Loads of advice needed re: nannies

[MrsMattie]

We are currently looking for a live out nanny, 3 days a week. I've posted an ad on Nannyjob and had some replies/CVs from some nannies that look promising. Looking to interview next week and have got a list of 'things to ask' from Nannyjob. But I have no clue about all of this. Are nannies self employed or will we be employers? What happens re: tax, holidays, if they go on maternity / sick leave etc? How on earth do I go about drawing up a contract? I am clueless! Any advice appreciated greatly.

nannies cant be se for perm jobs and as you are stating hours/days etc, you are an employer

i have a lovely contract - but it is benifical to me the nanny, so you wouldnt want that, ie i have 6 weeks sick pay in it

there are many tax companies about who do it for a yearly charge of think about £140

holidays are generally 4weeks plus banh hols or 5.6weeks per year if 5 days, but as you are 3, flowery informs me that you would have to give 17 a year

good luck - where are you and what ages do you have?

Thanks Blondes.

I'm in north London and have a 4 yr old and a 6 mth old.

That's all really useful . The other thing is - I have only been offered a 6 mth contract at my new job initially. Could I negotiate a 6 mth contract with a nanny? Would anyone be having that? Or are you all looking for year contracts?

aww a bubba

tbh i personally would prefer a years contract - though you never know with redunacys etc if ANY job is safe, so least the nanny will know for 6mths

when would you know if job was longer,ie after 6mths or before?

if your job is only for 6mths , would you find a nother job and keep nanny?

I'd probably know towards the end of the 6 mth period. To be honest, I couldn't guarantee 100% what I'd do if this job doesn';t go beyond 6 mths. There is the possibility I might do my Masters instead of work...

I realise how tricky it is...

The nanny payroll agencies usually have an employment contract you can start with. I would use a payroll agency if I were you, it's much easier. You pay nanny's tax and NI for her quarterly in arrears. You might want to save specially for this.

If nanny is sick you or DH need to take a day's holiday to look after the kids. Or you need some other plan B - do you have a mate who works PT the days you do not, so you can be each other's emergency childcare ?

If nanny is pregnant you send her on maternity leave in the usual way for any employee. As she is your only employee you can reclaim the cost of statutory maternity pay, and HMRC pay quickly. You/DH/ plan B need to cover her paid time off for maternity appointments though.

My advice would be that if you want nanny to do anything over and above specifically child-related things (nursery duties) to mention that at interview. For example, I have always had nanny receive and put away the internet grocery shop. Would you want babysitting? Are there any restrictions on when you can take holiday in your contract that you need to pass on to nanny? I think the more you discuss at interview the better, although it might take you a couple of interviews to work out the questions yourself!

NannyJob has an example contract, you could use that as a starting point. The Gross Misconduct section in my view should include specific things for which you would dismiss your nanny on the spot.

The Babysitting bits in the NannyJob contract I feel should be removed, as a live-out nanny IMO does not do babysitting as part of their nanny job. Any babysitting would be extra.

Statutory Sick Pay is quite usual - then if nanny is actually sick the employer can offer full pay at their discretion.

If you require your nanny to work Bank Holidays, then make this clear at interview as most nannies IMO would expect those days off.

BusinessLink has useful information about Holiday Entitlement, plus a calculator to calculate an employees holiday entitlement.