How do you check out a cleaner?

[ladyjennifer]

I'll post this in employment issues too. There's no getting away from it, we need a cleaner - I spent all the bank holiday cleaning.

I'm trying via personal recommendation, but no dice so far. A cleaner who phoned me via a call to an agency has contacted me and he has vacancies - lots of vacancies in fact, which makes me suspect he's just starting out. He sounded very enthusiastic and worth a meeting.

So, if he hasn't had much experience so far, any idea how I could go about checking a) his honesty (we had a bad experience in the past with theft by agency cleaners) and b) his right to work in the UK?

Ability to do the job isn't so much of an issue because I intend being very clear about what we want done, and if it's not up to scratch, then would end the agreement. tia

I don't think the agency would be much help with references etc btw - they seem to just pass on the numbers to people.

I run a domestic cleaning company in Bristol and we use a multi-stage recruitment process that you could use too. We advertise locally in shops etc and on freeindex for cleaners - the cleaners call us and initially we conduct a telephone interview to check - language skills, past experience, availabilty, childcare provision, how much they want to earn, any criminal record, any fears re pets etc. Then if we think they are suitable we will visit them in their home to check personal standards and id - see a photo id and utility bill or similar proving that they live at that property. Then we follow up 2 verbal and 2 written references. Only then if still suitable do we offer them a trial clean at my home so that I can check their work. Quite a detailed recruitment process but as I am placing cleaners in clients homes, I need to be reassured that they are trustworthy and capable of the work being expected and also that they want to do this type of work. Hope this helps! You could do most of this process - obviously the advantage of using a compnay like mine is that we do all of this work for you and keep a bank of cleaners should you wish to change cleaners or for when your cleaner is sick or on holiday. Good Luck with your search and if want any more advice please email me : Catherine at [email protected] ( or check out www.timeforyou.co.uk )

Thanks Cathy - that's a huge help. Pity we don't live in the area your company operates in.

Good idea to visit him at his home - we live in the same smallish town so that would be very easy.

His rate is £10 an hour but will bring his own materials and equipment - I think that's about the going rate in this area.

Fear of pets is a good area to check -we have a dog who is perfectly safe but can bark at men (I think she was mistreated previously)