London Nanny agencies or childcare.com?

[EastEndQueen]

Our lovely nanny of 2.5 years has just told me she is going travelling from January onwards and will be leaving us so I am searching for a new nanny in East London (for a three year old, in nursery half the week, and a 8 month old full time)

Last time I used Kensington Nannies who were brilliant but unbelievably expensive, essentially £4,000 in fees (which we could pay again if we absolutely had to, but is a big unexpected expense, particularly just at the end of two Mat leaves). It was the first time I had hired a nanny and I didn’t feel confident about the process so I went with them.

This time, I am wondering if it is possible to pay less - does anyone have any experience of cheaper agencies they would still recommend or of tips for using sites like childcare.com? Is there a big different in candidate calibre/ number of time wasters etc?

Any advice from nannies or parents extremely welcome

I don’t think it costs you anything to do both approaches in tandem as I think you only pay the agency if they place someone with you. I’ve been advertising a job on nannyjob for a while. Some applicants are very well qualified and agencies source candidates through those sites. If the agent finds you a better person then use them but then suck up the fee

@MouseMama that's not correct about the agencies only being paid once they place someone, they would hardly make money if that's the case. They typically charge an initial fee that includes sending over 3/4 CVs, they then they set up the interviews with those nannies. You pay more if you want more choice. Once you choose someone, then you pay finder's fee plus extras like contract etc.

And OP, I've used childcare in the past to get jobs, but the last time I found it useless as parents were never reading my ad and asking me for says and times that I explicitly stated I couldn't do. In the end I found my next job on a local forum.

That being said, parents may find childcare easier that I found it as a nanny. And the fees are much much cheaper than an agency.

Also don't forget about Facebook, I've also gotten jobs through there. Local groups to you, but also join the group Nannies in London, it's for both nannies and parents.

Good luck!

I would recommend childcare.com I find it completely useless. I have just cancelled my membership after months of searching for a job and £100 down.
No one replies and people who do haven’t read profile so aren’t suitable.
From parents side as well had a friend looking for childcare and again she got loads of messages from people who weren’t a bit suitable/couldn’t do the days she wanted.

I hired my nanny myself - I got loads of CVs by posting an ad on nannyjob and gumtree. Then I whittled it down to 4 and did phone and f2f interviews. The nanny I hired came through gumtree and is wonderful. I have done professional job assessment though so was confident about setting criteria, interviewing etc.

Bottom line, an agency can certainly handhold the process and winnow the pool for you but it's £££ and if you know what you want it's really straightforward to do it yourself.