New to UK, How to find a good Nanny? Pay? Qualifications?

[janet75]

Hi, we are soon to be new to the UK and I want to find out about how Nannies work in London. Any help with the below would be much appreciated!

1. How do you find good nannies? Do most people use Agencies?

1. What are the pay rates for nannies? (we would be looking for part-time)

1. What duties will the nannies do? Will they also do some household duties?

1. What are the qualifications that are good to look for in Nannies based in the London?

Thanks!
Janet75

If you are new to the UK, you are probably better off going through an agency. It is hard to do things on your own when you are new to a country.

Duties can be quite a contentious thing. At minimum, they do everything to do with the child - playing, cooking, their laundry, cleaning their room, and any incidental housework that that child produces (eg cleaning up in the kitchen after cooking for them, or hoovering up the glitter you used in a craft).

If you want more than this, then specify and agree up front. For example, if your child is at nursery school while your nanny is on duty, how would you like the nanny to pass the time. It would not be unreasonable to ask her to do light housekeeping (eg run the hoover around downstairs), but nothing that more intensive than that.

I was looking over an old thread on Mumsnet where a nanny would rather hand-wash dishes than put them in a dishwasher that already contained the parents' breakfast dishes. Madness.

1. How do you find good nannies? Do most people use Agencies?

You can either look yourself on websites like www.nannyjob.co.uk or use an agency. Agree with squeakypop that as you are new to the country and new to nannies, that you may be better off spending the money and using an agency the first time round. Then once you are an experienced nanny employer, you can self recruit and avoid the agency fees.

1. What are the pay rates for nannies? (we would be looking for part-time)

It can vary. London tends to be higher rates than outside of the M25. I would expect that you will need to budget for £10-£14 per hour Gross. You can look at agency sites and NannyJob to get an idea of salaries. Take care though, as many jobs are advertised NET (take-home-pay) whereas you being the employer want to know the Gross salary (salary before deduction of taxes). Speaking of taxes, you will need to add Employers NI to the Gross salary you pay your nanny. HMRC: Employing Someone for the first time (P49) is worth a read to help understand UK taxation.

1. What duties will the nannies do? Will they also do some household duties?

Some nannies will do household duties, others will not. So make sure when advertising the job (an agency will help with job description) that you make it clear what duties you expect. General tidying of children's toys, preparing food for nanny and children, clearing away after meals, Children's washing (though not always the Ironing).

1. What are the qualifications that are good to look for in Nannies based in the London?

Ofsted Registered

This List of qualifications
However, currently in the UK, a nanny does not require a qualification (unless they are Ofsted Registered). So you may get applicants who have no formal training.

Thanks for the advice. I'll have a look into the agencies, moving t a new country is daunting enough without having to interview people that haven;t already had reference checks etc. I assume that the agencies do the police checks etc...

Police Checks are called CRB Disclosure at present. A nanny needs and Enhanced CRB Disclosure. The agency should be able to arrange that, if the nanny is not Ofsted Registered. An Enhanced CRB Disclosure comes with the Ofsted Registration - Ofsted are currently renewing those every 3 years, but a new system is coming in during 2009 which I feel is likely to replace that element - find out more.

thanks for the help :0)

Where are you from, Janet?

I wouldn't use an agency, personally. I'll stick an ad on gumtree and another one on nannyjob.co.uk. (unless you are quite happy to part with a couple thousand pounds in exchange for someone else doing the legwork on your behalf). HOWEVER... I would keep in mind that agenices don't always send you the most suitable candiates and likewise they don't always send nannies to the most suitable jobs.

I guess it depends on whethe £2k is pocket change to you. It isn't to me.

Oh and where in the UK are you moving? If it is say West London, you should have an easy time hiring one on your own. A more remote area might be a bit more difficult, especially as you want part time (and I presume therefore live-out).

Thanks, We also have Gumtree here in Australia and i'm familiar with it, perhaps I'l give it a go in London. Where ever we end up living it will be very close to the city so I think that we should be ok from that respect....

Thanks again