Sacking nanny

[Bobbiesmum]

After some wonderful advice on mn we are letting our nanny go. There have been a number of incidents of inflexibility on her part but one main one.
She irons/cleans one day per fortnight as part of her contracted hours (but childcare if needed instead). She often will take the ironing home which I am fine with.
Last week she planned to take ironing home but My ds was admitted to hospital. She refused to stay and care for dd instead of ironing as she needed to go food shopping.
She has been with us for 3 months and despite being given a contract has still not signed it.
Would her refusal to care for dd during paid time constitute gross misconduct and without a contract would I need to give paid notice?
I would be very grateful for any advice.

Is the nanny on full time hours, or only a certain number of hours each week?

can't see how that is relevant, West.

Exactly; whether someone is part time or full time has no bearing on what a fair dismissal procedure would be.

have a look at www.acas.org.uk

Surely only one weeks notice needs to be given.

She needs to be given whatever her contractual notice is, WestVirginia, otherwise it's breach of contract and wrongful dismissal. You don't give a link but you won't find anything on ACAS implying otherwise.

And what has how many hours a week she works got to do with anything?

What flowery says.