first step in finding a nanny?

[Sus19]

ok i've realised there's a lot more to this hiring a nanny...

What is the very first thing I should do in this process? Are agencies realistically the only way ahead?

i personally wouldnt bother with the agencies, the first step i would do would to post an ad here! and see what happens . .

yep have tried that - should I keep posting the same ad so it stays at the top of the list!??!

You will find a lot of information on this section of Mumsnet about hiring nannies - from drawing up contracts, arranging payroll, interview questions and where to advertise.

Advertise Online:
www.gumtree.com - pick your local Gumtree, cost varies, in some areas there is no charge.
NannyJob.co.uk - they currently charge £20.

By advertising on both Gumtree and NannyJob, various other job listing sites may pick up your advert - for example ClickAJob.

Have a good look around at existing jobs being listed on the websites, to give you an idea of how to write an advert. Personally I prefer jobs which state the salary. I know some employers don't want to put that initially, but I feel it helps. So you may want to think about that. If you do indicate salary, make sure you put if it is Gross or Net. Would suggest putting both if possible, with a statement saying that Net is based on a typical single person's tax code when they have only one job.

Agencies can be worth registering with, as you may get various other candidates... but you may also get the SAME candidates. With agencies you don't tend to pay until you actually hire someone - put the amount charged can be huge. Perhaps contact a few local agencies and ask for an information pack... see what they offer, how much they charge.

I would post an ad (detailed as possible) on nannyjob.co.uk and gumtree.co.uk (and greataupair.com if the position is live in). I would provide an e-mail address as the contact. And I would have a questionnaire that I sent out to everyone who replied to the ad with acceptable CV and picture. (ask for CV and pic in the ad)

Full time jobs are easier to recruit for.

I would definitely not engage an agency, unless you consider a couple grand to be petty cash.

Not sure how much response you will get posting an ad on mumsnet. It's not really the place many nannies would look. A few might, but not many. Ads on Mumsnet for childcare are probably best put in the Nanny Shares board, even though it isn't a share.

Noticed that you are located in Norfolk. Not sure how common a nanny is in Norfolk. NannyJob are currently listing 7 jobs, in the entire of Norfolk.

Local adverts can sometimes work - parish magazine/church newsletter, local newsagents, anywhere that accepts an advert at a low cost.

are you near hilgay.... my friend (childcare student) is 19 very reliable and is moving to norfolk in the summer. . . if interested message for more info

Great - thanks all for your tips and suggestions. A few grand is not petty cash at all so if thats what the agencies are charging I'll give that a miss!

Thanks nannynick for looking in Norfolk. So far I've got an ad in the local shop (!), I've rung my midwife to see if she knows of anyone and am generally asking around.

The money side of it seems complicated (is that just me). If a nanny quotes me £7.50 an hour what do I need to add onto that? Is there a simple calculation to work it out? I.e if I can afford £80 a day TOTAL (incl tax and N.I) should I advertise that amount as a day rate? Sorry to sound so thick about it all

For a live-out, 3 day per week nanny, you will be wanting someone who lives close to you. Looking at a map, Kings Lynn looks about 15 miles away, so that may be a place to advertise. Norwich is twice the distance, so may not be viable for someone to travel. I feel that a live-out nanny is likely to work within a 30 minute drive-time of where they live, often preferring to work as near to home as possible. So I would suggest advertising locally, anywhere you can.

Sus, is it a live-in or live-out position? What days? Hours? How many kids and ages?

Money side you need to look at PAYE.
£80 per day total, I don't think will get you many candidates. Could be wrong, pay does vary due to local market conditions, but once you take into account Employers NI, Employees NI, Employees Tax, then take-home pay for the nanny isn't that much.

Very roughly, I think you should be within your £80 per day total, JUST, if you were to offer £220 gross per week (for 3 day week). Nannies take home wage is about £184 (according to ListenToTaxman and Employers NI will be in region of £15-£20) - thus bringing you to your £240 total.
Keep in mind though that there will be other expenses to add on... such as charges for activities, use of car.

When a nanny says they want £7.50, that is often what they want Take Home.

Siabhan - yes maybe interested in your friend. THanks
How do you message for more info (sorry new to this!)??

Thanks nannynick - you certainly know your stuff! Have I got my head in the clouds about what I should expect to pay?

AtheneNoctua - its a live out position, mon,tues and Fri - hours approx 8.30-5pm - 2 girls aged 19months and 6 months.

how far from hilgay r u??

To send a CAT (Contact Another Talker) click on the Envelope Icon, right side of the bar which contains the posters Name and Date/Time.
Sending a CAT costs £5 per year, the system will take you through payment for the first occasion you use it. CAT's are processed manually by Mumsnet HQ staff, so they can take a while to get though - and can sometimes not get through at all.

i am 16 miles from Hilgay according to Route planner!

well ill ask her whether she'd be interested. . . i think she might be but not sure about the distance .. i get bck to you

thanks so much Siobhan
email [email protected] if easier )

Pay varies around the country, so it's hard to know for sure.

Jobs listed on NannyJob today:
5-days per week, £350 per week (does not say Gross or Net)
£7 hourly Net
£7 hourly Net
£8 hourly Net
£300 per week (does not say Gross or Net) for 28 hour working week. So about £10.70 per hour.

If you were to offer £7 net per hour, for say 27 hours per week (9 hours per day), then that would be roughly £227 Gross per week.
Add say £20 for Employers NI, and you are close to total cost of £250 - around £84 per day.

So looks like you may be in the right ball park.

Here in the south, salaries tend to be higher, so it's hard to make comparisons.

thanks for all the info nannynick!
In East Anglia the wages tend to be lower. I find the whole gross and net thing quite confusing but will get my husband to look at what you've said too!
thanks again!

I know you have ruled out Nursery, but what about Childminders? Looking at typical childminder costs, seems to be around £3 per hour per child. Most childminders will also take Childcare Vouchers, if your employer offers those.

The whole Gross Net thing is a pain. Would be far easier if nannies just accepted that they were paid Gross like everyone else. Nannies are actually paid Gross like everyone else, it's just that jobs don't tend to be advertised that way - no idea why. Perhaps people used to think that nannies were thick and could not work out what take home pay they might get.

There is a Norfolk based nanny payroll company (PAYE for Nannies) if you want someone else to handle the tax side of things.

Re the child minder - I'm looking at a nanny as I was feeling that one to one care would be the best considering the age of my daughters (19 months and 6 months). Also thought they would be less disrupted if in their own home etc they can nap in their own beds and so on.
Do you think child minding is as good an option??

a childminder would be a good option with one child but a cildminder for two could be costly... what are you looking to offer an hour?

I'd expect to pay £3 an hour per child probably. My quandry is what is best for the girls. Childminding costs would be approx £6 an hour for approx 10 hours a day - for another £50-70 I think I could get one to one care in their home (also easier for me to get out the door!)

also worth looking and putting your own ad on www.netmums.co.uk

shes asked me to give you her email address, shes got a house lined up in halgay, hopes to be moved by august/september her email address is [email protected]