Norland Nannies - will they do nanny / housekeeper work?

[Pennies]

We need to get a nanny to help us through me having chemo and despite having registered with several agencies, putting an ad on Gumtree and asking mums at school I just can't find anyone.

I'm tempted to just try and get a Norland nanny because I'm desperate to get someone ASAP who has had some training and is reliable and looking for a proper job and won't let us down when we really need help.

If Norland will only do the childrens' stuff where can I find someone who will help with household stuff as well?

I have several friends who are Norland nannies, some do just nursery duties, others do more, but im sure that every nanny is different, regardless of whether they are a Norlander or not. Im sure in a position such as yours, if you are honest from the start about the level of housework required before you interview potential nannies, it shouldnt be a problem. Best of luck!

Pennies, whereabouts do you live/are you looking for a nanny? Do you have an email address i could contact you on?

have you looked on netmums and nannyjob?

tbh i get the feeling that norland dont/wont do housework

hope chemo goes well xx

You might find someone equally if not more qualified on netmums/gumtree.

SDJ - I'm in Herts.

I've got an ad on the following:

Gumtree (London & Luton sites) (2 weeks ago and no bites)
Nannyjob (again, no response)
Bestbear.co.uk (did this today)
Netmums (did this today)
Mumsnet here
Tigerlilly childcare (done today)
Also an ad going into The Lady next issue.

I registered with two agencies 3 weeks ago, one of which has sent me some fairly unimpressive CVs, and the other hasn't sent me anything!

Just before Xmas I emailed over 70 local mums from my DDs' school to ask if they know anyone as well.

I'm not sure if I could possibly do much more now.

SDJ - I am CATable via MN.

Forget Norland, some of us have had bad experiences recently.

Try Apricot Nannies - a good local agency. Also consider ringing social services, perhaps? They are often surprisingly up for helping 'normal' families through things like this. Apparently they prefer it to the usual slog.

Depending on how old your children are, I think that perhaps you would be better off looking for a very, very good and ambitious cleaner who can turn their hand to childcare rather than a nanny who might regard as a step down to do housekeeping duties.
I currently have a nanny-housekeeper who I hired through a domestic cleaning agency, at that time without any view to her being a nanny. She has the most amazing "can-do" attitude to absolutely everything and, though completely untrained, is one of the best nannies we have ever had. I think that this could work for a child from about 6 years upwards. You might try contacting an agency or two and asking who they've got on their books who is young-ish, fairly bright and speaks good English and who might be interested in moving into such a role.
I am sorry to hear you need chemo and wish you all the best!

I really really rate simply childcare. Potential nannies/ employers have to register and pay a subscription to get your contact details in order to reply to your ads, which I felt for me cut out a lots of time wasters. I have a friend (not norland) who used to work in ur area and who has a lot of nanny friends local to u so will ask her if she knows anyone who is looking and may be suitable! Again, good luck!

SimplyChildcare does not look that great outside of London. In Hertfordshire there is just one listing for a childminder when I looked today.

That's the problem though. Despite the fact that by train I'm only 30 minutes from Kings Cross and that it now takes me less time to get from here to Oxford Street than when I actually lived in London, people don't want to be away from the Big Smoke.

Also, I think that because my two are that much older and in school most of the time then it is clearly not the world's most sociable job.

WRT the tip about the cleaner - in a way I've got that. My current cleaner is absolutely wonderful with the children, and I love her to bits too, but she also has loads of other clients and tells me so often how much she enjoys the flexibility of her work. However I do know that she is saving for some major dental work and is looking for extra hours, but this might be too much commitment for her.

Well, unless her other clients are personal friends of yours, how about offering her more money for more hours if she gives up some or all of her other clients? She may well be attracted by the prospect of doing relatively less cleaning and relatively more childcare and other housekeeper duties -especially when offered a little more money per hours and if you sell it to her as a career step up from pure cleaning.

Pennies, I'm in St Albans and am a family support worker, ex nanny and maternity nurse (so used to mucking in!) and also do behaviour management consultancy. Fully CRB checked through Herts County Council...

I have 4 children so couldn't offer myself as a nanny as DD (6 months) is still at home with me, but just wanted to say that if you need any help at all during all this I am around every day and have a car. Just ask.

Summersoon - I'll ask her this week, but TBH I don't think she'll take the bait, but I could be wrong!

Hobbgoblin - you're so kind thank you.

My email is a hotmail.com address just add aimielouise at the front.

Have you tried asking through your school Extended Schools Service? i.e. the family support worker or ESCo? They are there for exactly this sort of thing and may be able to devise ways of supporting you as well as having their finger on the pulse childcare wise.

Also sorry that you are having to cope with this of course.

I've never heard of that service. Does it apply to private schools though?