Inexperienced nanny and pay

[MouseMama]

I’ve been looking for a nanny for when I go back to work in January. Three days a week and a fourth day if my employer demands I work my day off (at short notice). Obviously these terms are not appealing to many nannies (but necessary for me) and only viable applicant so far is a very nice inexperienced 20 year old. She’s worked with children for a few months but not as a nanny and not really a childcare role before except babysitting. She plays nicely with my boy (he’ll be 12 months in January), seems very enthusiastic, affectionate and is well educated.

She plans to return to university in September to pursue her journalism degree so she’d just do the job for 8 months which would give me time to see if my job and motherhood are compatible.

Not what I had in mind but would I be bonkers to hire someone so inexperienced?

What would be fair to offer in terms of pay?

My employer has agreed I can work 4 days a week but said if they need me the fifth day, they expect me to be available. But will try to respect the fact I’m part time.

Have you taken a 20% pay cut for the privilege of this arrangement? They're clearly going to expect you to do a full-time workload, so you might as well be paid full-time.

Mousemama I'm in sw London too with many years experience, but unfortunately I'm not looking for full time it it would have been ideal

Yes, of course I’ve taken a pay cut :o) but I’ll get paid extra if I have to work the fifth day.

The overall package is good enough that I wish to continue working for them on these terms.

My concern with a inexperienced nanny wouldn’t be about the quality of childcare, but the other duties that nannies are expected to do. As other posters have said, lots of inexperienced or unqualified people love children and enjoy playing with them. The children are happy and everyone has fun.

But to do the role day in day out you have to be highly organised. My one disaster nanny was great with the kids but I’d come home to chaos every night as she’d mistimed everything, had taken them out but didn’t leave till late in the day, played too long and suddenly at 5.55pm realised that no one was fed and I was home in 5min. I came home to hungry overtired children and mess everywhere. She went home and muggins was left with the job of calming everyone down for bed and tidying up for the night. Not much fun after a busy day.

To answer your OP, there’s nothing wrong with lack of experience per se, although I would hesitate with a pre verbal child (they can’t tell you what’s wrong if something is)

I would be. One concerned about the fact that she can only commit for 8 months, so basically as soon as your baby ha bonded and settled with her you’ll have to change her out. This will make you want to quit your job, trust me.

if you decide not to go with her, some thoughts

• if your mum isn’t committed to doing childcare for the number of hours you need it every single week then you need a regular paid option for that day
• can you offer full time hours but structured in a different way eg full time EITHER 5 days a week or 4 days + 2 evenings babysitting or 4 long days etc etc. May appeal to a broader set of candidates if you can give them the hours but in a non traditional way
• don’t entertain the idea that you need to work a 5th day if you’re being paid for 4 OR request that your work pay for childcare on your fifth day if required to work it (ad hoc nanny in c london is £150-200 per day). If your fee earning area isn’t conducive to a regular 4 day week can you agree to work 80% based on a 5 day week in term time and then more hols? Basically play with your work pattern more creatively. But DO NOT agree to take a 20% pay cut but still do most of your full time load!

Thanks stealthbanana - are you able to recommend an agency for ad hoc nannies? Tbh I didn’t know that existed and that would be a good thing to have in my back pocket.

I am amazed you are not getting good experienced candidates. I would just offer a 4 day per week role and get someone who is in it for the long term. Your mum if she is around can cover the 5th day if needed or a temp nanny if really needed if not. I think the problem with the current candidate is much more the 8 month limit than the experience- amazing nannies have to start somewhere but you want stability.

The lack of experience wouldn't worry me too much. If she seems responsible, enthusiastic and interacts well with the child. And you feel comfortable. Everyone has to start somewhere.

It is a short term placement and the part time arrangement may actually suit her as well. It's worth discussing directly. I would be inclined to offer in the region of £12 per hour (perhaps up to £15 for over time). I'd possibly offer to increase the wage slightly after the first few months as an incentive for her to stay with you for the full 8 months, if you feel it's reasonable

@CrazyCatLady159 yes of course

Have you thought about hiring the nanny for the full 5 days but getting her to do some other nursery duties on days you are home such as washing the bedding, batch cooking, sorting clothes (by season or too big/smal) or sorting and cleaning the toys

How old is your little one?

No experience of nannies, but in your shoes I'd just employ someone full time, and on days they aren't needed you could alternate between letting them have some time off and getting them to do some child related extra tasks like batch cooking for the baby, washing/ironing baby clothes, sorting out bedroom/playroom etc.

He will be 12 months in January

Tinies and north london childcare both do emergency nannies (tinies are great and i had 5 days cover provided by my employer - which was much appreciated as they charge like a wounded bull). Am sure there are others

But don’t underestimate how little you will
want to use that kind of service with a littlie. Obv depends on your budget but I would err on the side of overbudgeting for care with a single childcarer rather than using lots of one shot nannies to fill the gaps.

One other thing to investigate is potentially getting a housekeeper/nanny for the 5th day. So the arrangement could be that they clean your house but if necessary do childcare. Lots of people available that would do that one day a week.

Look at the roles she has been doing. Many people who are natural with children have been involved in various roles in their teens, such as:

• helping at Rainbows/Brownies/Beavers/Cubs.
• helping at church children's group.
• babysitting (you have already mentioned this).
• care of younger siblings.

Whilst not the same as caring for a baby/toddler it does help them show that they are reliable, get in well with children of various ages, references available from people who can give you a view based on their experience of having her as a volunteer helper, or in a paid capacity.

I think you need to find out how reliable your mum is. Is she likely to be ill or on holiday lots

And how much notice

Will you get notice from employers when need to work. They can’t jut say wed we need you Fri

I think If you pay for a 4 day week and be less then £50k then that hedges your bets and your mum does the 5th day

I’m suprised there and many nannies jumping for a 4 day position in London with a 12mth

But to answer your question

Everyone has to start somewhere

If my first family didn’t give me a chance at 17 (after 2 yrs in college) then I wouldn’t be where I am today

Then I earnt , almost 30yrs ago a week less then what I earn a day or night now

At 17 almost 18 I worked 5 days a week 11hrs - 55hrs a week looking after a 4mth and 5yr

I was there 2yrs till they moved They gave me a lovely ref and the. Again used a girl out of college

They were open to me and said they ideally wanted someone with more exp but their budget just didn’t afford to

So he’s having someone with no experience can work

I personally wouldn’t worry about the lack of experience. I had my first nanny job at 18 (although I was qualified) and I now have 15 years experience. I think if you set out the job description so she knows exactly what she is responsible for, as she might just think it’s playing all day and doing nothing else, you will be fine.

I’m very surprised you haven’t got lots of candidates looking for 4 days a week most of my nanny friends are now trying to find work/life balance and that is ideal.
Have you tried looking for a nanny with own child? I think most parents don’t see the positives of this but can work so well and I find them more flexible and open to changing hours than most.

You could look into a nanny share with a local family. Get a full time nanny and split the salary between you, and use your 3, 4 or 5 days as you need to. It would be more cost effective and good company for your DC.

@MouseMama if you're still looking, the role sounds exactly what I'm looking for and I'm in SW London too... I've got 18y childcare experience and am a mum of one. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat more!

You usually can't be self employed as a nanny,bits very much the exception as you have to have no employment relationship, dictate your hours, provide your own equipment and a range of other tests of self employment. The government views self employment with suspicion, it's usually only childminders who pass the test within the childcare world. Just Google IR35 for some of the story.

Fwiw I would give her a try. The main thing is liking her and trusting her and that isn't a given. I employed a 21 year old with my first and she was really good, very tidy, loved my baby so much. I'll gloss over the Happy Meals issue