Need my first nanny in May - when should I start looking?

[patriciawentworthheroine]

Hi there. I am about to dip my toe into the nanny waters for the first time, so I've been reading all your posts which are v helpful and illuminating, but have a few of my own questions, of course.

Firstly, how long should it take me to find a nanny? I am planning to go back to work in May, so when should I start looking?

Secondly, how do security checks work? I understand about personal references, but can I as a person request a CRB check on a nanny (CRB website implies only organisations can do this), or is a CRB check a reference that a nanny carries around with her and can show me?

Am sure I will have hundreds more questions, but answers to these two would be very helpful.

Just so you know a bit more about me, I live in Berkshire and have DD aged 4 (at school), DS aged 2 (will start preschool in Sept) and DD of 4 months. I plan to go back to work full-time (in London) so I need some pretty foolproof childcare! - have always used nurseries previously, but I really want DD1 to be with her siblings after school, not with a CM.

many thanks

patriciawentworthheroine

Start the initial hunt now using internet recruitment sites such as NannyJob and Gumtree. Then as time goes by if you have not had any success, consider contacting nanny agencies (though they will charge you a fee).

As a private individual you can not obtain a CRB check on your employee. The system is going to change, but not quite yet. If you want an Ofsted Registered Nanny, then Ofsted will do the CRB check as part of that registration process.
As a nanny, I have all my CRB checks done over the past few years. So I can show employers those - but ideally once in a new job, a new CRB check should be done. Thus the system is changing, current date for start of new system is October 2009. Details about ISA (the new system)

I'm on the Surrey/Berkshire border (Bracknell, Ascot type area).

think you are wise to choose a nanny now as you have 3 children, as childcare costs for nurseries and cm's are per child, where nannies are a set hourly rate whatever the number of children

i would choose ideally qualified if you want ofsted registered and also a nanny with quite a few years/10+ experience as she will be having sole charge of 3 under 5yrs which tbh is hard work ( i have 3 under 6) and it is hard getting all in and out of car for 9,12 and 3 pick ups and general every day activites - so very important you have a nanny who is confident with 3 young ones

def worth looking now, you really need to find a nanny by end of february as myself and other nannies i know have 2 months/8weeks notice in our contract, thus if you need a nanny to start in may, must give notice beg march

but other nannies have 4 weeks

agree try and place your own ads on www.nannyjob.co.uk and www.gumtree.com and also on www.netmums.co.uk but if no luck after a month, i would still keep ads up, but also register with agencies - you gen pay 3 or 3.5 nett the salary as a fee for a rough guide

good luck and sorry for woffle

Thank you very much for your advice, both of you. Will definitely start advertising now and aim for Ofsted-registered if possible (budget permitting!).