Can I offer an unqualified nanny a work placement?

[foxythesnowfox]

I've heard that it is possible to give an under-graduate nanny a work placement? Has anyone done this, or have you done one?

I've no idea how to go about it, except by approaching local colleges (SW London) and asking them. I'm not after cheap labour, but with DP away all summer and 4 under 6's to entertain, an bit of help wouldn't go amiss!

Thanks for any words of wisdom

approach local college. will be doing this when dd3 arrives - thankfully my cm's dd is the childcare lecturer and is always on the lookout for placements with babies.

It's possible - you wouldn't be able to leave them in sole-charge if they come through college but you would if wanted help for the summer holidays and are paying them.

As twinklytoes said your local college, if they run childcare courses, may be able to help. If possible ask for a student who actively wants to go into nannying when they qualify - IME they're more likely to muck in and look on it as a learning experience rather than a complete chore.

Thanks I will for sure

Bump - anyone else?

Just in case you haven't thought of it, calling it a 'work placement' doesn't exempt you from having to pay national minimum wage, unless this person will be living as part of the family, in which case it's slightly different.

Thanks Flowerybenbag, never even thought of that!

flowerybeanbag, I mean. sorry

I think it's a great idea. And when you are done training her over the summer, can I have her as a live-in in Sept when current fab nanny is leaving me (sniff sniff)?

Bumping

A placement in my view, is during college term time and is for training purposes, thus you have to be with the student all the time. When I did my nanny training, I had such placements 2 days per week with childminders, nurseries, schools. You wouldn't be paying them.

So in theory, if would be possible to contact a college and ask if they have anyone who is still looking for a placement this term - but I would expect they will all have placements already arranged.

But, no harm in contacting colleges and saying that you have a Summer Job available for a trainee nanny. You would need to pay National Minimum Wage (or higher). You could perhaps advertise it as a Mothers Help position, which I feel is commonly the term used for someone to help you around the home, with children, housework etc.

Fab, thanks Nannynick. I like the idea of offering a term-time placement too. I'm sure we could provide a lot of experience with my 4! Also, I'm not looking for someone to have sole charge, I'm really thinking of someone coming to hang-out with us, get messy, muddy and inspire some fun when I'm over it!