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Paid childcare

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

Is it me,or the competition is really tight for nannies in London?nannies&even parents please help

108 replies

NannyNorthLlondon · 14/01/2010 17:10

I am looking for a nanny position since november,I tried agencies aswell,I have been for a few interviews,but no answer..
I have 3 years exp as live-in nanny+some volunteer in Eu,Icp and first aid...the crb is in progress.I am starting to get worried little bit,maybe I am doing something wrong at the interviews or my qualifications are not enough,I really dont know,because I have excellent references,and the 2 families I worked for have been really pleased with me,and we still keep in contact,but they dont need me anymore.
Nannies who have more experience and parents..what should I do?some advice please.
Thank you

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NannyNorthLlondon · 15/01/2010 13:07

I just came back from interview
i dont even know how to put this.. the family was looking for 10 hours/day 4 days a week,pay 7£/h.Everything quite alright.After that they said they want a contract in wich to say that i am working 25 h/week and they are paying me as au pair ,for taxes reason("We have plenty friends who did the same with thier nannies").The 7£/h will be paid by cash,so no taxes...
In the advert they put they were saying we are looking for a nanny 4 days a week,monday-thursday ,40h/week+ocasional babysitting.We pay competitive depending on experience.
OK,PAY ME 7£/h,but pay my taxes,isnt this how it should be?I am not that desperate,NO NO NO.
What is your opinion in?
Thanks to everyone for the advice and help

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tiggergirl · 15/01/2010 13:22

they should pay taxes and if not you should be on at least 8 per hour

Summersoon · 15/01/2010 13:37

One word: Avoid! They sound exploitative.

Very sorry you are having such a bad experience.

NannyNorthLlondon · 15/01/2010 13:49

storm storm..but the sun will shine on my road one day
I just cant be bother,waisting people`s time.
It is better to wait for the right family,in past i didnt had any problem,so i dont rush...but my balance is near to 0 and I cant stand the tought to stay on my parteners £

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tiggergirl · 15/01/2010 15:04

there are jobs in highgate and lsington n1 on gumtree saw them earlier today and paying well.

frakkinaround · 15/01/2010 15:22

Avoid like the plague! You deserve a proper contract, proper pay and a declared salary.

When you say 8/hour are you quoting net? If so, start talking gross and employers will be able to work out exactly what it's costing per week. If they ask what you charge say 'x gross which is y net' and if they quitenet at you confirm the gross wage.

NannyNorthLlondon · 15/01/2010 16:10

tiggergirl,I applied for the ones that suit me.Trust me,I have my eyes on gumtree all day .
Frankkina I know,thats what I said,I dont even know if is gonna be someone accepting that kind of job.You have been a real help for me,I owe you

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NannyNorthLlondon · 15/01/2010 16:53

Just received a reply from a job I applied for,does it matter your tax status in any way for your future employer?The lady was asking me what is my tax status and if I am self-employer

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nannynick · 15/01/2010 17:18

Status would be that you are their employee, not self employed.
Sounds like you are getting the rouge employers trying to fiddle things, steer clear of them. You want things to be done legit.
Maybe they are assuming that due to being foreign you won't know or care about the tax rules... However it affects you if you don't have your National Insurance paid as that would go towards a pension eventually (if state pensions exist still when we are old). For now, it's important to have payslips so you and your partner can get a mortgage, should you decide to buy property.

NannyNorthLlondon · 15/01/2010 17:27

Thank you nannynick,Of course I care about the tax rules,i dont want to work all my life 4 nothing.
I was just confused about the status tax,I was thinking :resident;ordinaly resident,domiciliant etc

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eastmidlandsnightnanny · 15/01/2010 19:39

nannynorthlondon have you tried registering with the nanny agency www.kidsmatter.uk.com obv you will need a CRB check but sure you could start the registration process whilst you are waiting for that to come back.

Have you registered on www.childcare.co.uk and www.findababysitter.com

nannynick · 15/01/2010 19:54

I presume you are from an EEA country, thus if living and working in the UK you would pay taxes in the UK.
It is the families you are going for interviews with who in my view are trying to not pay the taxes. All you need to do is to say to them that you expect them to operate PAYE, as per them employing any nanny.

NannyNorthLlondon · 18/01/2010 15:08

Nannynick ,if you have been reading my thread from the start,you know that I got a litlle bit fustrated because it seems impossible to find a job for me.Can you please give me some advice?
For my experience and qualification what will be the pay/h?
Thank you in advandce!

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nannynick · 18/01/2010 16:13

It isn't as simple as "what will the pay/h?" There are many factors to consider. For example, a few years back I accepted a job at just over £7 gross an hour, because at the time it suited me, was in the next village, I wasn't getting any other offers from families (my gender can be an issue still). I ended up being there for 3 years.

Could you send me your CV? nannynick at gmail .com

I am wondering if people may think you are an Au-Pair rather than a Nanny. Are you finding that?

The CV is to get you an interview. As you have been for interviews then the CV is currently achieving it's purpose.

So maybe it is the jobs you are applying for that are the problem. What sort of jobs are you applying for? Would you apply for a job like this in Hampstead?

At interviews have you found that your level of verbal English is acceptable?

Have you applied for jobs which have involved writing a letter/e-mail and found that you were not contacted? Is your level of Written English letting you down?

From your posts on here, you don't appear to me to be forming sentences as I would expect. While we are all a bit slack when writing on message boards, your posts appear to me to have underlying English Grammar issues. Your use of Past and Present Tense seems to vary plus there are more general issues like not using capital letters.

Are you using a computer to compose messages, or a mobile phone? Mobiles can make things quite a bit harder.

Example:

Boffinmum, I am a reliable person,and I am serios when it comes to my job,I commit to it,no matter what!I only go to see my parents when I have holidays,even in case of emergency i didnt took a day off.My mum had surgery,and i just didnt ask for day off.I look after myself,even if i have flu,in 2 days is gone,my past employer was because in winter time all of them had terrible flu,and they had days off,just me didnt.With all my past employers I keep in touch,because they respected me,and I respected them.

That is quite a long paragraph and to me it does not make for easy reading. If you look at the beginning, you use "I am" twice in the same sentence. Try to avoid that. There is also a comma before "and". (See Correct Punctuation: Comma for assistance with the use of a comma.)

There are numerous things in the example which someone looking at an application letter/e-mail will pick up easily. I would hope that you would not be writing an application letter in that way. Is that how you would write such a letter or e-mail?

If you have composed an application letter or e-mail and you would like me to take a look, do send it via e-mail. My written English isn't perfect by any means. I did quite badly in my Written English exams at school. So when reading my message posts you will spot errors I make, fairly often!

BoffinMum · 18/01/2010 16:27

Speaking (frankly) as the very same BoffinMum, it certainly put me off employing you. The odd typo is OK on message boards but I assume the worst when someone makes as many mistakes as that. Plus my job involved supervising children's homework a bit and it did not give me great confidence in that side of things. Sorry, I am not trying to be mean or anything, but just agreeing with Nick and trying to help you.

nannynick · 18/01/2010 16:29

I see earlier that you have said you are from Romania. Can I ask if you have:

UK National Insurance Number?
A Registration Certificate (see here)

nannynick · 18/01/2010 16:32

Great that you posted BoffinMum... as I didn't want to come across as being mean, rather that by highlighting these things to you NNL I am trying to help you.

amidaiwish · 18/01/2010 16:50

ok another perspective, as a mum who has in the past looked for nannies to help with the children, again not intending to be rude,
but what makes you a nanny rather than an au pair?

NannyNorthLlondon · 18/01/2010 16:50

Nannynick, I applied for that position.
Well, writting here or on any websites its different,because i rush, and I dont pay to much attention.I receive plenty answers, and I receive very good feed back at interviews with agencies,all of them said to me how good my English is bla bla.
I will email you my Cv and the advert that I have on a few website`s.

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NannyNorthLlondon · 18/01/2010 16:56

amidaiwish the first position I had in London was as live-in nanny, i was working full time,from 7:30 to 20:00 and the position was sole charge, because the mum was traveling a lot and dad was at work all day.For the second position it was half shared care,half sole charge,i was working just 35 hours in 4 days.Just because the positions where live-in it doesnt mean I was au pair.An au pair doesnt work more than 25 h ,gets paid per week,maximum 100£ + doesnt have sole charge of children.
In my past positions I had in care 3 and 2 children,not 1..
I understand none of you means to be rude,and I respect any frank and constructive advice or question, because I am looking for sincere opinions.

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amidaiwish · 18/01/2010 17:02

ok if i was employing a nanny for my two children i would want a childcare qualification, OFSTED registered so the first £500 part of your salary i can pay by vouchers (me & dh's) tax free and a CRB check would be mandatory, plus great references.

The additional languages would be a bonus. Are you good at any sports/piano etc..?

there are a lot of available nannies at the moment so can afford to be choosy.

good luck in your search. you do sound great. i will keep my ears open for you.

NannyNorthLlondon · 18/01/2010 17:09

I have NIN, I have the Registration certificate.The really big problem seems to be that I dont have the CRB yet , I realise that put`s off most parents.I had interviews before, at least 10 of them since november , so I dont think it has to do anything with the Cv or the experience.
Probably some parents are looking for a nanny with qualification aswell, but I never applied for any job that requires full qualification like Cache or norland or any other

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NannyNorthLlondon · 18/01/2010 17:15

amidaiwish i can register Ofstead, I am not registered yet, my references are excellent, I didint had any problems with my previous employers.Apart from English and Romanian I am fluent in French, I studied it for 10 years as a second language in my country.I can also understand spanish and italian.I love playing football and handball ,I dont play any music instruments.
I know the market it full with lots off nannies,with more experience and qualifications,but I think everyone diserves a chance and thats why i asked for a little help, so I can have more success when my CRB arrives.
Thank you for your wishes

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nannynick · 18/01/2010 17:18

The Registration Certificate is different to an Accession Worker Card. I would suggest checking with UKBA with regards to what is and isn't permitted given what paperwork you have. Immigration rules are rather complex, can't say I understand them all.

I agree that not having a CRB check may be an issue, though if parents wanted you to register with Ofsted, you would get a new CRB check as part of that process.

NannyNorthLlondon · 18/01/2010 17:27

I have the Registration Certificate
So Ofsted dont consider the Crb you already have

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