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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Odd nanny candidate ---- or is it just me? All a bit suss...(long sorry)

81 replies

henrys7thwife · 15/01/2009 01:41

We put up an advert for a part-time nanny a few days ago. We interviewed a lovely Australian girl (Nanny A) whom we got along with very well but who hasn't worked for about 18 months and seems to need a job right away - which is fair enough I suppose. We interviewed her on Sunday and asked her to email us details of her references on the following day.

She emailed less than an hour after leaving our home with 2 telephone references and an email address for a much older position, one that she left about 4 years ago saying that she didn't normally give out this person as a reference but they had 2 children close together as we do and so she thought it would be relevant. She included in the email that she was extremely interested in the position and it was exactly what she was looking for, dream job, etc etc. We only are looking for about 10 hours per week and she hasn't said definitively what she's doing the rest of the time.

Before we can even check references, two days later I receive an email from another candidate, Nanny B, a bit of a vague response, but basically along the lines of 'I am very interested in your position please tell me ASAP if you have found someone or if I can come for interview, maybe you have someone already...' Odd bit? This is from the EXACT email address Nanny A provided us as the 4-year-old reference contact.

I emailed Nanny A asking about this and she quickly replied back 'Oh sorry, it wasn't xxx.xxxx123@yahoo it was xxx.xxxx1234@yahoo'. Also another spiel about how she really wanted job and could we get back to her ASAP.

Am I right in being suspicious of this? Otherwise we got along with her very well and probably would have offered her the job but her extreme exuberance and seeming need to start literally tomorrow. I am scared to even email the reference...thinking it may all be a sham and her mate or something on the other end.

Where are all the good part-time nannies

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nannynick · 15/01/2009 12:06

patricia - the more the merrier. Clearly for some jobs done many years ago, the former employer may no longer be contactable (moved away for example). So written references are good for an overall picture - plus then having a couple of families to call.
I have written references dating back to early 90's. No point calling those parents now... their children are at Uni!

With regard to reference from the last employer - this may not always be possible at the recruitment stage, as the nanny may still be working for them and may not have told them that they are looking for another job. However in that situation, I would expect the nanny to tell prospective employers that information. Once they hand their notice in, then that employer can be contacted for a reference.

Agencies I've dealt with have always gone back through as many references as they possibly could trace. I applied for a job in 2008 and the agency concerned contacted a family I worked for in 2004. Not sure they managed to go back more than 4 years, though they did speak with a family for whom I have babysat for now over 10 years!

orangina · 15/01/2009 12:12

Haha juju... perhaps you had the same maternity nurse as us (I wrote a totally neutral reference but then had to tell it like it was on the telephone to these poor women who were thinking of hiring her....!)...!

llareggub · 15/01/2009 12:29

I would never accept a written reference directly from a prospective employee. I would only accept a written reference directly from the former or current employer.

For anyone working with children I'd check employment history going back 10 years and query any gaps in employment.

Sycamoretree · 15/01/2009 12:41

I would just add to the general consensus that there is NO innocent explanation for this, she has clearly tried to deceive you and was not bright enough or on the ball enough not to trip over her own flimsy deception.

What you can't know is why she's done this, and there could be reasons for it that wouldn't bother you (she's actually brilliant at the job but has had a run of bad luck which means she knows she can't provide the kind of references that would give a mother enough confidences to hire her).

Or there could be far more troubling reasons - e.g. she's been sacked from previous jobs, or that she's not properly trained or experienced and is trying to hide the fact.

Either way, you can't possibly start of employing someone from such a wobbly position of distrust, so I'm afraid you're best of moving swiftly on from this candidate.

Blondeshavemorefun · 15/01/2009 12:45

def sounds as if she is trying to pull a fast

i would be looking elsewhere

18mths is a very long time to be out of work

i have been a temp, and i worked every week, though some weeks only 3 days - but that was my choice!!

there is always work about for a good, experienced nanny imo

Original poster

henrys7thwife · 15/01/2009 15:41

Thanks for all your messages. Am slightly disappointed as in all other ways she was great but since she was the first candidate we interviewed we thought it was better to give others a chance as well. Now it seems I'm back to the drawing board as we've gotten mostly girls who speak 2 words of English or who have just done babysitting in the past.

key Unfortunately we're way down in South London, I don't think you could do the commute from Hertfordshire my dear! Going to have a trawl through the rest of the emails now. Pray for me!

OP posts:

MissGT · 15/01/2009 16:36

I may know someone? Friend of mine was looking for part time nanny work and is based in south London.. (don't think she has found something yet anyhow). I have seen her in action and she is lovely. If you'd like her details/me to pass on yours please let me know!

wickedwitchofwestfield · 15/01/2009 19:00

whereabouts in south london? I'm currently temping so not looking for a long term position but I'd be happy to help while you look - I also used to work for an agency so would be happy to help with the recruitment side of things too if need be as if I learnt one thing it was to smell nanny BS a MILE off lol (am currently helping out twelveyeargap on this board+helped out SalLikesCoffee recently too )
please feel free to email me on westlondonnanny [at] googlemail [dot] com if I can be of any use!

Original poster

henrys7thwife · 15/01/2009 23:59

Hi, thanks for replies but I already have a lovely temp nanny I've used before and would use again if we need her. I don't need anyone to start straight away, it's a shared care job as I don't work so I can take my time looking for someone. Don't feel so bad about letting Aussie girl down now as when I told her we wouldn't be employing her she wrote back a very nasty email. Didn't think she was like that!!

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 16/01/2009 00:37

henry - where are you based cos i know someone looking for a nanny position.

Original poster

henrys7thwife · 16/01/2009 00:57

Hi Nappy we are in Southeast London.

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 16/01/2009 08:58

aussie wrote a nasty email back to you?

FFS - no wonder nannies have a bad name

jujumaman · 16/01/2009 12:34

Good Lord, just shows all our collective instincts were correct

Hope another family isnt unlucky enough to employ her

AtheneNoctua · 16/01/2009 12:48

You could reply to her and thank her for confirming that you made the right decision.

RachieB · 16/01/2009 14:58

OMG cant believe she was rude back to you on email !

sounds a right nutter!

bellabelly · 16/01/2009 15:05

What did she say? [nosy]

Original poster

henrys7thwife · 16/01/2009 17:21

I know blondes! I didn't expect it from her at all.

I said: "We regret to inform you that you have been unsuccessful in this position. Good luck finding another family."

I got back:

"I regret to inform you that your family probably won't find another nanny. Nannies hate mums at home and I don't think I could work with you even if offered the job. I decided this before you even sent me this e-mail so effectively I turned you down first."

OP posts:

Page62 · 16/01/2009 17:27

oh my god
what a nutter

bumbling · 16/01/2009 17:29

Wow she has some ishoos. YOu made the right decision, we had a nanny crisis earlier this year and thought we'd done all the right things. Sacked her after 20 months of looking after DS and another child and really, really, really wish I'd been more sensible and less trusting. I took references but from an existing share who we joined and one other and on reflection I wish I'd made more calls to get a consensus vew. And also that I'd been firmer about how I wanted things done and the info I wanted at the end of every day etc. Ho hum. Good luck and stick with treating it like an employer emplyee relationship.

tiggerlovestobounce · 16/01/2009 17:31

I wonder why she hasnt worked for 18 months

Original poster

henrys7thwife · 16/01/2009 17:32

bumbling can I ask you what happened? I want to try and avoid any trust-based mistakes I might make (since I seem a bit prone to them!) and any pitfalls in general. Sorry if it's too intrusive of a question.

[nosy as well]

OP posts:

goldenoldie · 16/01/2009 17:40

pat yourself on the back. Just imagine her looking after your children.........

Blondeshavemorefun · 16/01/2009 18:00

she turned you down - you must be gutted - not

thank your lucky stars that she cocked up with email, or you might have hired her

NewAmazingBeginning · 16/01/2009 18:56

You sooooooooooooooo did the right thing!

Well done you and well done MNers for getting it right!!

Now we need a name to make sure no one else gets stuck with her.

thebody · 16/01/2009 19:40

just that she said 'nannys hate mums at home' why would that be? odd, sounds like she has stuff to hide, lucky escape methinks!

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