Good agencies in London?

[Starberries]

Wondering what nanny agencies are about in London before taking the plunge! Have mostly found my jobs through Gumtree or Nannyjob but now that I'm looking for some temp work thought this might be the best way to go. Interested to hear from both nannies and parents as I think it's a real crossover issue!

we had a good experience with Colourful Care Nannies

I should have said - as parents, not as a nanny!

We got our nanny from KiwiOz. She's German . At the time I was also looking through Gina's in Wimbledon, who were also impressive. Another MNetter recommended them.

As a temp nanny Eden, Nannies Inc and Imperial would be my faves. Greycoat and Burlington are okay but I'm only registered with them because they had specific jobs I was interested in. Royal have good overseas jobs, Caroline at Grapevine has nice jobs if you're local to her and she's lovely, Nanny tata & co are also good but have very few UK jobs, ditto International nannies (both those are based overseas but I think interview in London). Nannies of St James are okay but not great on communication - you have to get in touch with them constantly.

I have those I would avoid but CAT me for those names and reasons.

Also Felicity nannies for European jobs but not much temp work.

Agree with Frakkin, Eden are great, as are Nannies Inc. Also recommend Knightsbridge Nannies.

As an employer, I've had an appalling experience with Eden and am still comtemplating litigation against them. I've also know of two other families who've had difficulties with them. Imperial and KiwiOz, I have found to very professional.

I've got to say that I've not had a good experience with Eden - nor have my friends (nannies). I'd say Knightsbridge, Nannies inc, and st james.

There again - I generally work with sen children, and go through snap. Who are amazing.

My advice would be to try them all - everyone is different, and i think agencies are the same as positions. You click or don't. It doesn't mean an agency is bad or good. Just see what works for you.

Oh have to agree. Eden is good. Peekaboo quite good too. Would not touch St James with a ten foot pole. Burlington were useless. Greycoats were good too.

One agency which has been mentioned sent me for an interview without meeting me Not one I recommend I hasten to add.

Forgot to say Burlington have a very set profile of the nanny the like and if you don't conform to that profile then they're not interested. Plus they only seem to want to send you off to Moscow!

Only use greycoat as a potential employer, if you don't mind them trying to poach your staff from you once you've paid them CRAZY money for the introduction!!!!!!! Very very disappointing!!

As a parent/employer I have had a ghastly experience with Greycoat (poor service, exorbitant fees and a dreadful, dreadful nanny..) but very good experience with O&P and Kensington Nannies. Interested in comments on Knightsbridge though as I haven't tried them yet and we are desperately looking for a new nanny to start (in Germany) at the beginning of September. Am beginning to get very worried indeed....

CEDP try Felicity nannies - based in Germany and very helpful (as a nanny).

Never been too impressed with Eden tbh, Imperial, Occasional and Permanent and Kensington Nannies have good jobs it seems. Always got my good jobs with O&P and Imperial.

I think it depends on the inviduals at the agencies. However, am a big fan of DIY these days!

Hi I am afraid to say I can not recommend Felicity nannies or any of tge German based agencies or any relatively newcomers.It is a harsh industry and for the most part little respect given by agencies whose agents half thextime are young and clueless. There is a lot of discrimination and dishonesty. Neither can I recommend Nannytata at all or Great British Nannies or Rock My Baby. Stick to the old timers

Depends.

A friend of mine, Scottish, and was taken over to Germany from Switzerland and the offer of a job, gave up a job opportunity to accept the job in germany. , System Haushaltpersonnel Please avoid at all costs, they are NOT to be recommended, lied about countless things, as transpired on arrival and 2 days before xmas said german family had a change of heart and left her stranded. She is still stranded there and it is a terrible situation and no help there, no organisations to help nannies, aupairs yes but not nannies. Now the agency and the family denying that there was a job offer that is just absurd. They paid a one way ticket, there was an agreement and they told her to bring all her stuff. Can you imagine? it is disgraceful. This happens to auapairs a lot but normally an agency would ensure that this does not happen and would help by finding a replacement, which they did not do. she trie deto take it to court but she does not speak german and she has no money for a lawyer. Nannying is not known in germany and now agencies are getting onto the bandwagon but for germans it is such unfamiliar territory that I would advise to only deal with british agencies who have a very good reputation. the german families like the sound of a British nanny and often the children or parents think it is a good idea but the children or one of the spouses do not want to speak English. It is simply not a profession that is popular or known there. I would stick to tried and tested territory. Also there are no protection for nannies there. take legal insurance if you do and get it signed in London.

Simply Angelic, Polo Tweed are fantastic, Duke and Duchess..