Thinking of returning to nannying after 6 years away

[Hobnob76]

I currently work as a teaching assistant and my job looks shaky at the mo, prior to wrking there I was a nanny and really enjoyed it. I found it lonely at times but managed to build up a good circle of nanny friends. I'm thinking of going back to being a nanny but worried I'll be lonely and find it hard to make new nanny friends.

I've been lurking on here for a while, and alot seems to have changed in the world of nannying! Do I have to be registered now ?

Anyone got any advice ?

Ah, I have left nannying and am not intending to go back, but on the grounds of keeping my options open will keep an eye on this thread.

It does seem to be the case that you need a CRB check (remember the old police check, £10?) and more people are paying their nannies in vouchers - if your prospective boss wants to do that, you'll need to be registered with (I think) Ofsted, which costs about £100 ish. This involves holding a relevant qualification and a current first aid certificate, as well as the CRB check.

I really don't know all that much about it tbh, so don't take the above as being 100% accurate.

You need NannyNick - he knows everything about admin and paperwork and law where nannies are concerned.

Thanks for replying though! I always said I'd never go back too, and I have to admit it would have to be a pretty spectacular job to sway me! But I'm just trying to keep my options open. I know that it's a job that I can do and have done very well in the past and I did used to enjoy it but am worried it might not be all that it seems anymore!

I am qualifed and police checked and have over 12 yrs experience but just don't know what I want to be!

Being qualified and police checked helps, then IF you find a family who want an aproved nanny so they can use the vouchers, then you get registered which costs £100 (which employers should pay the fee for) - you also need an up to date 1st aid course and also have nanny liabilty insurance (which you pay for,costs about £60 a year)

Once you find a job,esp if through an agency then ask them to put you in touch with a socaible nanny in that area (i get calls like this from my local ones) or join NJ and put a post up on meet nannies and sure you will find some friends.

nannying IS very lonely if you dont see anyone, I see a mixture of nannies and also I am friends with some lovely mums as well

Thanks imananny! I never thought of asking agencies to put me in touch what a great idea, and posting on NJ sounds good too. See, so much has changed, last time I was a nanny I didn't have access to the internet, life is so much easier now!

You need insurance now too? Blimey. What would you claim for - over snotted t-shirts and grazed knees?

[totally out of touch]

WanderingTrolley, now you know how I'm feeling I really am out of touch then, last time I nannied I didn't need insurance.

Hobnob scratches head and wonders whether this really is a good idea

Insurance is for legal expenses etc if you get wrongfully accused of child abuse or a child falls over and hurts themself - stuff like that.

Ah thanks for explaining Frannikin, it makes sense to have this insurance then doesn't it.

a lot of nannies i know dont have insurance, but if you are to be an aproved nanny, you HAVE to have it. A lot of nannies use this company www.mortonmichel.com/nanny/intro.htm

As Frannikin said, it is to cover the nanny IF something terrible happened to child while in nannies care, and the paretns decide to sue - this is why the nanny should pay the £60 and not the employer, as it might make the insurance invalid

Spotted my name being mentioned... do you need clarification about anything, or are you all sorted?

Registration is currently optional, but I am finding that it is becoming increasingly popular with parents, so it is something to consider. It takes care of getting an annual Enhanced CRB check. When ID Cards comes in, I expect the system will change... but that could still be a few years off (not sure where Government are up to with ID Cards).
Insurance these days is vital when caring of other people's children. As a TA, you probably get insurance via your union or school/employer - so should anything happen to a child in your care at school, you have legal support.
Your CRB check from your TA position is non-transferable. However it is up to a new employer if they wish to use it, or not. So good to keep your Applicant Copy (if you have it) so you can add it to your nanny info file for when you go for job interviews.

Just thought of something... you could perhaps ask school if you can become a First Aider. Then you will get First Aid training and a certificate. Ideally it should be at least a 12-hour course, covering babies, children and adults - an Early Years course may be better than a HSE course, though school may have a specific course they require that you do.
Also think about other training you may be able to get via school - working with children with special needs for example. Any training workshops you attend, keep a record of what they were (a certificate ideally), as anything child related is bound to help when looking for a nanny job.

Are Nannies always quite young? or could someone become a Nanny for the 1st time after 40yrs old.
Or are there no older nannies out there?

Not sure if there is an age limit. Some parents like having more mature applicants. I'm in my 30's.

I am in my middle 30's and dont think they can legally advertise for a nanny under 40( or under/over any age)

Thanks for all the advice Nannynick, much appreciated. I intent to fully use the school that I work in for training etc.

Ripeberry, I'm also in my 30's. Although when I first started nannying nearly 13 yrs ago I was only 19 yrs old.