New nanny needing advice

[Helpneededbyanoutsider]

Hi, so I’ve just got my first nanny job working for the most lovely family in my home town. Nannying is my dream job and will be my career moving forward.

The position is with 2 primary aged children,4/5 days a week before and after school care. I’m very excited and happy with this job and would just like to know if anyone has any advice (current/ previous nannies or employers of nannies) for a first time nanny? Maybe things they’d wish someone told them.
Thanks!

I am going to assume you are in the United Kingdom.

1. Make sure that money has been discussed... how much you are being paid, when you get paid, what happens about expenses (having a cash amount to use can be useful). Nannying is a job, you should expect to get all the same things you would with any other job... so a contract of employment, payslip every time you are paid. You also get paid holiday - even if you only work term-time.
2. Traveling as part of your job - make sure you have agreed about expenses for transporting children as part of your job. You may be taking the children to/from school... if you drive and use your car then you should be paid for transporting them (make sure you have suitable motor insurance). 45p per mile is the maximum amount that can be paid by an employer without it being a taxable benefit. Given the cost of cars, insurance, fuel, maintenance, aim to agree to 45p per mile.
3. What happens when children's school is closed. There are various reasons for school closure - heating failure, water/sewage failure, teacher strike, a class of children isolating due to Covid. Make sure you know who is going to be responsible for collecting children from school at short notice.
4. Food - what will the children eat, are they using meal plans, are you left to make things, can you eat as well. Generally a nanny eats at the same time and often same thing as the children.
5. Activities - what do the children like doing and what do the parents want you doing with them. Once Covid has gone then you may be taking children out to various places, rather than staying at home most of the time. After school this may mean swimming lessons, Rainbows/Brownies/Beavers/Cubs other youth groups, music lessons, that sort of thing. During school holidays it may mean going to museums, historic houses, caves.

Just wanted to clarify-are you living in or out?
Because that will determine a bit how things go-sounds like you are living out?

What happens if parents delayed from work-do you have a set finishing time? Over time? What happens if a child is sick and it is meant to be your day off?

A nanny friend of mine is finding having the parents WFH whilst she is there nannying quite challenging-clear parameters need to be put in place and you need to know where in the house you are meant to be with the DC.

@nannynick

I am going to assume you are in the United Kingdom.

1. Make sure that money has been discussed... how much you are being paid, when you get paid, what happens about expenses (having a cash amount to use can be useful). Nannying is a job, you should expect to get all the same things you would with any other job... so a contract of employment, payslip every time you are paid. You also get paid holiday - even if you only work term-time.
2. Traveling as part of your job - make sure you have agreed about expenses for transporting children as part of your job. You may be taking the children to/from school... if you drive and use your car then you should be paid for transporting them (make sure you have suitable motor insurance). 45p per mile is the maximum amount that can be paid by an employer without it being a taxable benefit. Given the cost of cars, insurance, fuel, maintenance, aim to agree to 45p per mile.
3. What happens when children's school is closed. There are various reasons for school closure - heating failure, water/sewage failure, teacher strike, a class of children isolating due to Covid. Make sure you know who is going to be responsible for collecting children from school at short notice.
4. Food - what will the children eat, are they using meal plans, are you left to make things, can you eat as well. Generally a nanny eats at the same time and often same thing as the children.
5. Activities - what do the children like doing and what do the parents want you doing with them. Once Covid has gone then you may be taking children out to various places, rather than staying at home most of the time. After school this may mean swimming lessons, Rainbows/Brownies/Beavers/Cubs other youth groups, music lessons, that sort of thing. During school holidays it may mean going to museums, historic houses, caves.

Yep I’m here in the UK. Yep we’ve discussed all that and mutually agreed upon all those things in the contract. The family have had nannies before so know what they’re doing which is great.

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

Just wanted to clarify-are you living in or out? Because that will determine a bit how things go-sounds like you are living out?

What happens if parents delayed from work-do you have a set finishing time? Over time? What happens if a child is sick and it is meant to be your day off?

A nanny friend of mine is finding having the parents WFH whilst she is there nannying quite challenging-clear parameters need to be put in place and you need to know where in the house you are meant to be with the DC.

It’s a live out role with both parents being nhs workers. They get their schedules 6 weeks in advance and I get my schedule every 6 weeks to- it’s so detailed it says when one of them in “on call “ at the hospital and therefore I’m the primary contact if the other is on shift (unlikely to happen as mum works set 30hr week) if school calls up needing them to be collected.