House rules advice for after school nanny

[EdPops]

We've recently employed our first after school nanny who started with us 2 weeks ago. Whilst we have a contract in place, the PAYE agency we're using recommended setting out some house rules and in fact mentioned them in the contract they provided:

The Employee must observe the house rules at all timesduring working hours or whilst on the premises or when in the presence of the children. These have been provided in a separate document and will be updated by the Employer from time to time.

I'm 2 weeks late doing it but nevertheless has anyone got some examples of what rules might typically feature or should / shouldn't be included? I'm going to write them up over the weekend.

FYI the contract already covers Duties, Telephone Usage and Photography / Privacy.

How about these...

Not smoking at work
No alcohol
No nanny friends around
no playdates unless you and nanny agree before hand - either home or away
take your pick on these
a month's notice for annual leave
no more than 2 weeks annual leave at any one time
no annual leave during school term

notifying you if nanny is ill before work, during work
how to deal with child being unwell during work - can she give paracetamol / do you want to be told asap, etc
things you want the child to do, with nanny's help
things you don't want child to do
what's the system if you're late home from work - overtime rates / time off in lieu
must hold DBS - updated every x years

so basically not just house rules but employer: employee relationship too

Surely house rules are just whatever rules YOU have in your house. Eg wearing shoes inside or not smoking? Feels a bit weird to have "house rules" for a nanny in addition to job description and contract. I mean, if we had a nanny I might mention that we have a rule that no one except our immediate family (and, if necessary, obviously, the nanny) are allowed upstairs to our loft extension. Or similarly, that my best pan never goes in the dishwasher.

But I would feel like a total idiot putting that in an actual document of "house rules".

No play dates unless pre agreed seems bonkers. If you trust someone enough to look after your children alone, you need to trust them enough to have bill and ben from school around for an impromptu play in the garden.

It’s only really smoking I would be hot on. Holiday rules are not house rules, they are employee contract that you should have already discussed beforehand as she needs to have agreed to them

Sorry I'm no help whatsoever but your thread title made me laugh. Our house rules include the gems 'Don't stick your fingers in holes' and 'Don't drink water your bottom has been in' 😂😂

Not sure that's quite what you are getting at 😂

It totally depends what rules you want the nanny to follow! The obvious ones like phone use, eating family food etc will be covered off in the contract, and things like TV time and approach to discipline can be discussed during the handover (and are too nuanced to be written down).

To be honest, I think if you need to put it down in a prescriptive document, you might have hired the wrong person.

Our primary focus when selecting candidates was always their chemistry with us as a family - shared values, can we see them as an extension of our family, do they have the initiative to give calpol/organise play dates/give snacks without needing to be told or run it past us first?

If the answers to those are yes, I’m not sure a house rules list can add much.

If you feel you need it there as something to cover your backs, I would question if you have enough trust in the person you have hired to be letting them have sole charge of your children and home?

I would say that in addition to alcohol, smoking, swearing, appropriate music in car possibly(?) , social media postings (privacy of children/family) etc that all activities must benefit the children or family-so no personal shopping, errands, appointments, visitors etc (slightly different for a full time nanny who works for more hours thus has less personal time to fit these chores into).

Plus rules on tv time/snacks/homework/fresh air/extra curricular activities etc for the children.

I’ve never had house rules for any of my nannies and I think a lot of what @DPotter suggests are contractual terms not house rules.

I guess though that there may be some situations wheee they are helpful. Eg if you have religious dietary requirements you might want to say no pork or pork products in the house even if not fed to kids. Likewise if there are airborne allergies.

in general though I’d keep them short and only include things which are deal breakers to you as otherwise you could easily sour your relationship with the nanny at a key point when you are just getting to know each other. Your home is her workplace and she needs to feel relaxed and comfortable there.

Not a house rule but I've have v clear rules about use of phones by the nanny whilst working.

No play dates unless agreed is mad

Trust your nanny and her judgment on who she sees

House rules

No smoking or drinking on duty