Help! Interviewing nannies this morning and no idea what to ask. Any ideas?

[ragtaggle]

Just thought I'd quickly canvas opinion. We are interviewing nannies this morning to look after our dd who will be 10 months old when I go back to work full time in two months time. I just wondered if there are any burning questions I should make sure i ask, aside from the obvious ones. I'm not even sure what the going rate is for full time live out nannies in central London. I meant to research it yesterday but dd a real handful so didn't get a chance. Any ideas/suggestions really appreciated

Ditto Katie

Cuppy and Katy - wow! if I hadn't found a fab nanny (second time lucky) I'd be trying to bribe you two to come and work for us - seeing doing a bit of hoovering as contributing to the happiness of the children, by taking stress off the mum, shows that you really care and that you really understand. And the thing about the bin rings a bell with me. My first would never have dreamt of operating a system whereby last person to fill the bin empties it. oooh no. wasn't in the contract.

Yes hatter , sorry to say some nannies are very 'aware!!' of their contract. I think they forget the most important thing - the children.

happy child = happy job = happy nanny/childminder

If you are getting an Australian ask her about her visa position, that may determine how long she can stay in the country.

Just wanted to add a thought for those new to hiring nannies etc. - I found it very difficult (though maybe you wouldn't if you were a human resources person in office life) to know what to look for in written references, which is where we all start.

But with experience, I now know to look just for one thing, the "heartfelt" reference - the one that says "all jobs done with smile on face", "she will be a friend to us for ever", "her next family have a treat in store". No amount of listing of what a nanny did for the family compares with that.

Binkie - I couldn't agree more on that. First nanny had what I thought were very good references - written and verbal. (she didn't work out) Then with number two I saw/heard what a really good reference is like. You are so right to use the word "heartfelt"