannies Travelling Costs Whilst On Duty: If your nanny uses their own car, then employers would usually reimburse the cost at £0.45 per mile (this is known as the Approved Mileage Rate). Employers can negotiate with their employee to pay less than this, though you should take into account your nannies costs of providing a car, car seats, suitable motor insurance to include transporting children for whom they care.

How many miles your nanny would do will vary. Consider the usual mileage they would do to take children to frequent places they go and for longer outings such as to castles, museums. I would say that I do an average of 3000 miles a year (nannying 4 days per week in a semi-rural location). Start recording the mileage you do in your car during the week, you may be quite surprised how quickly the mileage adds up even if you are just going to the local shops, library, playground, woods, PYO farm etc.

For a 4 day per week nanny I suggest factoring in at least 100 miles a week… so £45 per week, £2160 per year (48 weeks).

While your nanny is on duty, you give them food and drink. Nannies don’t really get a lunch hour, can’t leave your children home alone. So food is seen as a sort of perk in compensation for working without a break. How much does that add to your weekly food budget… I’m not sure. Nanny will eat with the children, so eat the same thing. If nanny wants something different, I feel nanny should be buying that themselves. So increase in food bill, extra £3 a day maybe? Heating/Light will also be used more as nanny is around during some of the day, so another few pounds. If comparing with a childminder/nursery, lights wouldn’t be on at your home, heating may also be set low. If comparing with you staying at home, then there won’t really be much of a difference at all. There is also some additional wear and tear on the property. Shall we lump all these types of cost together… say £8 per working day. Suppose you could include cost of Employers Insurance in that (it is usually part of your home contents cover, check your policy). So 4 days x £8 = £32. 48 weeks x £32 = £1536

How do you calculate the 17,000 gross salary? I make it £18,720 if taking £10 per hour, 9 hour day, 4 days per week, 52 weeks per year.

I started looking 6 months before I needed a nanny.