having trouble recruiting nanny in rural location

[farmnannyneeded]

We never thought we'd have a nanny, but having had twin babies join their 4 year old brother six months ago, it seems like the cheapest/easiest/most attractive option. Our trouble is that we're on a farm (farmhouse with friends next door, we're not farmers) and having found two nannies we liked through childcare.co.uk, they both declined the job (or actually, one never responded to our message).

We're offering 28 hours over three days, Tuesday-Thursday, at £8.50-£9.50 per hour, depending on experience. Initially we were planning to pay more, but having asked around, even really experienced nannies in this area (post-industrial, Scotland) make £9, and we're assured our rates are reasonable. This way we also break even, instead of having to pay to go to work, which is attractive.

Does anyone have any tips on how to find someone in a rural area? And how to find someone who will like all the animals and the outdoors, rather than find it difficult? I'm going back to work properly (4 days/week) in January, but would like the nanny to start one day per week in November if possible, to allow for settling in and so I don't use up all my holidays before the end of the year, so time is getting tight.

Its unlikely you'd find someone who just wanted/was financially able to work just one day a week in November and December maybe that's the problem?

I would just look for someone to start in Jan.

I suspect you may also not be offering enough hours for many people. 28 hours over 3 days simply won't earn someone enough, and they would struggle to find a job just for Monday and Tuesday.

Thanks Karoleann and PatriciaHolm. The occasional day before January is not necessary, and the nanny we offered the job to initially was only able to start in the New Year, which was fine with us. I don't know what to do about the hours - we both work four days, so don't need someone for more hours, and are barely breaking even as it is... I do see the problem, but am not sure what to do about it. As far as I can calculate, someone on £8.50 for 28 hours would have a take-home pay of around £1000, which doesn't seem too bad for three days, but as you say, they might not be able to find anything for the other two days...

They are quite short days - 9 hours - nanny days usually 10 or 11 hours to cover parent's commute, so that plus the part time nature might be the issue.

I have worked a 3 day week (currently do 4 days) and would always look to do long days, at least 10 hours, preferably 11 or 12. That way I can afford to work 'part time' and not need to find work for the other days.
Also, part time jobs tend to pay a slightly higher wage per hour than 5 day jobs in a bid to make them more attractive to potential nannies.

Options to find someone:

• Go through a local nanny agency.
• Can you be flexible on days? You may get someone who has a commitment on the other days (such as college etc).
• Nanny share - have you any friends who may want a Nanny for a few days there by providing, overall, a weeks work?
• Do you have space to live in? You may find someone is happy to take the risk of a 3 day job if they know their bed and board is covered.

Hope you find someone. I'm expecting No 3 and currently work FT, and had no trouble recruiting a FT nanny, am very aware may struggle if I go back PT.

Is live in an option?

Agree 28hrs over 3 days isn't a lot

I like working 3 days but need to work 11/12 to afford to be able to ie 33/36hrs so 5/8more a week

Farmhouse /fields etc wouldn't bother me tho I'm used to having a car but if you needed nanny to use her own are you happy to pay mileage to go out and about or will get lonely and will the nanny have a car big enough to have 3 car seats in back?

No need to have a day a week settling in. I've never had settling in days. Like to be thrown in the deep end :) tho if you really want SD then chose a day or two the week before

Maybe these are problems nannies think About and won't apply for your job if you haven't had many replies

Days - harder to find A mon/fri job - so could you change to mon tue wed

It sounds like you only sent two messages through the website ... I'd try advertising in local newspaper and sweetshops as well ...

When I was looking on childcare.co.uk I messaged about 20 nannies. about 10 answered of whom I interviewed 3 and appointed 1. Admittedly we are in London so a higher pool. Are you approaching nannies directly or waiting for them to approach you?

Thanks all, that is helpful feedback. We could look at making it 30 hours, although funnily, that would make going through the agency we looked at yesterday quite a lot more expensive. 29.5 maybe

I have contacted all the nannies that looked at all suitable within a 20 mile radius on childcare.co.uk - there are just not that many current profiles. I have now also put up a notice in the local supermarket, spoken to local childminders (in case they know of anyone) and will register with said agency today.

We're not in a position to offer a car (don't want to be a 3 car family) but we'll pay mileage for any trips made in the nanny's car. If the nanny's car can only fit two in the back, we are happy for our 4 year old to travel in the front passenger seat (with the airbag switched off, depending on manufacturer's recommendations).

Live-in won't really work - we didn't expect to have twins (or even to have another child) so it's a bit cramped as it is. Also wouldn't be sure about having someone around all the time when we only need three days per week.

One potential candidate contacted us yesterday after having seen the advert in the supermarket. We liked her, but she has only done a National Certificate in Child, Health and Social Care (SCQF Level 5) and looked after her nieces. Would you ever consider employing someone with that level of (in)experience? Or would two babies and a 4 year old be too much of a deep end?

My last nanny had no qualifications but 2 kids of her own. The one before that had all singing and dancing NNEB. But I think with two 6 month olds ideally I'd want more rather than less qualifications. has she looked after babies in the past?

curvyredmug she has looked after her twin nieces when they were babies, but with their mum there. She now occasionally has the sole care of a 1 and a 2 year old. I'd like to give her a chance, but wonder if it's fair on her and might wait to see who else comes along at the very least...

I would interview.
and even if you don't think she right at the moment with young baby for you she could still go on your babysitting list.
or temp nanny list.

Good idea summerainbox. I hadn't thought of a babysitting/temp nanny list. I'll start one!

summerainbow of course..

Interview anyone who shows an interest as your pool of candidates is small. They may well be useful for occasional babysitting.
Good that you are looking at other local places to advertise as in a rural location you need someone who is local. Consider how they get to you in winter, you do not want them saying... It's snowing, I'm not driving in snow.

3 days a week appeals to some people but I agree that the hours and pay may not. Bump things up abit if you can to make it more attractive.
Are your figures Net or Gross? If gross then I think they may be a bit on the low side, though compare with local market if you can find other similar jobs in the area.

Agency - are you going to use that for Childcare Vouchers purposes, for recruitment or both? Ask about the various costs and if their placement fee is based on number of hours per week, I love your 29.5 hours idea!

Thanks Cindy34. We're using the agency to find someone, but if we find our own nanny we can use the admin fee to get that person registered for childcare vouchers as well. Weirdly, we were planning to offer people £10/hr, but were told this would be too much. Now we've started to quite like our budget for £9/£9.50 gross, but might have to reconsider.

Tricky if the only experience with babies is for family, as then you can't really rely on your reference. Go with your gut feeling and maybe put a longish probation period in if you "settle" for someone you're not 100% sure about.

There are very few part-time nanny jobs listed on NannyJob. Of the two listed, one is 21 hours a week and is at £10 gross per hour, location Edinburgh.

Looking at full time nanny job listings, £9-12 gross an hour. Scotland: All Nanny Jobs listed on NannyJob.

The problem is knowing where jobs will be listed. The agency should be able to give a guide as to salary but if you want good candidates you want to offer good money, so they will take a part-time job instead of a full-time one.

With a rural location, the issue could be that there are not many people wanting to work as a nanny in the area. It can be hard to recruit, so if you get a candidate do consider them, see if you can call their references prior to job offer so that you can discuss what experience they have. Be honest with them and say that you are concerned that they don't have much nanny experience, see if they can give you a better idea of what similar work they have done.

I think part time you need to offer more rather than less as 28 hrs is very little even over 3 days. Most would be 33-36hrs over 3 days.

£9 gross is very low, in comparison London you looking at £12-14 net for part time work. So that's £14-15 gross. Also x3 small
Children you will find few for £9 gross if they can pick a family with one child and same money.

Offer £11 gross to start with. I would also consider the nanny with less experience as she's only working part time and 9 hr days, so it's not like she has to do everything in the day or week as you will presumably be there to take over mornings and evening. So she isn't having bedtime/ bath time struggles with three, and can actually stay local for three days as you can take them elsewhere the other 4 days. If she just stays around house, local walks, local museum or class maybe the first 6 months then she can learn to gradually cope with x3 in safe environments when small. She can start taking them further afield once slightly older