Hiring nanny without qualifications....opinions?

[runikka]

Good evening

I posted a few weeks ago about hiring a nanny to help with our two children, one of whom is autistic. We have since put in a few small ads and are waiting to list with an agency.

We have received a reply from someone whose e-mail really stood out in terms of enthusiasm, honesty and general manner. Having spoken to them on the phone it has reaffirmed that we could work with them.

The only downfall for us is that they have no formal childcare qualification. They DO have experience with autism...be it in an adult capacity and have experience with care work. They have had limited childcare work but from the e-mail seem to appreciate exactly what would be involved.

My first thoughts were I cannot leave my children with someone who has had no training and limited experience...then I realised that is exactly what I was before I became a parent!

I have considered whether we could work on a three month trial where I am around whilst she gains more experience and I can be certain she could cope with sole charge before actually agreeing to it. I just dont know whether I can get past the fact that my little ones are too precious for me to risk "training" on.

We are new to this so really do not know what to think for the best.

When I hire a nanny, his/her personality and "click factor" are far more important than any piece of paper. I don't care much about formal qualifications, to be honest.

I work with a number of children who are on the autistic spectrum. I find that it is the child who makes the choice as to who they want to care for them. Non-verbal children will clearly show if they like someone or not.
Last weekend I met a young girl with DX ASD and who does not speak. She ignored me initially, though tolerated sitting in a seat next to me. After a while, she decided that she wanted to touch me... and that then moved on to her wanting to feel my face all over... and then try to the same thing, but using her tongue! I don't like children licking my face, so her attempt to do that resulted in me making it clear that I didn't want to be licked. She sat on me.
This sitting on a person I find is a strong indicator that the child likes (or will tolerate) the person. Anyone else find that?

When I did my NNEB, I don't recall there being any SN training what-so-ever. In fact, I think the only thing I learnt from the NNEB was how write an observation. Everything else I already knew, from having cared for numerous children and by reading numerous parenting & child development books.

Someone who cares for a child with an ASD, needs to be patient, tolerant, consistent and at times very firm.
All children with an ASD vary, I've not yet met two the same.

runikka - arrange to meet them, introduce them to your children, and leave them to it for a while. See how they interact. Give them space - go into the kitchen and make some coffee or busy yourself reading the potential nannies portfolio. Watch from a distance and see how your children (especially the one on the Autistic Spectrum) responds to the new person entering their home.

Hi Runikka, This is a bit subjective, but I just wanted to let you know my experiences. I have two boys both with mild physical SN, one who is mild asd. I have had three nannies, and my first two, who were 'proper' nannies - & great in their ways, but both left, after 18 months, the last one telling me that her 9 yr old daughter felt her attention was too taken up by my son. Nanny was lovely- but I was irritated at her reasons - the real reason i feel her daughter was upset was the little girl got her period the month after she told me this, and also the fact nanny and her dh had marital problems. Felt my son was scapegoat.

Anyway last nanny, a polish girl who I met through a friend, who i knew didn't want to do childcare turned out to be the best for our family.

She doesn't want another nannying job, but just happened to love our kids.

I say go with your instinct.

meant to add, last nanny has stayed for 3 and a half years!

Similar to nannynick my SNNEB training was limited when it came to special needs. I had 4 main placements 3 of which had 3 and 4 yr olds and the third was a P1 (reception class). We did visit a special needs primary and secondary school and a maternity ward but when I say visit it was a visit, we all spent one day at each of these observing only really and two weeks in a childrens ward.

And sorry but I wouldn't say much of it was very "intensive", but I did feel perfectly equiped and experienced to work with pre school ages or perhaps as a classroom assistant.

cripes nannynick we did an abundance of SN training.....what year did you qualify?
Im wondering if when the course changed perhaps it eased up a bit?

we were the last year to do the 2 year course after that i believe they worked towards modules.

after reading your post too skramble i realise how fortunate i was i had loads of placements it was a very thorough course we even managed to squeeze in genetics and arts and crafts.

i too had had loads of experience with children but my NNEB taught me an awful lot more- its shame you dont feel you got much out of it because it is a long 2 years.

still,i wear my silver badge with much pride

I did my NNEB 89-91 and spent a year (3terms) in my SN nursery,2 terms in a reception class and one term in family placement - Chapstick - I also wear my badge with pride

Quals are fantastic and if they can be backed up with experience then even better,but if you had 2 nannies you liked,both had zero experience as just starting out, and only one had a qual, who would you choose?

It does take a very special person to work with SN, and I unfort not that special so to the OP if you like and trust this girl then use her regardless of what quals or exp she has - we all had to start somewhere, including the parents of a SN child who prob had zero knowledge

Qualified in Summer of 1998, it was one of the last NNEB courses as NNEB had been taken over by CACHE. The course was actually called CACHE Diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB).

Only special needs bit recall was watching the Makaton Nursery Rhymes video and attempting some Makaton signs.

I suspect that every college had to cover all the modules, but that some colleges may have put more emphasis on some of those modules than others - as the tutors would have their own specialisms and thus would be far more happy to talk at length about something knew about, than about something they didn't.

I don't recall any special needs placement... my placements (the ones I can recall) were with Childminders and a Reception class.

I qualified in 1992 and from what I recall I only did half a term with special needs. ( The rest being 2 terms in an infant school, 2 terms in a nursery, 1 term in a family placement and half a term in a maternity unit. ) I think someone with experience with sn can be far better than someone with qualifications but no real sn experience.

As others have said interview her and see how she reacts with your dc and go with your gut feeling.

Just got back from a break at centerparcs so we are a little tired out (little boy now taken to not sleeping). Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. The way we are approaching this now is to meet her this weekend and see how it goes from there, how she gets on with the children etc
Will keep you updated

Kind Regards
Kirsty

"By imananny on Sat 06-Sep-08 09:20:02

Quals are fantastic and if they can be backed up with experience then even better,but if you had 2 nannies you liked,both had zero experience as just starting out, and only one had a qual, who would you choose?"

But equally if you had 2 nannies - both with good qualifications but only one had experience, which would you choose?

I have over 16 years experience and I know that i am better "qualified" than a young person that has formal qualifications but no experience. I don't have any formal nanny qualifications, but that doesn't mean that I'm not good at what i do.

Ive been a nanny for 8 years now after doing my nneb at college. I have learnt far more through working than i could of ever learnt at college or from a book. I would insist in first aid certificate but if they have expirence then a trial would be the best way to go. you could also see if she would be willing to go to a course in child care as a evening thing or a class more to do with special needs. Plus being qualified doesnt necessary mean that they are good at their job! good luck!

good point phraedd ;) (with turning the question other way round)

Back again

Well we decided to meet her and she was lovely but found where we live too limiting as she doesn't drive (6 miles to nearest rail and only local village shop/pub for entertainment). Sooo after all that uhmming and ahhing she turned us down. We seem to have a shortage of applicants so might have to turn to the agency (we had put it on hold due to a few local hopefuls that have since fizzled out)....arrghh!

Thanks for all the advice though, it is much appreciated.

Go with your gut instinct. If you like the nanny and shes good with both children I say go for it. I am a nanny without any formal qualifications. I turned down college to get out into the working world and I have learned a hell of a lot more without the help of a textbook!!