top tips for choosing a nanny

[hatstand]

anyone got any? Particularly how would you rate the importance of:

1. how they are with the kids
2. how much initiative with regard to organising activities (someone you could happily leave to it vs someone who'll need guidance)
3. not having a qualification and therefore difficult to guage how they might be with regard to safety and first aid, and with regard to mkaing the link between fun activities and their educational value
4. whether you personally click with them
5. whether their circumstances/what they want out of a job match what you're offering (ie if they are really after f-t but you're offering p-t - even if they accept the job they might bugger off if something f-t comes along)

This is the third time I've had to do this and you think I would have got the hang of it, but I think I feel more uncertain than ever. I've found someone who pretty much gets 10/10 for nos. 1, 4, 5, but not so high on 2 and 3...

I'm surprised by everyones confusion as to what services I can offer parents. I am NOT a recruitment agency as I do not advertise the jobs and I don't work on behalf of nannies only the families themselves who may be registered with an agency or advertising privately. A lot of families do not have the time to look through all the CVS they may receive from agencies or direct to themselves and I help with that process as well as reference checking, telephone interviews etc. I do make a small charge for my services but in my experience (16 years) it is money well spent for the families. I have had very positive feedback from families who say that the amount of stress that I take away from them is fantastic.
Also a lot of families do not have experience in recruiting a nanny, prehaps it's their first one so are unsure what questions to ask, what to put in a contract etc etc. I hope that has clarified what I do and like I said if anyone would like more information please feel free to contact me on 07709399885.