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

I may have to let me beloved nanny go - anyone in Kent/London interested?

28 replies

Squiffy · 06/03/2009 13:20

I have been living on soft floaty clouds for some time with a heavenly live-out nanny and a fab male AP. But as with all dreams it looks like it is coming to an end...

Were I work in the city is not doing so well, so it looks as if I might have to let my nanny go. She knows this and we are keeping our fingers crossed that I might be able to sort something out in the short term to keep her, but it is looking like an uphil struggle. It is such a shame as she has known my DS since birth when he attended a nursery where she worked (he is now 5.5) and we had hoped she would look after DD until she started school at least....

So, is there anyone out there who might need a nanny in the next few months? She is 24, very laid back, good humoured and I trust her 100%. In the 18 months she has worked directly for me I have never had to pull her up on anything and I swear she has never ever even irritated me. She will do whatever I ask happily. She is very keen on taking kids to the park, local castles, forests etc and is very reliable and a safe driver. She gives me very long handover details every night (and if I am late she telephones them in). She will spend hours with them on making things and practising letters and so on. She never moans if she has to stay on late, and she often comes in and just starts cleaning the house if the kids aren't up. We have her doing very odd hours and she is quite happy to do this (we have her doing 6am starts and 11pm finishes on a rota basis and she is cool with that)

If I were to list negatives I really would struggle. She has never been more than 10 minutes late (normally bang on time). I guess there are two things - she smokes, but never ever around the children or when working. Also, she doesn't make meals form scratch but does the pasta/omelette/sandwich thing, but that's probably it in terms of where someone else might be better than her...she isn't level 3 NVQ'd but she does have 2 years experience in a nursery, 1 year in a holiday resort and 18 months with us. And her aunt runs a home for children with difficult care needs and my nanny spent lots of time there when growing up, so she is very comfortable with special needs. She loves animals and when our dog was desperately ill and soiling the floors she thought nothing of mopping up after him.

She earns a salary which I don't think would put anyone off employing her, and would ideally like a live out job (we are near Canterbury) or if not I think she might be willing to consider a Mon-Friday live-in role so that she can get home at weekends to her boyfriend....

Anyone potentially interested?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Bink · 06/03/2009 13:22

Squiffy, not in the market for your nanny, but I am sorry to hear your own situation - I hope you are only facing a retrenchment not the other thing

Lawrene8 · 06/03/2009 13:34

Hi,

I'm looking for a nanny for 3 days a week Weds-Fri to start in the next month or so. I'm seeing some tonightt, but your nanny (who sounds lovely) could e-mail me at [email protected] with her details.

We're SE London/Kent borders

mumat40 · 07/03/2009 20:25

We're in Surrey - happy to have your nanny contact me at [email protected]

AtheneNoctua · 09/03/2009 20:28

Oh no, Squiff.

TheOldestCat · 13/03/2009 07:26

Sorry to hear this, Squiffy. Do you remember helping me out with some advice about faversham (we met up for a drink in the wharf an age ago)? Well, we've got an offer on our flat and are putting in an offer for a house today in favvers

Thanks for all your advice on this.

Anyway, we're after childcare for the two days I work in London (going for a nursery the other three when I work at home, but need to get the train on office days before the nursery starts). So I don't think we could offer your lovely nanny a position (especially as we will be skinter than skint when/if we move, so will start looking for a childminder for Mondays and Fridays). But drop me a line if I can help at all.

Sorry also about your work situation.

Squiffy · 13/03/2009 08:50

Thanks everyone for symapthetic thoughts. Have had a couple of long chats with nanny and she is probably going to switch careers now if she can and she might stay on with us for reduced hours for a while, so it isn't too devastating for either of us (hopefully). She said such lovely things about our family and the kids that I was more upset I think than she was by the end of it. On the more positive side of things, my family have lived round here for decades and it turns out that my dad knows someone who might be able to give her a big boost in terms of getting on the ladder for her chosen career route, so that made us both

Cat - great news! Where in Fav? Oooo very excited for you. Abbeyfields day nursery is far and away the place for pre-schoolers and babies - tell Sharon that Fergus and Hannah's mum recommended you. Sharon is just sending out letters to all the current parents about their plans over the Summer/September so she can fit in new joiners so now is definately the time to call her. On the childminder front, there is a woman who lives in Graveney (5 mins form fav by car) who I think got an 'oustanding' rating a few years back. I haven't ever spoken to her but found her a while back when I was thinking of using a minder. I have no idea if she has vacancies now. Her initials if you want to look for her are JVM. and of course, if my nanny doesn't switch careers quickly she might be up for a nanny-share temporarily whilst you find your feet . Anyway, send me a CAT with your news and we can arrange drinks. Yay! Another local MNer!. It's an exclusive club down here you know....

OP posts:
TheOldestCat · 13/03/2009 13:23

Aw thanks Squiffy! I really hope things work out for you with your lovely nanny. We'll definitely have to chat about the possiblilty of a share, you never know it could work out for a bit!

No time to write now, working on big report at work and off on holiday for a week, but will DEFINITELY be in touch when we're back.

The house we're going for is on napleton road. Waiting to hear back from the vendor (arghhh! I'm so nervous!). Be great to join your exclusive club

theoriginalmummypoppins · 15/03/2009 05:14

squiff sorry to hear this. Hope it all works out ok.

My dishwasher phobic nanny has resigned ! Going back home to Australia so I am in the market for a new one but not in your neck of tthe woods I am afraid.

AtheneNoctua · 16/03/2009 10:34

Oh, Squiff, still sad for you.

But, if this isn't really really tactless, I just have to say...

Congratulations, mummp!!!!

I hope the door doesn't catch her heel on the way out.

theoriginalmummypoppins · 17/03/2009 23:13

ha ha AN........lots to tell but I really need to come down to London for a meet up to impart.......soon.

AtheneNoctua · 18/03/2009 08:51

Yes you do! When are you free?

theoriginalmummypoppins · 18/03/2009 09:51

not sure at the moment. Its all very busy. Just rejected the first applicant for our job on the basis she wanted to bring her 2 dogs and 2 cats to live in with her...........!

Indiechick · 18/03/2009 09:59

She doesn't want to do Mon-Wed for Aug does she? We're in Bromley and need Aug chilcare.

AtheneNoctua · 18/03/2009 11:18

Oh, do we get to help you choose the next nanny? I think it's only fair because we will have to help you fix her when you tell us what her flaws are.

Indiechick, suggest you CAT Squiffy. She is not signing onto to MN much just now.

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/03/2009 13:32

theoriginalmummypoppins - so glad she finally has got the hint

and cant beleive someone wanted to bring her cats and dogs

good luck with your hunting and we DEF need to help you find the perfect nanny (alas im taken )

theoriginalmummypoppins · 18/03/2009 20:56

Blondes even my mahoosive budget couldnt tcmpt you away!!

Have 4 good cv's on my desk. Sadly all through agencies whose fees are astronomical but there you go.

Apart from Mrs 2 cats and dogs I have 2 ladies in their 40's with 40 years of nannying experince between them, one who is 21 but sounds lovely and one who is a qulaified primary school teacher but can earn more being a nanny. CRAZY!

So in 3 days I havent had a bad choice.

I have a smile on my face even though life is very stressful at the moment.

Thanks for all your support ladies.

When I have narrowed it down a bit I will post for the final decision !!

MP X

AtheneNoctua · 19/03/2009 09:53

Oh Gawd, not the older ones. They will tell you how to raise your children. It's like hiring another mother in law.

I much prefer them youngish when they are more willing to follow my lead... but of course old enough to take the lead when I don't/can't.

Can't remember. How old are your boys. I think you have two boys?!?!

Why are you paying agency fees - especially in this market?!?!

AtheneNoctua · 19/03/2009 09:56

Send me your job desc / ad and I will find you three good candidate and I will do it for free.

athenenoctua at live co uk

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/03/2009 10:14

hmmmmmmmmm - your budget no, but the P&P yes (pool and pimms)

do you still want live in - makes me wonder why a 40yr plus wants to live in

do they really have no life/love of their own?

the 21 sounds ok

and athene mp has 2 girls, both at school - think they are 7 and 9

theoriginalmummypoppins · 19/03/2009 15:11

birmingham.gumtree.com/birmingham/28/36261628.html

Not sure if this will work...........

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/03/2009 15:26

nearly got age right and got one sex right

ad looks good

lets hope someone fab applys

have you tried an ad on your local mumsnet as well - its free so you could copy and paste your ad and put on your local one, and nothing lost

lindseyfox · 19/03/2009 16:28

sounds like a really fab job mummypoppins, the younger nanny would be better for live in but thats just a personal opinion.

have you tried www.childcare.co.uk to see if anyone on there local to you looking for nanny work - mind you if live in they dont even need to be local.

most nannies registered with agencies do tend to advertise themselves privately as well so should be able to find a good nanny without the use of an agency.

dont know if you have tried kids matter as an agency but they are fab www.kidsmatter.uk.com

lindseyfox · 19/03/2009 16:30

also if you you ever need a weekend away or need nanny at the weekend in the meantime I could do some hours for you as only in Leicester so not miles away.

AtheneNoctua · 19/03/2009 20:02

My goodness, that's the shortest ad I've ever read. I think you would benefit by being a bit more chatty and giving some insight into the personalities of your kids. I think you need to give the nannies more info so they can say oh wow I like that too. I bet that's THE job for me. Give them an idea of how much time is spent ferrying kids around, how much time they will have no kids at all. And if you want to take the nanny on hols mention something about willing to travel.

You have a really good nanny job and I think you could sell yourself batter.

You don't really need a whole heap of qualifications given your kids ages. You just need someone who is tidy and organised and doesn't come with attitude. I had a lovely Pole who was just like this. I miss her. But, of course, my current nanny is lovely too.

theoriginalmummypoppins · 19/03/2009 21:25

Thanks An thats good advice. I have been absolutely overwhelmed with the response so far but a lot arent suitable by a long shot.

Do you know recruiting in the office is a doddle compared to this ! LOL.