Seven Tips To Help You Find The Right Nanny

Your children are very precious to you. So hiring a nanny is obviously a hugely important decision.

You want a nanny who will do more than just keep them safe; you want someone who will also make them happy and help them flourish. On top of that, you need to keep your nanny happy and stay on top of your legal responsibilities as an employer. No wonder many parents find hiring a nanny a stressful process.

The good news is that with the right preparation and some useful insider knowledge, you can make your nanny search easier and find just the right person.

Here are seven tips to help you find the right nanny for you:

1. Start with the practicalities
Spend some time thinking about the basic practical arrangements. Do you want a live-in or live-out nanny? Sole charge or nanny share? What hours will your nanny work and when do you need her to start?

Then it’s worth considering the duties you would like your nanny to perform and what to discuss at the interview. As well as childcare, most nannies would expect to prepare and clear up the children’s meals, wash their laundry, look after their bedrooms, do the school or nursery run and supervise homework.

“But it’s also worth thinking about any extras,” advises Annie Martin of Nannies Incorporated. “Will you need her to stay on at short notice if you have to work late, or babysit a couple of times a week? Would you like her to do the family shopping? If you travel together, will she have additional responsibilities? You will save time if you make all this clear in your job description, because only nannies happy to take on these duties will apply.”

2. Think about the nanny basics

Now have a think about the nanny herself – again, just the basics to begin with. What skills, personality traits are important to you? What habits and views might make a difference?

For example, how much nannying experience would you like her to have? Do you want a specific age range? Should she be able to drive, swim, horse ride, do first aid? Is it important to you that she’s a non-smoker, or willing to cook meat if she’s vegetarian?

Write down the skills and habits that matter to you and put them in order or priority. You will probably find that some items are ‘essential’ and others just ‘desirable’. Then, when the applications start coming in, you’ll know whether someone ticks enough boxes to be worth interviewing. Still, you need to be realistic about your requirements.

3. Plan what you’ll pay
Decide on your minimum and maximum salary – and remember to factor in all your costs.

In the nanny business it’s common to agree a net weekly salary rather than a gross salary, and that means you’re responsible for tax and national insurance contributions on top.

A good nanny agency can advise you about this and even recommend a company to help you with payroll if you need it.

Nannies Incorporated offers this example: “If you pay a nanny £450 per week (a fairly average salary in London), you’ll actually pay out £572 per week – plus Employer’s National Insurance, which would be around £57.”

4. Recruit right
Recruiting a nanny is time consuming. You can recruit through a nanny agency.

A good agency will save you a lot of time and trouble by listening to what you want and only putting forward suitable candidates. They’ll take care of all background and reference checks, and offer you plenty of advice and support on interviews and employment. Ask for recommendations and read parents’ testimonials on the agency’s website.

If you have plenty of free time you can do your own recruiting, from advertising to shortlisting and interviewing. If you decide to try, it’s vital that you carry out a full background check, go over all the nanny’s qualifications, follow up their references and know how to spot any potential problems.

5. Make the most of the interview
This is your chance to find out everything you need to know about a candidate, so make the most of it. “When it comes to choosing the right nanny for your family, there’s no such thing as asking too many questions,” says Annie Martin. “But try not to make it sound like an interrogation! It helps to put the nanny at her ease from the start with some friendly conversation.”
Annie recommends starting by making sure you agree on basic issues such as discipline, routine and food.

Other good questions could include why the nanny chose this career, what sort of activities she thinks suitable for your child; how she would plan her day; and how she would cope in an emergency. Chat about her own family background: you can learn a lot that way.

It is essential that she spends some time with the children, not necessarily under your supervision.

6. Be clear on the contract
The interview is also the time to cover the formal employment arrangements. You’ll want to go over your proposed contact with her carefully, making sure you’re clear on issues such as sick leave (and payment), holiday entitlement, notice period (on both sides), the grievance procedure and your individual house rules. Don’t forget smaller details like the terms of use for your car.

7. Trust your instincts
So your nanny looks perfect on paper and came across well in the interview. But do you feel that she’s the perfect person for your family? And is there anything telling you that something’s not quite right?

“Your gut feeling is so important,” says Annie Martin of Nannies Incorporated. “You need to feel a connection and you need to feel 100% happy.

A nanny could be wonderful in every way, but just not the right person for your family – especially if she’s going to live in. So listen to your instincts: if your gut feeling says no, walk away or at least at least consider a trial. And don’t worry, the right nanny will come along.”

A good nanny is worth her weight in gold, so taking plenty of time and care to find her will really pay off. That’s why many anxious, time-pressed parents use a well-regarded nanny agency: their experience and advice makes the process smoother and far less stressful.

Armed with these tips, you should find a nanny who is kind, trustworthy and energetic; a nanny who loves her job and takes her responsibilities seriously; a nanny who’s right for you.