Just about to employ Mother's Help. Would appreciate advice on how to do this properly.

[HeyThereGeorgieGirl]

I have 2 DD's - 7.9 and 3.4 years old. DD3 due 10th July. We've decided to employ a mother's help 3 days a week (11am til 7pm) to help me out as DH about to start new job and won't be around much to help.

I've never had any help before and I want to make sure I do the right thing for myself, my DD's and the person we employ.

Are there any websites I can access to get information re: contracts, my rights, her rights, tax, NI, holiday pay (if she's entitled to any?). The list is endless!

Or do any of you lovely ladies have any pearls of wisdom that you can give to a slightly panicy preggers lady .

Thanks in advance.

Sorry. Forgot to add that I've posted a job spec on Gumtree and already had some great replys. If anyone wants to have a nosey then it starts off - Mother's Help needed for lovely family in Wimbledon SW19.....

The job sounds really nice.

I can answer the bit about holiday entitlement;

Yes, she will be entitled to paid holiday. You will need to pay her for 16.8 days per year - which is 5.6 weeks. This can include bank holidays (so they don't need to be on top of the 16.8 days)- so for you Good Friday and Christmas/New Year if they fall on a Weds/Thurs/Fri. (Have read your ad and see that you are looking for Weds-Fri help)

You will be her employer so will be responsible for her tax & n.i. and you will also pay employers n.i. on top of that.

I'm sure some people will be along to advise on interviewing, contracts, house rules etc etc

Good luck - hope you find someone lovely.

The nannytax website has (well, used to have at least) information on rights/tax/ni/holiday pay/maternity etc.

The last nanny I had I used a modified contract from the sample contract on nannyjob.co.uk (if you use that one make sure it is up to date as the holiday entitlement changed not that long ago).
I also create a handbook which starts with listing important phone numbers (including NHS direct!), then important addresses (doctor's surgery, school, dh's work etc), and then has a bit about the children's routine, things about the house (fire extinguisher/blanket, fire alarm procedure, where the stop cock is..that sort of thing)..and a list of things the children like to do, and like to eat.. I know you are having a mother's help rather than a nanny but it is useful to have somewhere where all the info is in case of an emergency when you have popped out (school run or taken baby to doctors or something).

Tax wise HMRC:PAYE gives you a lot of the info you need. If she does not have any other job, then you may be able to use Simplified PAYE.

Nanny interview questions - you can use this as a guide to some questions to ask. You probably won't want to ask them all and will need to adapt them to suit your situation.

You should think about what you expect the Mother's Help to actually do. Make a list of things you want doing and rank them, so you know the vitals and the desirables. That way you can talk to candidates about what you expect.

A thread about Contracts

A basic contract you will need to adapt this.

Ladies - Many thanks for taking the time to reply. Very much appreciated. I felt it was important to get off on the right foot as we really want someone for at least a year.

Looks like I've got a lot of reading to do!

Have a good bank holiday. xx