Help - let down by nanny and need one at short notice

[LifeofByron]

Hi, after a painstaking interviewing process back in Feb we employed a Norlander who was due to start work on 20 April as a permanent daily to look after our 6 month old DD as I'm back to work after May Day. We have spent hours with this girl since Feb, so she could bond with DD, understand how our house works (relaxed) and just get to know us so that after our 2 week handover period I could go back to work without worrying (well, relatively speaking).

So this nanny turned up at our house on Monday night and said she'd changed her mind and didn't want the job anymore. I won't fume here, but she seemed a bit surprised that we thought this was pretty poor form. I guess we must have gotten suckered in by the whole Norland thing....

Anyway, I need to find a good nanny at short notice and would appreciate any suggestions as to how to go about finding one (this is my first time and I'm Australian so not very familiar with how it all works). We had gotten the Norlander through one of the two agencies we registered with. I also put an ad on Gumtree- I got a lot of responses but none suitable (I want someone with experience of looking after a young baby, weaning and all that stuff). I should say that I'm in SE London, Zone 1.

I am desperate so would appreciate any ideas.

many thanks

Look on Nannyjob, gumtree, the 'other' parenting site.
Lots of nannies have been let go recently (expecially by families who work in the financial indudtry)

have you gone back to the agencies?
'
If you have paid a placement fee, the agency shouls help you find another nanny I would have thought.

The agency should get you antoher at no extra charge. Which agency was it? You must tell them at the very least and that is pretty poor.......

The agency you got her through should definetly help find a replacement, even a temp one if a suitable long term one doesn't appear right away.

I can recomend
Occasional and Permanent Nannies
KiwiOz Nannies
Burlington Nannies
Simply Angelic

Good luck and sorry that the nanny backed out at the last minute.

thanks very much everyone. The agency was Knightsbridge. Luckily they don't charge the placement fee until the nanny actually starts so we hadn't paid anything. i have told the agency and they've been very good in terms of trying to rally around to find us people to interview- the main problem is that so many people are about to disappear on holidays over Easter etc. Thanks a lot for all the recommendations- i'm getting phoning now

I can highly recommend Childhoon Nannies

www.nannyshare.co.uk/childcarejobs-uk/2694/preview-apply-job.html

how unprofessional is she?

surely after spending almost 2mths with you, she would have known earlier?

glad you havent been charged by the agency

i would employ a temp nanny while you search for right nanny

most nannies generally have 4weeks notice as a minium in their contract, so you are unlikely to find the right nanny who can start that date, but the time you have interviewed them, checked referneces and offered job

you dont want to employ a perm nanny unless you are very sure of them

did the norlander give a reason to you or the agency?

have you tried the agency kids matter they may be able to provide you with a temp nanny while you search for a permanent nanny or even have someone looking for a permanent job.

thanks so much everyone for all these suggestions- I've already had CVs from Burlington Nannies, Angelic and Childhood and am waiting to hear back from KiwiOz and Mini Tots (I've also used the link from Supernanny19, so thanks for that Supernanny19).

Blondeshavemorefun - the Norlander basically turned up and said that she'd received another job offer which was better for her. I can understand why someone wants to suit themselves, but at the same time the whole nanny position is about trust, reliability and integrity. I don't think this girl was too concerned about any of those things. Better to find out now as they say. The annoying thing is, she seemed quite surprised that we were upset and angry. She kept saying "well at least I've come to tell you face to face". But from my perspective it could have been a text message or a personal telegram from the Queen- the end result is the same

The Lady magazine is the best place in my opinion.

Agencies cost a load and only do what you should do anyway, which is check references as far as I can tell.

Life We employed a fab temp nanny who has been let down by a family she was due to start with this week (they decided they only wanted part-time). If you'd like to e-mail me on [email protected] I'd be happy to tell you some more about her and pass on her details.

Hi there,
I can't believe she did that. I'm a nanny myself and it's people like that that give all of us a bad name and make us look un professional. Lots of people get hooked up on the whole Norland thing which isn't as great as it sounds and there are plenty of us (myself included) qualified nannies who are the bees knees and have good track records.
Anyway I'm between jobs at the moment and I'm waiting to hear on a job starting towards the middle of May.
Maybe we could help each other out as I'm looking for temp work and if you need help a.s.a.p to sort yourself out I'm available.
If you are interested then please email me on [email protected] and let me know. I can start tomorrow !

Try melanis at Imperial nannies. She sent me 6 candidaites for interview who were all excellent.

Oh that's very bad luck, but better she tells you now than when you're back @ work with less time to interview etc. I wonder if she'll regret her decision.

I agree that the Norland thing is over rated, after I left one of my positions a Norlander took over and lasted 15 days!

I hope one of the girls on here can help you out in the meantime. It would be better for you to take on a temp whilst looking for the right Nanny.

Good luck!!!

I feel for you, it is awful to be let down like that. I don't understand why she was even looking at other jobs if she had made a commitment to you?!!

Surely if you accept a job and all is agreed then you stop actively job searching and interviewing???

Well maybe it's best in the long run that she doesn't work for you. The nanny market should be in your favour. I have recently decided to change jobs and my current employer 'replaced' [sure she won't be as good!!!] me in 48 hours start to finish!!

Good luck in your search and maybe get her to sign a contract as soon as you have made the job offer and been accepted. That way it is more of a commitment and you are both protected

thanks very much for all the advice. I have to say that the agencies recommended by everyone have been really fantastic- i've interviewed 11 people over the Easter weekend which I think is pretty good going

CottageChicken thanks for the tip re Imperial. A woman called Sassi sent me 6 CVs straight off the bat

I'm also glad that everyone here seems to think that what our Norlander did was pretty outrageous- my blood still boils during the interviews I'm doing now when the potential nannies ask, perfectly reasonably, "why are you looking for someone to start so quickly? you don't seem to have left much time before you have to go back to work". Yes well, I did think I had this all sorted out

Thats great you have had so many nannies to interview gives you a good choice although maybe some dilemas over who to choose.

There are some fab agencies out there as there are nannies

and unfortunately as you found out some not so good nannies and equally there are some not so good agencies.

sadly this girl could do this again in the future as you wouldnt ever be called to give her reference or an opinion.

Abbeville Nannies in Clapham are also very good if you are still stuck - I used them when I was in Kennington.

My sympathies for the extra stress. It's the last thing you need, and really unprofessional. I hope the Norland nanny didn't find her better job through the same agency?