Might have eventually found myself an after school nanny !!! Now what do I need to know ?

[scatterbrain]

Well -it's taken an age - like 18 mths - but finally through word of mouth I have someone coming to see me next week about becoming an after school nanny for me !

Suddenly I am panicking !

She has 6 yrs experience, references, CRB check, first aid cert, and is a surestart approved childcarer (whatever that is !) - comes highly recommended by one of her previous employers and still does occasional work for them.

She will be picking up my dd (7) from school 3 days a week and looking after her until 6pm - she has her own car and clean license and has given me an hourly rate !

So - would I be expected to pay on top of that rate for travel/petrol/wear and tear on car etc ? Had a childminder for a short while who charged me extra and I was a bit uncomfortable with it (not sure why)

And - does the surestart thing mean that I could pay her via my tax free online vouchers ? Got hundreds of quid in that account and could really do with using it !

Any help very gratefully received - Ta !!

would I be expected to pay on top of that rate for travel/petrol/wear and tear on car etc ? Yes. 40p or something a mile, I believe.

Make sure you understand whether her hourly rate is gross or net.

Oh blimey - the tax thing - had completely forgotten about that ! Oh God - this is too much for my brain ! So I might have to pay tax !!

Re Surestart approval - yes (though you may need to get her signed up with whoever your voucher provider is, just so they can actually get payments to her. Should be no more than filling in a form). But check when her approval expires, as Surestart has gone & been replaced by voluntary registration with Ofsted - she'll need to get approved that way to carry on being eligible for the vouchers. The requirements are slightly different - main difference, I think, is that she'll need to have insurance.

Re car expenses, it would be normal to pay a mileage allowance (which covers everything, fuel, wear & tear etc.) - unless of course she's factored that into her hourly rate. Can you ask? If you do need to pay a mileage on top of the hourly rate, there are standard amounts - Inland Revenue website should say?

Oh dear - too compliacted !!

Just been on OFSTED website and she'd have to pay £100 to go on voluntary register - seems a lot to ask her to pay out just so I can pay her using my tax free vouchers - suppose I could offer to go halves with her ?

I guess insurance would cost a bit too ??

Feels like the answer to my prayers is turning into a palaver now !

Scatterbrain you are liable to pay tax and Ni on top of her wages,I gather she has quoted you a net wage per hour ?

Re mileage and wear and tear the going rate is 40p per mile check out AA website.

As you are benefiting the vouchers then you should be the one to pay the £100 registration fee not the nanny.

Not sure I agree with you lounan - she doesn't have to pay to register with the voucher people - but with OFSTED ! She nannies for two other families as well so I would have thought it was in her interest to register with OFSTED ! A childminder or nursery wouldn't expect me to pay for their OFSTED registration !

I will talk to her anyway !

No idea if she has quoted net or gross - again need to check.

A childminder/nursery has to be registered with Ofsted - a nanny doesn't. It's an "extra" that doesn't benefit her at all, only you, so you should pay.

I think you should go halves on the registration

yes, the main £££ benefit is for the employer but the other benefits (12 hour first aid certificate, enhanced CRB and insurance) totally benefit the nanny, and looks quite professional on your CV - I've decided to get the ball rolling with my ofsted approval off my own back whilst I've been unemployed... in fact, I should be doing the core skills course now, but alas, I am on here lol

i don't think that the nanny will be happy about "going halves".

There is no benefit for her to be registered.....it is only the employer who benefits thus they should pay the full amount.

the first aid needs to be done seperately (as i understand it).

Funnily enough - she's just rung nme to say it's absolutely fine and she has put the wheels in motion and will not LET me think of paying !!

Looks like she is a good 'un then !

I think if a qualification is required to get a job the applicant normally undertakes the burden of obtaining that qualification. However, if someone was already in a job and then the employer required him/her to go on some kind of training, then the employer would be expected to pick up the tab.

Thanks for that JURA - I just rang the voucher peeps and you are absolutely right ! Now I need to find out when her certificate expires !