What to ask?

[lalalonglegs]

I have been given a fantastic job at very short notice and am madly trying to find a nanny. I have been working from home for the past three years so childcare - except for one brief period - hasn't been an issue. I have someone who sounds very nice coming to see me and the children tomorrow and I am panicking because I'm quite desperate but still want to get some reasonable information from her and I've just gone blank. Any ideas what I can ask to get some sort of measure of her?

Is she a nanny, I am making that assumption if she is coming to see you and therefore will be caring for children in your home.

need to see crb check, qualifications, any written references (also ring 2-3 of these for verbal references).

Nannies should bring a portfolio of relevant information with them.

think up a couple of scenarios to ask for example if you have a fussy eater and usually you can get them to eat with encouragement maybe say X wont eat the lunch youve prepared and says he will tell mummy you are mean to him as she lets him eat what he wants.

what would she do in an emergency?

does she need to drive? if so are you concerned if she has points on liscense, if so how many is acceptable?

Ask her for a rough idea of how she would plan a day - most nannies will have researched whats in the area activity wise before coming to interview.

can she cook, ie prepare meals not just heat up prepared food you have made unless thats what you want.

Those are fantastic points (yes, she is a nanny). Anyone else?

Ask them what they would expect to be doing each day. Some nannies are the stay-at-home kind and do craft activities, whereas others are get out and about, visiting places of interest to your children - be it the local park, science centre, or like I did today a Castle.

Ask them about the children they have cared for... some nannies may not have cared for a boy before for instance. Ask them about activities they have done in the past which have worked for both girls and boys in their care (ideally at the same time). Some children don't like doing crafts... they prefer science & nature. You need a nanny who can take your children's current interest and help your children learn more about that.

Ask them about how they have coped with caring for 3 children before. If they haven't cared for 3 or more children at the same time before, then ask them about what things they think may crop up. Think about your own experience so far... does the nanny mention the same/similar things. Get an impression of how you feel this nanny will copy with a toddler, a pre-schooler and a school aged child.

How will the nanny be getting to/from work... are they local enough to give you confidence that they will be very reliable. In previous jobs has reliability ever been an issue. Ask about the amount of sick days they have taken off from previous jobs.
If the nanny will be using their car for transporting your children... then take a look at the car. Ask about driving experience, insurance etc.