Questions to ask during interview

[namechangingtime]

Hi all, I have an interview tomorrow to become a nanny for a four and a two year old. I've got a list of questions to ask but I was wondering if I needed any more? They're as follows:

• what happens if myself or my baby are sick eg would she permit my baby coming to work with me in an emergency such as the nursery calling and if I'm sick (depending on severity of the sickness) would I be expected to stay off for 48 hours from the last episode or to come back in the next day.
• when will I get paid such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly
• am I expected to take the children to groups and if so how often (I was planning on doing a group on a Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the possibility of a Friday, but was going to ask the children in the morning if they want to go to x group or do something else that day)
• am I expected/allowed to meet parents with similar aged children for play dates
• Allowance for activities during the week, what is this money allowed to be used on (I was thinking either food when out and about, buses until I can drive, or entry into venues/activities) and how much money would this be a week so I can plan things to do
• phone use, will I be using my own phone to contact/be contacted and take pictures of the children (which would be deleted at the end of each day or will there be a work phone to do these things
• am I expected to keep a book for each of them as you would in a nursery, just text updates throughout the day, or just verbally give feedback at the end of the day
• not a question but I wanted to clarify how far the children can walk confidently as I want to encourage them to progress with this but also be able to plan eg could we get to the park, play, and then walk home or would that be too much for the eldest as I want to be able to confidently plan when I need the buggy or not (will have a carrier for the younger child if this would be okay)
• start time/finish time as I know it's 10 hours but don't know what those ten hours are yet
• their routine
• how holidays will work in terms of when I can take them, how much I'll be allowed etc
• if I'm expected to do extra such as cleaning during quiet time or if all duties are based around children (I expect to need to prepare food and clean up afterwards, as well as cleaning up after activities but would I be expected to do more such as laundry)

I know it's a long list but I don't want to miss anything off, start working and suddenly think of something I don't know but I can't contact the mum for whatever reason

I guess another one would be to ask if I'm self employed or if I'm her employee? Is that right? If so can somebody explain the difference because I'm totally new to all of this, I've only worked in nurseries before

I suspect most of your questions are questions they will ask you. Regarding sickness, it depends on the situation. I'm sure you'll catch the D&V from their kiss at some point in which case probably just come back when you feel better as the kids will already have had it. If vice versa, stay off although it'd be up to them whether they pay you for sick days (be very mean not to but legal). It's a bit of a tricky question to ask tbh, maybe try phrasing it as "I know I'll be expected to look after the kids when they're I'll, can you clarify how things work if I catch it".
You cannot be self employed and if they try that, walk away from the job. It is HMRC that makes the definition, and nannies do not qualify even on nanny shares. Your employers, if you get the job, should provide you with a contract which will outline hours, holiday arrangements, additional duties etc. Standard is you take two weeks (ideally not together) when they are not on hols, and align the other two weeks with their plans. If they want you to accompany them on their hols, that is working time and they pay for everything (flights, room, meals) including your full salary.

Thank you, I wasn't sure how to phrase it so that's really helpful.
As I'll be working 50 hours a week does that change how much holiday I can take in terms of days/weeks or is it simply I'd get paid the standard 50 hours for the 4 weeks? I doubt I'd use the full entitlement anyway as I've only had one weeks holiday in three years since entering full time employment and I actually ended up working two of the days anyway but it's such long weeks I can also imagine needing more time just to rest.
So she'll report that she's employed someone to hmrc, give them my details and I'll just get a wage each month same as any other job?
I don't expect she'll ask me to join the family on holidays, but I will ask about that as I have my own family so wouldn't want to go on a holiday without them even if I was working during the day.

Yes you'll just get a payslip showing your gross wage (what you probably agree with her) and the net payment you're getting after tax/NI. Exactly like you did at the nursery where you also got told what your gross wage was. Your agreed salary will already factor in your hours so your holidays are paid at full rate. Bear in mind that many nanny contacts do have a clause in them for "layoffs". These are periods of time which are additional to holiday and during which they don't require you. These are usually paid at a lower rate.
Yes she is unlikely to ask you to come on hols.

Working 50 hours per week for someone is employment. You are not in control of when yo work, what you do. It's not as-hoc work, this is a permanent role where you are being told the hours of work, told the days of work, can be told what to do when to do it.
So you have all the same employment rights as in any other employed role, such as paid holiday (minimum 5.6 weeks), right to notice, pension scheme, maternity pay, sick pay, redundancy pay (some of these have eligibility criteria, for example have to work for 2 years before redundancy pay applies).
Ask them which nanny payroll provider they are intending to use - they don't have to use one but it will make it easier for them. Asking that can help tell you if they have researched the costs involved of having a nanny.

Discuss taking children out to activities. You want to find a family which you gel with and who are not going to restrict you too much to being at home all day long. Discuss appropriate activities, done at home and those outside of the home.

These are all very normal things.
Normally nannies take children to groups, have a kitty for activities and keep receipts, see other children they know or meet bit do check.
Bringing your own child is an unusual question so I'd ask about that one in detail. If for example your charges are booked on a swimming course and you have your own I'll child with you they arent going to want to come plus I wouldnt want my children affected. I'd expect you to find emergency childcare quickly as I would gave to if you were off sick. If you had a cold if expect you to come in. Other things it would depend on.
Pay nannies are normally employed and paid monthly on payroll. Employers pay you net nett meaning tax and NI are paid as are pension contributions.
These are all fair questions to ask.
Nannies should clean ip after the children and fo their laundry and clean their rooms and kitchen after feeding them but not do extra cleaning unless you are happy to do this and it is agreed specifically by both parties. I'd have it written in my contract if I were you.
They may well answer a lot of the questions without you asking so wait until the end. They may have rules like meeting no children or no spending money which they'll probably tell you. If they font, then ask take a list if you need to. It shows your thorough

Minimum holiday is 20 days plus 8 bank holidays. Writing 5.6 wks will mislead the OP! Nannytax has loads of free info for nannies.

Regarding bringing my own child when sick, I'm allowed to bring her twice a week anyway as there aren't any nursery spaces yet, but if she's sick whilst at nursery 9 times out of 10 I'll be the only one able to get her for a couple of hours. If she was sick at home my partner would take the time off to have her as hell be the lower earner, but he works a half an hour drive away and doesn't drive (a colleague gives him lifts) so he couldn't get to her.
I'll check out nannytax thank you!