advice on finding a nanny

[niakov]

I am about to start work and I am a single mother living in a one bed flat in SE London. My job is in North London and I will have to work some days and nights from 7am to 7pm and opposite. I want to move to Watford and rent a two bedroom flat. I am not sure what would be the best childcare for my daughter who is three. She will start school in September, reception I mean, so I need someone to be there for me for drop off at school, pick up and stay home until I get home and some nights. It comes to 7 days and 7 nights in the whole month, so it is really part-time. I am looking for someone mature and reliable, and someone that would become a part of the family and be a friend really. She needs to be with us for at least a few years.Should I look for a live-in nanny or live-out;and how much should I pay. I can't afford more than 100 pounds per week. Any advice?

A nanny wont accept 100pw..even if she is live in..Usal going rate for live in nanny starts at 250pw?
Maybe you should get an aupair or a childminder.

google aupairworld..

i think you will find it very difficult tbh.

as presumably the nanny wont be able to get another job as well (cant really work all day then all night then all day again) and im guessing with irregular days and hours wouldnt even have a certain day free.

Really dont think you stand a chance of finding a nanny to do that for £100 a week! (sorry, to be blunt but thats how it is)... also not sure many people could even live on £100 / week especially in london!

i think you need to think about an au pair

tbh in london you ought to be thinking £10 / hour for a nanny... you require 168 hours a month, so think £1680.... even at min wage you are looking at over £900 and i dont know any nannies that work for min wage, esp cot irregular hours where they cant take on extra work.

that's not true sorry to be so blunt like you say but this nanny would have up to 4 full days off each week. I think 100 is enough for that

i would work either 3 days a week or 2 nights.

I like the others feel you won't find anyone to do it.
As a single parent you may be able to get some help towards childcare costs, but you will need to use registered care.
You may be able to find a childminder who does overnight care, but cost wise I expect it will be quite high, though it may be funded via tax credits.
Visit your local childrens centre and see if the staff there can give you info regarding local registered childcare providers and info regarding child tax credits.

you sdaid 7 days and 7 nights in a month

thats 14 lots of 12 hours = 168 hours

you may think that £100 a week is enough for 3 days (36 hours) or 2 nights (24 hours)

but minimum wage does not agree and nor would any nanny

many nannies in london are getting £100+ (net) a DAY, not a week, and many of those are working < 12 hour days

You would have to be an employer and pay nannies tax and NI to inlnad revenvue for her AND pay your employers NI contributions, and then pay holiday pay etc to your nanny.

Sorry but there is NO WAY you will find a nanny to work a 3 day week for £100.... its not even legal

niakov I have 4 full days off each week (and always the same ones - not irregular ones) and still earn over £300 gross every week.

Well how about the fact that she doesn't have to pay rent, bills, food etc.? Did you all forget that about the financial crisis? I think that you would be surprised!!!!! And probably I would find an au-pair.

Are you requiring the same days and nights each week or do theyt change from week to week?

Will your nanny be able to get another job with regular days to fit in with what you need?

It will be the same hours and days every week yes.

ALL nannies that live in get bills paid..Maybe you should look up what nannies get as you seem rather confused..Like you think your offering some extra's when they are basics.

www.littleoneslondon.co.uk/nannyagency/live-in-nannies.php

niakov - you are quite right - you can get an aupair for those hours and that money, probably less money. But you will not get a nanny for those hours and that money.

Au pairs would generally not have sole charge of young children and not for 12 hour stretches. But you are quite free to get an au pair and call her a nanny if you wish

I would try a childminder / au pair combination. The au pair could do overnights and the cildminder could do say aftershool bits to keep the au pair from doing long 12 hour stretches.

Don't get hung up on ther job title : au pair vs. nanny. If you can find an au pair who has some childcare and previous au pair experience she is probably qualified. Better yet if you can get a student she might welcome the long hours so she can study.

I think the going rate (I don't have one so might be wrong here) is around £90 for about 30 hours of work. And she could probably do the laundry and maybe some cooking if there is time.

Some childminders will do overnight care - as they have other work and children to look after they may be happy just to receive pay for the drop off and pick up times as well as the overnight care. This might help you keep within your budget.

def think you are looking for an au-pair for the hours/money you are paying, you pay find a student who doesnt need to be in uni til 9am so could drop your daughter at school and then finishes in time to collect her on the days you need then obv do the overnight when needed.

a student may find this attractive as its £100 a week pocket money and accomodation provided.

nannies will not work for that salary even if same hours every week. most nannies live in would be looking at £200 min for the hours, even if asleep overnight a nanny should still be paid as they are responsible and accountable for the child in their care.

I am a Childminder registered for overnight care, my overnight rate is actually less than my daily rate.

Sadly I am not near you.