Comments on our nanny advert?

[LightTripper]

We are about to place an ad for a nanny for our daughter, and were hoping for any feedback/comments you may have before we “press the button”:

• Is there any information missing here (or too much info in some areas)?
• Hours would allow for usually having a 15 minute handover at each end of the day (plus a bit of flexibility for running late etc though we both have pretty short commutes): is that enough?
• Will not stating a specific salary hurt our chances of finding somebody? We are expecting to pay around £10nph, but are flexible.
• We were planning to post this on Gumtree and possibly one other (either nannyjob.co.uk or childcare.co.uk): or is advertising on just one of those more sensible (and if so, which one is best)?
• We are planning to use an agency (nannyPAYE or similar) to deal with tax etc. but I assume we don't need to say that.

Thanks so much in advance for any comments/advice. This is our PFB and I’m not looking forward to leaving her, so I’m a first timer and pretty stressed about finding the right person!

Thank you, LT xx

A family based in Hackney N1 looking for a full-time sole-charge live-out nanny for our baby girl, starting in November (when our daughter will be 6 months old). Standard hours would be 8.45am to 6.45pm Monday to Friday, with some flexibility required as one parent travels occasionally for work. 20 days holiday plus Bank holidays. Salary is negotiable.

We are looking for somebody warm, caring, flexible and enthusiastic to help us to establish our daughter in good routines, and to foster her enthusiasm and inquisitiveness about the world around her (science, music, art, nature, etc.)

Necessary requirements:

• OFSTED registered (or willing to obtain registration);
• Relevant nannying experience and excellent references;
• Non-smoker;
• Fluent English-speaker;
• Eligible to work in the UK;
• Within an easy commute of Hackney N1.

Preferred requirements:

• Experience of babies and weaning.

Duties:

• All aspects of child care, including day trips/activities;
• Household duties related to child care (child’s laundry, meal preparation including preparation of purees for freezing, etc.)

We do not need general household support (and also have a weekly cleaner), although a willingness to muck in with e.g. unloading dishwasher, unpacking grocery deliveries or picking up occasional parcels from post office would be an advantage.

I hope you don't mind me saying. £25,000 a year doesn't seem a lot for a full time nanny in London who is living out. I was offered that for four days a week similar hours no domestic duties over a year ago and I turned it down because it was too little and I know the family had difficulty in finding someone. That is in commuter belt not central. It was also offered with 25 days holiday plus all Bank Holidays and the week off at Christmas all paid.

I do have qualifications a full First Aid, 20 years experience and I am already Registered with Ofsted.

It's not £25,000pa. It's around the £33/34,000pa mark.

What about First aid and dbs certs?

Thanks NickNacks, that's what we worked it out at too! But we can go a bit higher if we need to (particularly if Ofsted registered as OH gets childcare vouchers). Maybe we should advertise an annual gross range to give an idea?

I think first aid and CRB are part of Ofsted registration, but maybe we should list it separately.

First question I would ask is what the salary range is, so I would put salary in the advert. I would put gross salary and net based on 1000L taxcode. Agree the gross salary in the contract.

DBS/CRB are part of Ofsted reg, so insisting on someone already registered will cover that aspect. If you need someone Ofsted registered, I would get someone already registered as the process can take a while and you don't want to be stuck having to wait for that to come through.

When you have applicants you will need to look at where they live, see if you feel their travel to you is reasonable. What they feel is reasonable and what you feel is reasonable may be different.

Is the job suitable for someone who does not drive, or someone with their own child? Possible things to add to make the job jump out at someone looking through many ads.

I would just put 10/net as the salary. A six month old baby is absolutely ideal for some nannies and I don't think you'll have a problem attracting a good candidate, especially with an 8.45 start.

Otherwise - great ad

I would put £13 gross or the yearly gross amount which would be much more then £25k - more £33/34k

Otherwise yes a good as and sure you will get many applicants

Would be good to mention if a car or nanny to use own - tho again in London maybe most nannies prob use public transport ?

Yes to first aid and DBS and pli - tho again if ofsted then will have all 3

Such a shame you want live out at I'm looking for this situation but live in.

It's not £25,000pa. It's around the £33/34,000pa mark.

I was offered £25,000 GROSS which is certainly not £33 to 340000! It is a lot less when Tax and NI is taken and for me it was an insult to be offered so little with my experience and qualifications.

I am a Registered Childminder and had looked after the Children for 3 years and they asked if I would become their Nanny. I declined!

adp73: ouch!! Not surprised you turned it down (or that they struggled to find somebody). We would be offering 10 per hour net, which we think comes to around £34k gross.

Thanks for all the comments! We'll add the gross and estimated net salary, and specify that the nanny doesn't need to be able to drive.

Do let me know if any more comments (about the job, ad, or where to place it!)

Please say MUST HAVE baby experience

I personally wouldn't put it on Gumtree...

Try:

childcare.co.uk
nappyvalleynet
care.com

The add is very attractive..

One 6 month old baby is ideal...

Please state they need a recent CRB/DBS, a current first aid certificate and excellent CHECKABLE references (Please check them all too)

Another thing to write is 'fluent English only please' Or something along those lines,
As a 6 month old needs lots of communication and understanding.

There is a thread on here where there are a list of nannies, looking for work. Sorry can't link it.

Thanks Pepsi!

If you are using a payroll company and want them to take a single payment from you monthly, including your NI contributions etc and do the tax returns for you; THEN you HAVE to pay the nanny monthly too.

Or at least I couldn't find an agency that could do it differently. It's not a huge hassle doing the tax returns online yourself but I would far prefer to pay someone monthly when I get paid, then I can see what's left iykwim . We've had to set up all sorts of extra accounts and it's a faff.

Thanks Dreams. Is monthly not the norm?

No. Everyone we interviewed wanted/needed weekly payments. Starting a new job and waiting 4-6 weeks for your first pay check is a killer though. So understandable.

Monthly is norm for me, has been for many years, don't think I have ever had weekly pay in nannying, tech support or retail jobs.

Changing jobs does mean there can be a delay to being paid but that happens with all jobs, it is not unique to nannying.