I understand that generally as a whole, life is a little gloomy with the economy and weather.
We’ve recently moved back to the UK after quite a few years working abroad.
Decided to go with some ad hoc freelance Nanny’s who were looking for work. (Found, or reached out to us on the childcare website).
Hadn’t yet employed someone for an employed situation (which seems the preferred route for half of those that contacted us from the job search role I had listed. But the other half seem to prefer self employed situation and just invoice).
..Either works for us, as just finding our feet since moving back.
But one thing that’s really concerning.
The ones seeking a long term employed (we cover holiday, sickness, NI etc etc) role seem to be the ones that talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.
Once you see how they are in general in their way of working. They just seem to be very unmotivated, going outside in any sort of current weather avoided, cut corners, and just sense some of them are simply doing the basics to get through the day, yet say they love childcare. (But in all honesty they seem to me to have lost passion for their trade, or maybe they never had a passion for it. And just are just looking for a wage and in exchange think they should say what they should be (the attributes a typical (good) nanny would have). On paper. And job done.
Then there’s the other flip of the coin.
Where we connected to one who is great. But she doesn’t drive. But was able to offer ad hoc help (self employed preferred) before she moves a couple of hrs away to move in with her son. So we took her up on that, and will greatly miss her!
Lovely older woman. Very active, really thinks on her feet. It can be the simplest of things, like actually enjoying taking LO outdoors this time of year, picking up acorns, going on slide with LO.l, or just actually wanting to go to the park, outdoors. Pinging a message over to say what did LO have for breakfast as they seem hungrier that day. So is it okay she grabs a banana or apple. Finds some make shift cutlery on the way for said apple. Knackers LO out. Doesn’t take the mick on running personal errands with child in say a car on their working hours (which we found happened with two of the car driver ladies) and the sorts that hated to walk much, preferring indoor play cafes they can meet their friends at. Have their phones out around kids like it’s glued to their whole persona, sidetracked, bored, just doing the bare minimum on many fronts.
Another mum said similar recently in their search. Gave up and put their two in nursery.
At moment I’m still persevering down this route as I know there are, and must be good nanny’s out there.
We have met one, but she’s retiring.
But the passion and drive for the other two we trialed was less than ideal when got to know them and the over initial talk the talk part wore off.
It puzzles me as they still want to be employed but it’s clear they just have very little motivation to be what a child needs. And it worries me we get landed with someone who puts on a great front but once ‘employed’ show to be like the less than ideal candidate. Then we have to get out of a situation like that (I’ve heard of partners friend having issues with this) and cause disruption for LO while re searching for right long term one.
Is it this hard to find a decent nanny without personal recommendations? (Which unfortunately in our circle isn’t something that easily gets recommended as not many use non nursery environments).
Is there really something in the whole Norland thing?
I didn’t tend to buy into that and felt I’m sure most working in the industry must to a point enjoy their work. As it’s no easy feat entering yourself into childcare industry am sure, I couldn’t do it everyday. So that’s why it baffles me to come across those reaching out for work but prove to be un motivated types who think what they do is good.
Maybe they just came from lazy backgrounds?
Should I be looking for someone who doesn’t drive, so walking doesn’t phase them? Or mentions exercise is something they partake in in their hobbies or in life? (Like for example the ad hoc older lady we found who puts the others to shame tbh on her desire to be active, talks of her gym she goes to which she enjoys. (We’re not talking triathlons here, simply a walk to the park or woods without making excuses the weathers not great (a little overcast but dry 🙈). So I know LO hasn’t just been traipsed around shops, or running errands with them in their car, around being stuck indoors for repetitive activities that suited their boredom levels or narrative😬).
It seems so hard to find the pro active ones. The ones who love their jobs. I know there’s some fabulous lovely ones, but they all seem taken, and stayed with families for many years.
Not sure if Covid created a younger crowd of lazy people that apparently want to ‘work’ on paper but not work the role.. or if this is just the childcare industry now?
We do have an older child who’s off to Uni, so it’s been a long long time we’ve been in the early yrs childcare phase. But it just feels different.
Help