Best time for a new nanny to start

[Furzella]

My current completely fantastic nanny is going to go back to South Africa at the end of 2007 (out of visa and no possibility of extending it further). She works 3 days a week for us live-out and has been with us for 2 years. I'm trying to work out whether we would be best to wait until she leaves in December to get a new nanny, or whether it would be more sensible to discuss things with her and if she's happy, to end her employment with us early and get a new nanny in place for the beginning of September for the start of the new school year. This would mean that the new nanny could get to know the kids when there's lots of time when they're off school. Also, I'm likely to be quiet at work over the summer, whereas January is usually hugely busy for me, so settling a new nanny in then might be harder. I know that in employment law terms, I'd be making her redundant, but I'd only go for the summer end date if she were happy with it and will give her a leaving bonus anyway, as she's a shiny star. I'm not trying to shaft her in any way - just want to make the transition between nannies as smooth as possible for the girls.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that we're thinking about starting trying for a third babe late summer-ish, which if we were lucky would mean a due date of some time late Spring early summer next year. As I couldn't afford to keep a nanny on when I'm off work, and I'll probably take six months off after the baby is born, the new nanny would only be coming for six to twelve months.

Does anyone have experience of the best time to start a new nanny? Our current one is our first nanny and she started in late August just before dd1 started nursery school half days and that worked really well. I don't know what to do for the best. Would a December / January start date work just as well? Mumsnetters vast experience would be v v helpful

up to you but all i can say is please for the sake of the new nanny make it quite clear that itd a temporary position,

you may find it could suit a nanny whose boss is on mat leave.

I have started 3 'new' jobs.... 2 i started in september, and 1 i started in jan straight after the Xmas break.... tbh i have found whatever time to start not really any different...

starting in septmeber may be slightly easier as we find our classes to fit in with our weekly routine etc, and start a fresh in september, along with everyine else, rather than joining an established group of people in jan!

Thanks NannyL. Yes, if I was actually pregnant I would employ the nanny on a fixed term contract. If I hadn't managed it yet, I'd explain that it was a possibility and that the job would end when I stopped work. Good communication seems to be at the bottom of all good relationships, so I wouldn't want to mislead a new nanny at the start.

I agree with you that September might be good as new classes etc start then. Hmmm.

I think you should keep existing nanny through xmas. Mostly out of respect for her. If she has 6 more months on her visa and you terminete her, no one else is going to hire her for six months. Besides I would make any plans until I knew a due date for the next baby.

How old are your other kids? Could you make do with an aupair between current nanny leaving and new baby arriving? And then hire another nanny when you return to work?

If you make your nanny redundant, you can not hire another one for 2 years.

Thanks Eleusis. The last thing I want to do is stitch up my current nanny - we value her hugely. Yes, I think waiting until plans for babe number 3 are a bit further ahead would be wise. I was thinking that actually I might have a chat with current nanny and see whether we can come to an arrangement where I get a new nanny starting in mid-Autumn, so we are settled before the crazy Christmas rush. I think my current nanny might well be open to going back a month before as her boyfriend will already have gone home then and she's staying the longer time as a favour to us.

I didn't realise you can't employ someone for two years after making them redundant. What a nightmare! It would be impossible for me to pay a nanny while I was off work as my employers pay dreadful maternity pay and I'll have to hoard my usual pay like mad to be able to afford to take six months off anyway. I presume you can offer someone a fixed term contract though - eek, will have to consult with my employment lawyer pal.

An au pair wouldn't work for us at the moment as we don't have space - one for the future when we've converted the loft I think.

Thanks for your advice.

You can definately write a fixed term contract! I highly recommend this approach because if you don't want to renew a nanny after 12 months you don't have to and you won't have the burden of finding a reason to let her go. In fact, I can't think of any reason not to write a fixed term contract.

Another thing you might want to look at is the holiday maker visa (from commonwealth countries) because they are now only allowed to work here for 12 months, which makes the separation a happy one. However,most of them will probably be looking for a live-in position.