Right, who else is currently on the hunt for a new nanny?

[GloriaInEleusis]

I need a support thread because it is usually so much easier than this. I've had several e-mails from young girls with babysitting experience who have quoted their worth at about £400-£500 per week (And I assume they meant net). They are bonkers! Truly bonkers.

But, tonight, I finally ready a completed questionnaire from someone who seemed lovely. She still way more than what I pay now... but the figure was at least realistic. Maybe I can entice her with my divine little angels... HA!!

So, I know others are looking now. How is it going? Come talk to me and tell me you are having a rough time too. We can open the mumsnet virtual bar and have a couple drinks. Make mine a double.

im a nanny looking!!!! i know its not quite the same but which area are you in?

West of London.

Out of curiosity is this as crap of a time of year to be looking as it is to be hiring?

A risk assessment? On what? The likelyhood of paying more agency fees this year than you did last year. Incidentally, how many nannies did you have in 2007? Un huh... now about that smug look...

i think it's a really bad time of year to be looking...i advertised on gumtree mid december, and was totally shocked at how few replies I got. (I've advertised before and been totally inundated..). I suppose all the South Africans/Kiwis/Aussies are home on hols for ages; as are many of the eastern europeans, leaving just a few Uk candidates who are actually around at the moment.
I live in SW London and the going rate seems to be about £70-£90 a day whether candidates are qualified or not- big, big shock to system!
i am going back to work next TUESDAY after six months off for first baby. Feel almost like a panic attack coming on at the thought of it. I have found a nanny, i think, but who knows if it will work out or not. she seems very nice but you can't really tell till they've started[hmmm]arrghghghghg.

I found it quite difficult looking for work, I think Ive applied to half of mn mentioning they were looking for a nanny, agencies so useless as to be laughable...

Was on tube, been travelling since 6.30am to get to interview at 9am... got a call from dozy agency at 8.50 'have you left yet? oh dear, she cancelled last night but didnt want to disturb you?!?!?!?' bloody hell

Hopefully new job works out!

I'm looking! Haven't placed the ads yet in the usual suspect places as still in the US on hols...well, here stressing...but will probably do so...Thursday...when it's nearer the time I can interview (i.e Mon of next week?!) Will let you know how we get on.

I'm always jealous of the NW W and SW Londoners -- all the nannies seem to live in your area!

Am waiting for other shoe to drop, as have just engaged a nanny for first time (via Gumtree local), and it has gone suspiciously smoothly so far. am waiting for her to ring me to say she is pregnant/moving to Mozambique/converting to Scientology and do I mind her taking ds to meetings or whatever. [disclaimer: of course I don't mind if an employee gets pregnant].

she is going to cost (£80 per day net) but she is qualified, experienced, nice, organised and with amazing references. That's not going to last, is it.

Is that a live-out rate choosy?

live out rate yes

why, am i being scrooge/ripped off??

Well, £400 per week (assuming that's net) is quite a lot in my book. But, then I also fork out for room, board, gym membership, greater london bus pass, etc.

Oh and I just wanted to add some oinfo for those who have not yet posted ads. My gumtree ad is definitely getting more response than either nannyjob or great aupair. I usually have good look recruiting a holidaymaker visa holder through greataupair. But there isn't a lot to choose from on there now -- time of year maybe???

Anyway just thought I'd give some feed back if people are pondering where to spend their money on ads.

Gumtree does tend to get more responses from people who are actually in the UK, so that good for interview availability.

I have more or less given up my search for an AP to assist my nanny (one can only take so much when it comes to applications), and am now waiting in limbo for the inevitable conversation with my current nanny before I start the hunt to replace her. There is a great battle being played out at the mo - her boyfriend in the red corner trying to entice her away to Manchester with offers of great sex, me in blue corner fighting viciously with fabulous christmas presents and adorable children and very odd hours that she very oddly loves.

I know I am doomed to eventual failure though as I am up against strapping young rugger hunk who is actually quite nice, and I expect when she returns to work tomorrow after 2 weeks with him she will have decided to move up there sooner rather than later. I just hope she will find a family that deserve her. Where on earth am I going to find someone experienced and qualified who loves walking in the woods for hours and hours? Yesterday I took down the decorations, including a 'xmas tree' wall decoration made entirely from dozens of upturned green handprints of both kids which she had constructed for me one day with the children. And it made me sooooo sad to know that she won't be around for long and I will have to do the hunt again, and chances are I won't be finding someone as good as her again. Mind you I felt that when my last AP left and sent us a huge picture album full of really beautiful messages for my DS, so perhaps I am being unduly pessimistic because we did then go on to find DN (admittedly after one nightmare experience in the interim).

I'll still take a double, though. With a chaser on the side.

Do you reckon MN towers would be happy to set up a new thread section all of its own called 'nanny hires' or something, where we can share experiences, and maybe recommend people to each other and have available nannies post? I'd take a nanny recommended by another regular MNer over any external applicant any day, and am sure lots of others feel the same. Or maybe we should ask them to rename the 'nannyshare' thread so we can use it more generally for hiring/recommending?

I actually agree. I think we should have a section just for nannies and au pairs and childminders should have a separate area. Employing a nanny is more like employing and au pair than it is like using a childminder.

ok gloria,what area of w.london?how many children? ages?hours? would you consider nanny with own child?

It's a bit west of west London, really. Sunbury. Live-in. The job starts at 6:30am so it's really only feasible for a live-in nanny, as she can stumble out of bed at 6:15 and wonder into my bedroom to collect kiddies at 6:30. Given the early start, I'm not overly fussy about her appearance at the start of the day.

wander not wonder.

am still looking for a nanny position - seems to be a complete lack of jobs around worcestershire as have been looking since september

Oh gosh. It must be worse outside of London. I supposes I'm moaning when I don't really have it that bad.

I have started talking to a couple of people now so my faith is being restored... I just have no patience. I would like to start and complete the nanny search on the same day. Am I asking too much?

Doesn't one of the london agencies do Speed Nannying? My memory seems to think that there was mention of that on a news broadcast a while back. Mind you - I expect Speed Nannying can only help create a short list, so still hard to do recruitment in just one day.

What is speed nannying? Besides you know how I feel about agencies.

Yeah, I know what you think of agencies

I think it is like speed-dating... you get 5 minutes to chat with a nanny, then a bell goes, and you chat with the next one, and so on.
Think it may have been Tinies who was doing it... there are some news reports from 2005.