Does Anyone use a Mothers Help?

[dizzycringles]

Does anyone employ a mother's help at all? Whats the difference between that and a nanny? Can you give me a rough idea of their pay/duties the legalities etc?

I've had a really promising reply to my gumtree ad but I never for one second thought I'd get one and now I think I'd better get my head round it all

.

A friend has used one, i think the difference is that they are another pair of hands who helps out, i.e. hold the baby while you cook, read a bedtime story rather than taking care of the kids when you're not there. If I had my time again I would defintely do it, I think it's normally about £5 an hour.

I'm advertising for one at the moment, not having much luck though.

I'm in south east, not London. Advertising it as £6.50- £7.50 ph gross dependent on experience and age.

Usually no slae charge - apart from perhaps evening babysitting

sole

I started as a MH and worked my way up to sole charge. As others have said it's more about doing a bit of everything and being an extra pair of hands. A nanny is more focussed on children - you could ask a mother's help to put on everyone's laundry but a nanny would only do children's.

thanks guys, the most local one I can see is advertised at £6 per hour

would I have to pay sick pay/holidays etc - is it more in line with a nanny than a childminder? I haven't got a clue sorry

You would be her employer, as you would with a nanny - a childminder is self employed. You need to pay at least minimum wage which I think is £5.80 an hour. You can use a payroll company like Nannytax and you also need a contract.

It's exactly the same as emplying a nanny. Your MH is probably advertising at £6net. The collective body of MN experience advises that you negotiate and pay gross to avoid any tax suprises.

On another thread there was a pretty detailed breakdown of what a nanny would cost which you may find helpful.

If you're paying under £95 a week you can operate simplified PAYE. Paying over the threshold means you would start deducting tax and NI contributions on your MH's behalf and becoming liable for employers NI.

All employees are entitled to 28 days holiday paid, which can include Bank Holidays. Sick pay is at your discretion but most people write SSP into the contract. Likewise with maternity/paternity leave/pay.

You will, as missus says, need a contract. This doesn't need to be much more than a written statement of employment which ACAS can help with; it includes things like hours of work, pay, disciplinary procedure, holiday entitlement, notice periods etc.

Sorry - I would provide links but not on comp. They are on other threads on here about employing nannies though.

thank you all, will have a look at them before I speak to her - she may be more clued up than I am though (wouldn't be hard) and tbh she is employed by a very good friend of a very friend of mine and she says that she is fab - am quietly optimistic [meep]