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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Advice needed about nanny contracts etc. Help!

14 replies

alittleteapot · 04/01/2010 21:02

I'm about to offer a nanny job to a lovely woman who has a long and glowing history as a babysitter but hasn't really done a proper nanny job before, so we're both a bit in the dark about how it works formally. can anyone advise or suggest a link that might?

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K75 · 04/01/2010 22:13

What do you want to know? What a typical contract looks like? or how you arrange pay/tax etc. Do feel free to CAT me if you want a contract copy.

alittleteapot · 04/01/2010 22:15

Thanks. A friend just sent me a contract copy. I don't really understand the pay/tax stuff. Am on teh case reseraching but a mumsnet idiot's guide welcome!

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Strix · 04/01/2010 22:21

Some contract tips:

Put in SSP only.
Lock down the holidays very early (agreed between you and nanny).
Put in a probationary period.

Search the MN threads for "house rukes" if the position is live-in.

You have spoken to references?

As you are both new to this, I suggest a very detailed job description goes into the contract. Include things like nanny diary and which nursery duties your expect (i.e. children's laundry but not yours)

nannynick · 04/01/2010 23:20

A little about PAYE and about agreeing Gross pay

Holiday Entitlement for Nannies

What specifically do you want to know about pay/tax stuff (I presume you mean PAYE)? Have you registered as an employer?
Do you have the Employers pack?
Will you be using a payroll company, or doing it all yourself? For the first year I would suggest using a payroll company, as it's one less thing to worry too much about. You get a feel for how things are done, how payslips are presented, how often payments to HMRC are needed. So in year 2, you could do it all yourself (with help from the Employer CD-ROM) or stick with using the payroll agency.

K75 · 04/01/2010 23:29

Standard hols is usually 20 days plus bank holidays, half chosen by you, half by the nanny. You may want to specify holiday dates are chosen by end of March for example so you can all plan.

As per above, contractually put in standard sick pay only. Most folk I know still pay in full for the odd day but covers you if you get stuck with a long leave of absence.

I agree with making sure all tasks are covered. In mine I have (swap name for child):

(a) Looking after child's needs, welfare, development and health and safety
(b) Supervision of child and any further children at all times
(c) Babysitting at times agreed in advance
(d) Playing with the child and doing age appropriate activities, outing and classes with her as discussed with the parents
(e) Encouraging development in skills such as feeding, speaking, toilet training, dressing, telling the time, etc age appropriately
(f) Nursery duties, including, but not limited to:
a. Keeping child's bedroom, clothes, equipment and toys clean and tidy
b. Responsible for child's laundry and ironing of her clothes and bedding as required
c. Shopping for child's needs. Keeping the kitchen, breakfast and any other room clean and tidy after use
d. Preparing and cooking healthy age appropriate meals for child as required
e. Keeping the nursery and other rooms used tidy at the end of each day
f. Taking child to activities including swimming once a week and arranging play dates with her peers
g. Taking child to the doctor or any other appointments as discussed with the employers

I would suggest signing on with a payroll agency, I use nannytax but often mentioned as a more expensive option on here (am sure others can advice). They will sort out tax aspects etc. Agree a gross salary not net.

K75 · 04/01/2010 23:32

p.s. after probabationary period (of say 4 weeks with one weeks notice) put in decent notice period e.g. 8 weeks

Strix · 05/01/2010 12:55

I would make the probationary period 3 or 6 months. 4 weeks is a pretty short amount of time.

Also, you are not required to let nanny choose any of the weeks. It's nice if you have that flexibility. But I know several people who require the nanny to take her hols during school hols.

fridayschild · 05/01/2010 13:56

My nanny's duties include receiving the weekly grocery shop ordered on line; and one night's babysitting per week Mon-Thurs only to 10pm. After 10pm she gets paid, and she can turn down weekend babysitting if she wants.

If you are using a payroll agency (and I would recommend this) they will almost certainly have a standard contract. If they offer free employment law advice as well, which nannytax does, you'll get that advice quicker if you are using their standard contract.

alittleteapot · 06/01/2010 12:52

thanks very much all.

would you pay for nanny's first aid and crb check or them?

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nannynick · 06/01/2010 12:59

You can't get a CRB check done on your nanny, as you are not going through an agency. If in England, then if they meed the requirements (possibly doubtful they will if no formal childcare training) then they could be Ofsted Registered, which would result in there being a CRB check done.

If the person is wanting to be a professional nanny then I feel they need to be paying for all training themselves.

It isn't unusual in other professions for employers to pay for training, so you could pay something towards training... such as a Early Years First Aid course. Have you done First Aid Training yourself?

alittleteapot · 06/01/2010 13:20

blimey it's all a bit confusing. she's a very very experienced babysitter really, no formal training, no qualifications just a natural way with children.

I have a bit of first aid but nothing specifically for young children.

I thought if she had a crb check andfirst aid then it might become easy for her to register with ofsted or that is what i had understood. need to find proper time to wade through all the details.

she's unquestionably great with kids. I'm happy with her but would like ofsted reg to give us the possibility of using childcare vouchers.

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alittleteapot · 06/01/2010 13:21

ps i just met someone who paid for her nanny's crb check and first aid which is why i asked. i am considering going halves since it's me that is requesting it but it will also be useful fo her in the coure of her work (though she has other training in progress and won't be a nanny forever)

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alittleteapot · 06/01/2010 16:18

thanks for link to nannytax - looks great - tho i can't find their costs...

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nannynick · 06/01/2010 17:02

NannyTax charge £270 a year (can be seen on this page). PAYEforNannies charges £115.
Can't see much difference, other than cost. PAYEforNannies have been doing my payslips for well over a year now, never any issues with them... for me, or my boss.

Some information about the Ofsted Nanny Register which I put together a while back. Think it's mostly all the same still. Ofsted's office guide to registration can be downloaded from here on Ofsted.gov.uk

If you need her to jump through the Ofsted hoops, then offer to contribute towards the first year initial costs, on the understanding that future requirements are up to her to fund. Then it's a benefit for her, as she will get some training, plus for you and without an ongoing commitment on your side to keep paying the costs. Going half's is also an option.
However it's the Childcare Training that will be the most costly part I expect. Will I expect need to do something like the first unit of Diploma in Home Based Childcare which can cost £150+ or Common Core Skills (distance learning)
A suitable First Aid course (it needs to meet Ofsted's requirements, so usually a 12-hour course) could cost £100, possibly more in London. For example... St.John charges around £105+Vat for Early Years First Aid in the London SE3 area.

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