30 weeks pregnant, self employed business owner and work support just resigned!

[Lucymay]

Can anyone relate to this or offer any advice on what to do?
I run my own Nanny agency and whilst i’ve Had a fantastic manager in place for the past 5 years, she has just resigned 2 months before i’m Due to have my first child! I was counting on being able to have a decent amount of time off but now i’m Faced with either employing someone new to take over from her in a very short time frame or taking back the responsibility myself and somehow managing to juggle both. I’m not sure the latter is even possible! Shutting down the service for any period of time is not an option as we have ongoing clients who pay money in advance.
The job would be a fabulous position for anyone at the end of maternity leave but not the start like I am!

Just crack on with finding her replacement.

Ah this would be a nightmare.

I wonder why she resigned

Foreseeable risk, has happened, you’ve outlined your mitigation options so can decide what to do and go for it.

If your business makes a good profit it might make sense to cover the work yourself and pay for a nanny.

Ah I’ve only got a few months left of my maternity leave and would love this job don’t suppose you’re in Herts are you?!

I'd at least try to replace her first.

You are ideally placed to employ a nanny if you need to, while recruiting a new member of staff to support your business. Thank goodness you run a nanny agency!

Afraid not, it’s a London based agency :(
Working from home is an option but you’d need to be able to register in London and travel to Kent for training.

You hire someone else. Not ideal on timing, but you do what you can. And if necessary, you use some of your own nannies in the short term because your new manager may need more hand holding.

I would also find out why your current manager resigned. If it is in any way related to your maternity leave, you need to figure out if that's relevant.

Offer slightly above market salary / competitors and maybe use a recruitment agency to headhunt from other nanny agencies.

It’s nothing untoward. She’s just bought a franchise in her own business and wants to focus on that :)