Need pointers on becoming a nanny

[Tarenath]

I've come to point where I need to return to work for financial reasons and putting ds into childcare really isn't an option for me since I'd be spending more in childcare than I'd be getting in pay (I was a community carer before ds was born and it's not the most high paid line of work)
I've decided I'd like to be a nanny since I've always enjoyed working with children. I used to teach gymnastics for 10 years and only gave it up because we moved away from the club and I was 7 months pregnant.
However I'm having real problems getting into the profession. I chose nannying as opposed to childminding since my house really isn't suited to it, and I have the option of bringing ds with me, but most agencies wont even look at me because I don't have an appropriate qualification. It doesn't matter how good I make the covering letter, as soon as they see my CV they wont speak to me anymore. And private openings seem to be few and far between. I'm sorry I don't want to sound like I'm moaning. Nannying is supposed to be a difficult profession to get into, after all your asking someone else to trust you with their child/ren on nothing more than the way you come across in one conversation sometimes.

I guess I'm asking for pointers on how I can make myself more appealing. I've had a lot of people tell me that I'll make a great nanny because I love getting involved in what children are doing but I don't have the experience. Also would I be better off looking at nanny or nanny-share positions since I would be bringing ds with me? (he is nearly 2) Thank you in advance for any information and advice

Tarenath I think you probably have several negatives against you from the perspective of the agencies and I'm not wholly sure from your post you see this.

First is the lack of qualifications you mention and you've identified this. Second I think they probably view your gym work as not directly comparable experience such as working in a nursery as it is time limited in terms of interaction with children and only dealing in a specialist set. Third is though frankly wanting to bring your son is also going to be an issue - whilst some families are fine with it many will not be keen to have someone bringing their own child - see the many posts of mumsnet about the issue.

I appreciate that's not giving any answers but you might want to see if there is some way of getting experience/qualifications. FOr instance can you work in a nursery that will allow to bring your son at a reduced fee? Or can you do some theory qualifications in your spare time?

You have no experience or qualifications in the field in which you wish to work. That's what's holding you back.

You can't just 'become' a nanny - although it's unregulated and you don't need qualifications etc, it's hard to get a job with neither qualifications nor experience.

Would you leave your baby with someone with as little experience as you?

Sorry to be harsh, but I don't think you're likely to get work as a nanny on the basis of 7 months of motherhood and previously teaching gymnastics.

However, if you look more towards working with children in a nursery setting, you may have more luck. You could see if there are any childminders who are taking on assistants, or if there are openings in your previous line of work with subsidised childcare. You may even get work as a nanny with school age children, but this is very likely to be part time in term time, and long hours in school holidays, with pay accordingly.

Don't give up - but be aware you are going to be competing for jobs alongside people who have their own baby and years of nannying experience and qualifications too.

Sorry again to be harsh. Perhaps you could ask the agencies for advice too.

I started of by doing some babysitting, then was an au pair abroad and a mother's help in the UK. Then a live in nanny and then a daily nanny. I wasn't qualified and a lot of mum's wanted someone with experience of children, not just a certificate. I was 19 when I au paired.

I wouldn't go through an agency to be honest. I would put cards in the shop window, I would read The Lady and I would maybe put my own ad in there too.

I could really use some help, you could bring your child too but I don't know that we could use and pay you enough days to make it work for you.

She is a mother though. Surely no better way of getting experience????

No experience of being a nanny, also (presumably, from the OP) none of ages other than her own ds.

Thank you for the replies. I'm aware the gym work isn't directly comparable since you have limited time and a scheduled lesson plan but also you're often dealing with children of different ages and abilities at the same time (not at the same time but I've taught ages 4-16). Usually at least one child doesn't want to be there, or wants to be doing something different to what I have planned for them to do. So while it's a completely different setting to looking after someone elses child/ren in their own home, I still consider it relevant experience.

The only problem I've found with wanting to bring my ds with me is one interviewer made their decision based on their experiences with a previous nanny who was constantly having time off with their dc, rather than making the decision based on my own merits. We had even been through the logistics of me bringing ds with me and she agreed it wasn't a problem.

Paperchase: I have 2 years experience of motherhood and currently acting maternity nurse/doula for a pregnant housemate.

Unfortunately to get qualifications, I need money, which I don't have. I have done first aid, health and safety, moving and handling etc and I have an enhanced CRB check (though I have a feeling it's expired now) but unfortunately no funds to renew these certificates even though the knowledge is still there. I also did a short course in paediatric first aid after almost losing ds to SIDS but sadly no certificate for that. I'm currently looking into getting funding for courses but these things take time of course.

Sorry Tarenath - I misread your post, thought your ds was 7 months. Obviously, at 2, you have more experience. Sorry

Also, if you experience as a maternity nurse/doula, then that, too, is relevant.

But your experience of teaching gymnastics might not count for as much as you hope. I really think your best bet is as a childminder's assistant, working in a nursery, or with school age children.

But you may find something with children nearer your ds's age. I think you need to broaden your search and, in answer to your original question, you need a solid CV and relevant references. Even if they are from a friend for whom you are doing free childcare it will help. I'll assume you already have a first aid certificate and a CRB check. It will help if you are Ofsted registered.

Good luck.

Oh fgs ignore me!
I seem to have forgotten how to read!

The thing is much as you may think the gym experience is relevant (and true its better than nothing) the agencies clearly don't agree. The danger of overplaying it is that they may consider you naive. I would agree that doula/maternity nurse work is much more relevant.

Have you checked that there couldn't be any funding avilable to you especially if you are on a low income?

The main problem I've had with funding is most of the criteria are based on last years household income which was just fine, unfortunately DH's contract was ended in November so that's no longer a valid income figure which doesn't help. He and I are both currently trying to return to work. I don't know how jobseekers allowance and funding works though.

Every now and then I get to see a nannies CV. You would be amazed at how badly they are laid out, how they don't emphasise the things that are important, how they help answer obvious initial questions - such as why did they leave a job after a couple of months.
Do take a look at your CV and create a customised version of it for each job which you apply. Look back through your past to see if there is anything more childcare related that you have done - babysitting for instance.
On my CV I put that I have helped to run a Beaver and Cub Scout pack. I feel that is about the same level of relevance as your Gymnastics teaching. It tells people that I have been involved in 'group care' of children of various ages. It however is way down the bottom of my CV, and I don't expect parents have taken it into great account when considering me as their nanny.
Take a good look at your CV and create a new one for each job for which you apply, clearly emphasising the factors which you feel will most appeal to that employer.
Expand out appropriate previous employment / voluntary work sections, to detail what your job role was, what you did etc. Don't just put "1990-2000 taught gymnastics at xxxx club" as that means very little.
If you would like me to take a look at your CV, feel free to e-mail it to me (see my profile - click the yellow postit note thing - for details on how to find my website, where you can then find my e-mail address)

I would suggest avoiding agencies and looking instead at adverts placed by parents. These may be rather lacking at the moment, depending on your location, but keep an eye out for them and apply whenever it looks like a possible job suitable for you.

Having your DS in tow is a big put off factor in my view. Yes some parents may consider a nanny with their own child, but I feel many won't.

As you don't understand JobSeekers allowance, visit your local JobCentrePlus and talk to them about it. They may be able to point you towards training you can do, organisations that can help, and may even know of childcare jobs available in the area. Also make sure you are getting all the benefits you should be given your current circumstances. The CAB may be able to help with regards to what you can and can't claim.

In my area (Surrey) fully funded courses seem to be non-existent. Some courses are subsidised but tend to be aimed at Childminders or at Nursery workers. However it does vary by area, so contact your local Children's Information Service to enquire about childcare training.

tbh i think you will find it hard to get into nannying, esp as of the credit crunch and people are making their nannys redundant as cant afford them

so you are up against people who have been nannies for years and have good references

you do have a few things against you, no quals, no exp ( many agencies dont accept a mum as exp) and you want to bring your oen child

try putting an ad on www.gumtree.com and www.netmums.co.uk and www.nannyjob.co.uk

you may be lucky and get a mum who is willing to take you on and pay you less than the going rate

nannyshare positions are generally less fussy as both parenst have to be pleased - so again look at these

other option is shared care or even a mothers help

but if you need extra income you may need to be a childminder instead, though there is a lot of paperwork and hassle which a nanny doesnt have

Meanwhile, to help income level, could you not look at teaching gymnastics again. Not sure how easy that is to do, but there must be clubs, leisure centres, etc around - you never know they may be looking for a gymnastics teacher. Also could you do private lessons/group lessons in anyway - such as by renting space at a school or leisure centre.
Just trying to think of ideas

Do you have a folder as well as your CV?

You could make a folder with a section on childrens nutrition, healthy eating, weaning, recipes etc, a section with ideas for play-imaginative play, creative play etc-,and take it with you into interviews explaining to parents that you dont have formal qualifications but you are passionate about it.

Also if you cant afford a full course, can you invest in buying some course books and read them in your own time?

Thank you again for the replies. As I said, childminding isn't an option. 1)we're currently long term housesitting so it's not my house 2) tbh the house is completely cluttered and there's not much we can do about it since it's not our house and I really wouldn't be happy having someone elses children here.

The gym isn't really an option since most classes are evening based which I wouldn't be able to do, and out of the 10 years I coached for, only 2 of those was actually paid. A lot of it was voluntary.

The voluntary Doula work will become a mothers help position but that isn't until June which doesn't help. I'm also looking at getting involved with HomeStart which is a voluntary organisation providing support to families, but again, their next course is May which doesn't help now.

Tiramissu: I'm currently working on the portfolio but it's long and hard work! I also already have the course books for NVQ3 Early Years Care and Education which I'm studying from as best I can.