References question

[puddle]

Am just about to employ a mothers help. She has provided me with two people who will give her a verbal reference, plus she is sending me a written reference.

How common are verbal refs? I don't quite know what to ask.....

bump - can anyone help me with this?

I would only take a verbal ref as a stop gap whilst awaiting a written one. She could be providing the written one herself off her PC & the verbal ones could be friends posing as previous employers (this has been done before!!)

Having said that if you were supervising her rather than leaving her in sole charge then use your instincts as much as anything.

I give verbal refs from current babysitting clients, and written from when I leave a job. If necessary I could ask for written refs off current babysitting clients which might be what your prospective mothers help is doing?

Has she said who they're from? It's good practice to take up a written ref at the end of a job so if they're past employers you might be right to be wary.