What would you do?

[HeadFairy]

My mum and dad's cleaner used to be a nanny years ago (she's 45) when her own children were small. She's currently working at an airport as well as being their cleaner. DS gers on really well with her, she's very sweet with him too, they chat all the time when she's round at my mum and dad's.

We were chatting the other day about my plans for going back to work after my current mat leave is over and she's suggested to my mum that she'd love to be our nanny (dd is currently 6 months old, ds is 2.9) for the three days that I'll be going back to work.

Initially I thought no, she won't be up to date on any training, she won't be crb'd, she won't have current first aid training. But on the plus side she knows both the children, we all know her and have done for 5 years, my parents trust her with their home and she's very reliable for them, ds adores her and she him.

WWYD?

Depends if you feel confident and comfortable leaving your children with her. Would she manage 2 little ones, would she be reliable? I would personally get a crb done for her and ask that she attends a paediatric first aid course. If you choose a registered childcarer you can use childcare vouchers or tax credits towards the cost, your nanny would need to register with ofsted to give you these benefits.

get her to complete a common core skill course (sure nick can find you a link) to refresh her memory

she can then do a first aid course and also get a crb

the fact you know and trust her speaks volumnes

I'd say it was worth giving her the chance. I'd then ask that she does a first aid course (12 hour paediatric first aid being the best to do if you are going to be working with children) before starting with me. You can always put a probationary period into her contract.

If you get child care vouchers through work and need her to register with Ofsted then she'd need a more recent qual. This can be done throught an ICP course (which can be done distance learning) She'd need insurance (which I think all nannies should have regardless of Ofsted)

Sounds as though you probably know more about her than the CRB would anyway. You don't have to have a nanny checked, it's entirely up to you - so given that you know her, your parents know her, then it sounds an acceptable risk to me.

Would she not want to First Aid training? Maybe it's worth asking her... even doing a short course is better than none. Mind you, have you done a First Aid course? Many parents have not yet deal with situations that arise fairly well.

The parent/nanny relationship is largely about Trust. You already trust her by the sounds of things.

I think it sounds like a win win situation all round.