Trying to find a nanny for weird/irregular hours- WWYD?

[Huishnish]

Hi all,
Just wondered if anyone had any experience of this? We had a brilliant nanny who could accommodate my weird requirements (DH and I both musicians) but recently moved to berkhamsted, Herts and I just cannot find someone. Have been looking for 5 months! I've tried offering a minimum number of hours per month, and have tried agencies and childcare.co.uk. Surely I'm not the only person on the world who doesn't work mon-fri 9-5?
TIA

What hours generally is it? Would you use someone that did some in your home (as a nanny and some in their own home (as a registered childminder)?

Based in St Albans?

How about someone newly retired? They might have experience with their own children/grandchildren but want a bit of extra cash so could do a few irregular hours a week?

Newly qualified maternity nurses might be interested in building up their cv. Would changing every few months work for you? Or what about a trainee nanny?

Agree using the mil for the ad hoc stuff and get a nanny in for 2days

It's hard what you want as no set hours so a nanny can't find another job around it

If mainly weekend /evening work then again mil

Having 3 nannies possibly from sitters could work as you can request people and if free then can do it

I am in Leicestershire but I do ad hoc hrs and do evenings very occasionally for a single mum with 2 girls who is in a choir.

I am self employed and ad hoc work suits me I set my own rate and it is about 25% above top end here but I am pretty flexible and not regular work. I am also v v experienced and qualified.

I think finding a couple self employed nannies/babysitter who do temp and ad hoc work could suit you well.

Venus didn't attack her.

If you think she did, report the post.

"Babysitters here seem to charge £10 an hour which is twice the local childminding rate. I struggle to get my head around this as the childminders are all well qualified and clearly invest in their development (Ofsted, First Aid, Childcare courses etc.)"

Childminders will have a minimum number of half days/full days weekly when they contract to mind a child, though. Babysitters won't.

As others have said, that charge is per child too.

Something like that would suit me (qualified nanny) as long as I knew most of the days/times in advance and could bring my own child. But then that's because I dont need to earn so much now and don't want to work quite so much now that I have DD. So you may be able to find somebody but it'd be difficult. There's no nanny work near me though so I'm planning to set up as a childminder and be available to cover shift workers, there's a big market for that near me and very few childcare providers willing to do it!

Nanny share with Ineednewshoes?!

It did cross my mind Madeleine but I only need childcare from September and only for two fixed evenings a week.

I've drawn an absolute blank here. I've exhausted the list of local childminders and none do evenings (understandably) even though I only need up to 7.30pm.

I'll be looking for a babysitter now!

Did you manage to sort out childcare? :)

I don't know about the OP but I'm no further forward with my situation. I'll try again nearer the time

I have a feeling I may have applied for your role last year, OP. Or one very similar at least!

I was looking to leave full time work to be at home more often, but just wanted a small amount of hours rather than giving up completely.

When I applied for the role, it was hard to get information from the parent. It seemed almost as if the parent knew the hours would be different all the time/not many nannies would be keen, and therefore tried not to mention this and instead kept saying it would just suit someone studying.

It was probably a different job, but I'm just mentioning these points incase you are doing something similar which is putting people off unnecessarily?

Can't you ditch your MIL helping you out to give the nanny two full days at least plus your extra hours on top. I know you might be trying to cut your costs but to get a good nanny I would definitely offer more hours.

Try advertising on gumtree or in your local paper OP. It's probably not the sort of job a young nanny would want but someone like me would be interested (mum of teens looking for a few hours a week - not too fussed which days). If you found two people like me you'd be sorted really.

There are people out there who want jobs with few hours at odd times - but you may need to change who you're looking for. When ds3 was little I needed a few hours each week while I was doing a part time postgrad course - one day he went to a childminder and another was covered by one of my Mum's friends. A granny herself whose grandchildren live abroad, she adored him & he was thoroughly loved by her for a day each week.