First time looking for Nanny - help please

[lamaze1]

Hi,

Currently on mat leave but due to return to work in November. I live in central London and need to find a part time live out nanny for 3 long days a week.

I have no idea where to start. Obviously I've googled and come across websites like Childcare.co.U.K. And KoruKids but I don't know anyone that has used either. Can anyone recommend any agencies or websites? Also, should I be looking now for a November start?

Thanks

Seems quite early to me
Childcare worked well enough for me
Tbh I went on instinct and impressions as much as qualifications

Thanks. I haven't really started looking properly yet. Still researching the best way to find someone.

Good to know childcare website worked well for you.

There's no harm starting to look now in my opinion. As a nanny, I've had several jobs where I've known months in advance that I would be looking for a new job. I'm not really up to speed on London agencies, but I use nannyjob.co.uk to keep an eye on the jobs market. It's usually agencies advertising, but parents do advertise there too.
Since you are starting to look early, I would advertise yourself, and if you aren't having much luck, then go to an agency - you'll save yourself a huge amount of money.
Facebook usually has local nanny job pages too.

I think it is a bit early, but we started looking early too and found someone a bit in advance, which gave us peace of mind. I would recommend the agency Mum's The Word, but not sure if they cover London. No harm in speaking to an agency in advance anyway. Good luck, I was so worried, but we have found an amazing part time nanny.

I just recruited using childcare.co.uk. Started about 4mo out and then 3mo out had more responses, so would say that’s a good time to start. It was a big job - spoke to 30 or so people on the phone and met 4. You basically sign up to be a gold member and then write a job description, contact everyone who looks like a reasonable fit and ask them to look at your profile with your JD, then speak to them on the phone. If it goes well invite for in person interview, then further step maybe to meet kids. It was ok - just time consuming. And it’s expensive to hire a nanny!

koru kids are for after school nannies. By repute their nannies are quite flaky as they don't pay well so people move on quickly.

I used Imperial Nannies - they were good at talking me through what I wanted the nanny to do which I was a bit clueless about as a newbie. They were also really good at screening CVs so they only sent me what they thought were the most suitable 4 to start with rather than overwhelming me with lots - any one of whom I'd have been happy to employ including the one who stayed until my youngest was ready to go to nursery.

Forgot to post link

www.imperialnannies.com/

I’ve found great people via gumtree three times over nine years.

but I’m recruiting now and not had much response, so was coming here to ask where others have recently hired nannies (we’re also in London zone 2).

could be that it’s august but I wonder if the jobs and people are on other sites?

@Catsstillrock childcare.co.uk is where I was told to go and how I've recruited fairly easily recently. Small cost, but seems to work fairly well.

@londonmummy1966 what were the fees like at Imperial Nannies?

ive never used an agency before, and talking to friends that did it seemed like they recruited his Gumtree etc too but just charged a fee for it (without much tailoring to requirements).

have you recruited recently, as in the last few months? The market has changed A LOT since I found our current nanny in 2019

@lamaze1 I know this is an old thread but wondered how you got on with your search for a PT nanny? I’m considering the same option, also in central London. Hope it all worked out well for your family.

@raxel I have messaged you.