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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

First time nanny employers - where to start and what to do?

5 replies

MovingToBrighton · 26/05/2014 14:14

I will return to work in July and I am looking for a full-time nanny. What do I have to do and where can I find one?

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nannynick · 26/05/2014 14:27

Where to find one:

Nanny Agency, online job sites like NannyJob.co.uk, Childcare.co.uk
Local areas of parenting sites perhaps.

What to do:
Create a job description. Have a good idea of what the job will really involve, what you want them to be doing. The hours of work, the days of work, if you need someone who drives, if you need someone who will use their own car or if you will provide a car, what housework duties there may be (keep it quite minimal, if you need a cleaner employ a cleaner).

Set up payroll - do you know how to do PAYE or do you feel it's worth paying someone else to do that? If the latter, then look at nanny payroll companies such as PAYEforNannies.co.uk who can provide monthly payslips and assist with employer returns, reminding you when to pay HMRC and how much to pay.

Work out your costs - do not under estimate the costs involved. Use a payroll calculator like www.mranchovy.com/calc to get a feel for what Employers NI will be based on a particular gross salary. Work out the typical amount of money needed for daily activities. Consider cost of food (nannies will often eat with the children whilst on duty) and mileage (if nanny is using their car) or car running costs if you are providing a car. Cost calculation for 5 day nanny.

Do you have plans for holidays you will go on over the next year? Get the calendar out and work out which days you will not need your nanny and thus will want them to take as part of their annual leave. How much choice will nanny get in when they can take annual leave... how much annual leave must they have as a minimum (5.6 weeks x hours per week, or if each day is same number of hours then 5.6 x days per week).

MovingToBrighton · 26/05/2014 15:16

NannyNick

Thank you very much for your reply. That is very kind of you. We need the nanny to work 60 hours a week, so five days a 12 hours. We prefer a live-in nanny but could be live-out for the right nanny who lives close.

I've used the calculator and we could offer a salary between 2080-2400 gross a month, depending on accommodation arrangements and nanny's experience. Does that sound fair?

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nannynick · 26/05/2014 15:33

So £8-£9 an hour roughly... sounds ok for Live-in, would need to be more in my view for live out given the hours needed. It will depend on the candidates experience, advertise and see who you get.

Time wise you do not have long to find someone, a nanny already in a job could have a months notice or more to give, so you need to get ads out fast.

Karoleann · 26/05/2014 22:18

I would

  1. Register as an employer tomorrow with HMRC - as it takes time.
As you've not don it before, I would sign up for one of the payroll sites for a year until you feel more confident.
  1. Read through the nanny job ads on gumtree and nanny job, pick out qualities that you need for your nanny.
  2. write a job ad, put the salary on and post it on nanny job and gumtree (London even if you're not in London as a lot of people are willing to travel for live-in jobs).
FlusteredFairy1 · 27/05/2014 10:26

There are a couple books you can buy off Amazon:

  1. What to expect Babysitter and Nanny Handbook by Heidi Murkoff
  2. The Nanny Handbook - the essential guide to being a nanny by Teena Kamen

Both these books explain everything about a what a nanny does. It includes writing contracts with parents, employing a nanny

The expecting book has lots of guidance for parents.

Try Childcare.co.uk but remember to pay the gold/premium fee as nannies won't because if you think about it agencies don't charge nannies to register with them. The employers do eg parents.

When I was changing jobs. I saw job on Childcare.co.uk that I really liked unfortunately the MB didn't pay the £19.99 a month so I couldn't get in touch. However I saw same post in agency and was successful. MB had to pay agency fees of £1300.

Many nannies would use Childcare.co.uk but are put off by its cost. Nannies do not get charged to register with agencies it is employer who is charged.

Anyway back to the point. Do loads of research and ask questions as you have already.

Wish you well.

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