Help me find a nanny / housekeeper

[absolutelyknackeredcow]

First world problems and all that
I am about to start a big new job in September
For reasons that are very outing i do a full time role in three very long days

I have realised that as my kids have got a bit older what I need is a child friendly housekeeper rather than a nanny.

Only one child needs picking up from school now. The oldest walks to and from school and just need someone to check they are home and make their tea.

After school nannies who are students seem to turn their nose up at stacking the dishwasher and folding some clothes and so I come home to a really really messy house

I'm in London. I wondered whether a child friendly housekeeper might be the way forward rather than a nanny but have no idea where to find them for 12 hours a week

I have a nanny housekeeper and it is brilliant. It will change your life in so many positive ways Agree with all the posters above.

1. Position it as child friendly housekeeper rather than nanny. Most nannies (reasonably) put very clear boundaries around their job spec and what you want is someone who will muck in and do what needs doing. Unload the online shop. Walk the dog.


2. up the hours. You are massively reducing your pool by looking for such few hours.


3. pay the money to a good agency. 2k is not expensive in London in my experience.


4. write down a clear job description so you are clear what is in and what is not. Changing bed. Ironing. laundry. Washing up. Scrubbing toilets. Cooking. Running errands for you. It’s really worth thinking through the detail.

I did it the other way round. I employed a nanny who didn't mind clearing up, throwing the hoover around, and loading the dishwasher. But she was full time and we paid over the usual hourly rate. In fact, we had three - they kept having babies of their own. They became close family friends and I'm still in contact with all of them. Couldn't have done it any other way. I advertised locally. I live in SW London.

You need someone very local to make it worth them doing such short hours.
I would consider advertising by postcard in local shops - as there may be someone who would be happy to do this especially for a good hourly rate.

Great suggestions here
I have done some more local websites and will look at postcards tomorrow

@absolutelyknackeredcow I said exactly what I was looking for in my local Facebook group and had enough responses. I think huh will easily be able to find the help you need in London

If you were near me, I'd do it. Bit far to travel from NE England though!

You are always welcome @QuestionableMouse !
We would love to have you

You do very long hours but only want 12 hours a week?
Sounds like whoever does this job is in for loads of work in too little time to do it. I thinkr expectations are too high

Try childcare.co.uk

Use a housekeeper agency

Oh bless you! Honestly I've not had the best day and that cheered me right up 🥰

@BoopTheFoof
It's very outing but I do a full time job in three days
My DH does morning school run on the days I'm out and normally stops work at about 7pm. I actually only need cover from 3-7pm but would like someone to be a bit more hands on around the house and not sit on their phone

Could you make the role 11am or 12-7 on those 3 days - have the housekeeper do all the cleaning, change beds, ocado shop, family laundry in that time and prep family dinner, then school run and be around for kids after school.

A 20-24 hour a week housekeeping role would be attractive to a much wider range of people.

What do you actually want them to do?
And, from that list, what do you need them to do and what would you like them to do
Our DC are a similar age and our nanny is still very much a nanny ... collects once DC from school and another from after school activities, takes them to later activities, helps them in sorting out school bags and lunch boxes, keeps an eye on homework, tests them on their vocab lists or maths topics or whatever, gives a helping hand if it's an art or craft project, makes their tea, loads/unloads the dishwasher, irons their uniform, plays board games with them, bakes/cooks with them, plays in the garden with them etc, will go to the supermarket/post office/school uniform shop etc
We also have a cleaner.

Hire someone for three full days and have them do the shopping / dry cleaning / laundry / minor repairs / taking stuff to the post office / changing beds / making evening meal and all that stuff.

Hmm we still have our nanny full time even though both DC are FT at school. We have term time and none term times hours. otherwise for wrap around care it’s hard to get someone to stay long term etc.

1. consider what you’ll do in holidays, can they do 12 hours in term time and 30 hours non term time (you can equal out the months)

2. both are still young children who need nurturing, will you be WFH, if mainly in the office then prioritise childcare over cleaning in finding the right person

Did you drastically change her salary when both went to school? I am really hoping my current family will keep me on when all ( still 2 DC to go ) are at school full time but I'm not sure I could take a huge hit in salary x

No we kept it the same monthly wage (increase in hourly wage). She also works late on a Thursday during term time hours do we can go to work events etc.

we basically wanted to keep her, my children love her and whilst it’s expensive it’s not an area to save money on.

12 hours isn't enough.

I'd suggest you up the hours so that would can have proper housekeeping done before the children come home. Perhaps 1-7 or 12-7pm, I'd offer to be flexible within a range of hours to tempt more candidates.

We flexed our hours up to suit the nanny housekeeper that we wanted to employ. I'd rather have her for more hours than no hours, and she now fills all those hours very well.

Big job
Best Life

look no further as to why you're not attracting the right people

change your advert to 'min 12 hours, up to x hours, if preferred'

qmake sure you include how the child is collected from school on foot/on public transport/by car. Detail how that's paid for.

Advertise for someone who can be you for those hours. 'Mum at home' rather than formal housekeep or a nanny.

ne open & honest about you, your family, what you need - personable, not coming over as needing 'the home help' while you do you Big Job, living your best life.

I think the problem is our fab cleaner who has been with us for six years. If we didn't have her we could make it a 20 hour job no problem.
Cleaner has been with us through thick and thin but has younger children so couldn't extend hours.
Lots to think on - thanks

Could/would cleaner be willing to bring her children to yours after school? Would that work at all?

Any room for an Au Pair?

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absolutely knackeredcow

😁

My friend has a housekeeper who does things for the children too she works 7am to 6pm 4 days a week so 11 hour days it's a 44hr week

She also does occasional weekend babysitting for overtime and stays over for extra if they are both away on business or at late meetings

She found you can't really expect someone to work 7-9 then 3-7 as their earning potential in the middle of the day is zilch and in school holidays she's screwed she tried that to save cash and got nowhere fast

The housekeeper

Does school and nursery runs
Helps her eBay stuff
Does online food delivery ordering and putting away
Goes shopping for her and helps with Christmas prep and birthday party prep
Meal prep including cooking for the freezer
Cleansing, washing, ironing
Supervising tradesmen and the gardener
Walks dog, feeds, takes to vets
Takes children to after school activities, doctor's, dentists etc

Then in school holidays she really earns her money looking after 3 kids

But the job description covers it, she's paid for 11hrs a day not dribs and drabs and to be fair the role is varied with lots of different things to do and this lady has been with her about 2 years now