Struggling to find a nanny - any advice?

[AlarmOnSnooze]

As the title says.

I have used childcare.co.uk, but to no avail. lots of potential candidates, very few suitable.

I have registered with an agency, but seem to only be sent details of nannies who are already onto second interview with someone else - we have lost out on 3 potentials in this way.

Job is slightly unusual - 3 children, with SN involved (ASD, high functioning). I am not at work, but logistics of school runs etc mean another person is needed. Happy for nanny to have sole charge (am not interested in shared care) of whichever children she has care of, including for eg toddler in the middle of the day - I have plenty of things to occupy myself, so is more of a work-from-home situation, rather than sahm/shared care.

Offering reasonable rates of pay, and job is realistic (8am-6pm, Mon-Fri). Can't have NWOC due to the needs of dc.

Any ideas as to agencies I can try? I am running out of options here, but status quo really cannot continue.

Which general area are you?

Do you want us to see how advert could be changed, if so copy&paste the ad content.

Is salary realistic? Some nannies will not apply for a job if there is no salary given.

Thanks colafrosties. I have used (am using) childcare.co.uk, so similar, but struggling to find anyone suitable.

We are Surrey/Kent border, drinkyourmilk.

X-posts, nannynick. Advert is ok, I think - lists job requirements (driver essential, school runs/after school clubs and homework, plus care of toddler during the day. Salary not extravagant, but going rate for area, and mentioned. Use of our car for duties, realistic about kitty and extras (eg toddler groups/activities)

That's my area :)

Maybe the fact you are about puts nannies off? Or 5 days? Can you reduce to 4? Or coz of the school runs you can't be in 2 places at once

Which agencies are you with?

Yeah, it could be me being about that puts people off, but honestly, I can find stuff to full my time - am studying currently so happy to disappear off to te top of the house and you'd never know I was there.

4 days would be a possibility. Frankly, I'd take anything right now!

Hi, i found my nanny through Little Ones. I suggest to give them a call.

www.littleoneslondon.co.uk

I have never had any looking looking for jobs on childcare.co.uk so I rarely look on it now, and I think they have started charging nannies to reply to messages too which may be why you haven't had much response.
I would definitely recommend gumtree to advertise. It's free so worth a try surely? I have found all my jobs on there despite being with agencies too.
Past employers have said they have always had lots of response from gumtree but also lots of non-suitable applicants to sift through.
Surely better than no applicants though?!
Good luck.

Any luck looking *

Just replied to your pm op :)

Ditto about childcare.co.uk. Have you paid to be a gold member so that nannies can reply to you?

I refuse to pay £20 a month to send the odd reply but as an employer looking for a nanny you should

We used Eden to find our Maternity nurse and then our nanny- and we couldn't recommend them more. Granted we are potentially have a problem with our nanny at the moment but it certainly isn't a reflection of the agency as i've only ever heard of good things! Friends recommended Little Ones and Tinies to me as well as well as advertising on Nanny Job and Gumtree- personally we wanted to go down the agency route but Gumtree and Nanny Job seem to get plenty of traffic.

Lots of nannies look at nannyjob for jobs. Also try SNAP Childcare as you may get better SN experienced candidates.

Can I ask what you're paying? I'm a SEN nanny who's looking at the moment so have read mountains of adverts over the last few days!

I tend to avoid ones with parents working from home tbh. It can be a lot of hassle for nannies to deal with M or D popping in and out and how that affects the children as well as it feeling like you're being 'watched' all the time!

Ok, stalking aside... I think I've found your ad.

If it is yours- you don't specify wages at all. That would be a definite no from me tbh. Even a ball park would give nannies a general idea if they're interested or not. I'd also maybe inject some personality into your ad; what do the children like doing? Do they have any after school activities such as swimming that they do?

I would also include a bit of extra information about your eldest- SEN can be such a range, I always like some additional information when a SEN is mentioned. It helps me to see if I would be suitable for the job or not.

(hope that is you I found anyway, sorry if it isn't!!)

Pppppsssssst! If it is you, you just found me!

I have just seen your ad too and it doesn't sound too appealing you'd be home :/

OP I think it's because you'd be at home. Our nanny resigned primarily for this reason (even though it was a temporary situation in our case). Agree with above poster that Eden has always been a good agency for us. One of the other well known ones we have had less success with.

We've had a pretty hideous time with local agencies / large national franchised agency. They send people who appear not to give a damn about children but are openly in it for the money / people who want completely different hours to those specified / people who want to bring a child and a dog with them without having said anything before the interview etc - total waste of time. We found current Mary Poppins wonder-nanny through childcare.co.uk where she'd advertised because she'd been messed about royally by the same agencies, but I think that was astonishing good luck more than anything - it seems to have a high level of unqualified chancers looking for a cash in hand "easy" money job. I don't think there is a perfect way, but do put word of mouth out there at any local groups you go to / classes / at school because that's probably going to be the most reliable way to find someone