But first you need to find your Mary Poppins, or Mrs Doubtfire, whatever your needs may be …Decisions, decisions… What type of nanny is right for me?Before beginning your search you need to write yourself a small job description, or at least have one in mind.
Ask yourself a few questions:
 Do I need a nanny full time or just afternoons? Maybe three days a week works. Be realistic. If you want a proper qualified Norland nanny with 10 years experience, you can’t expect her to work the odd afternoon and occasionally full time. A nanny like this will seek the top salary with the best conditions. If you are looking for casual childcare a “Grandma” type or student will provide the most flexibility.
Do I want to raise my child bilingual? A bilingual nanny will cost you no more and will give your children an extra edge in life by teaching a second language. Learning two languages at a young age the perfect time!
Do I need a live in or live out nanny? Live in nannies can be less costly than live out nannies and provide more flexibility with hours. But remember – there are far less live in nannies than live out and live in nannies tend to be younger… living with a family, no matter how lovely yours may be is not easy.
What do I want my nanny to do? Maybe you want someone who focus’ their day just on educating and playing with your child. Maybe you would like a nanny/housekeeper who cleans, cooks, irons and has time left over for your baby.Making your selection…So now you think you know what you are looking for, you have advertised the position you need filled, applications are flowing to your inbox, you have made a few selections from the list of local nannies……now what?
First rule; don’t try to meet too many nannies. You will only get confused and end up losing your chance to hire the one you really really liked, because you’ve spent three weeks interviewing 100 candidates and now that perfect one has found another job!
Make a selection of between 3 to 6 profiles you really like. Then arrange interviews quickly. Good nannies find jobs fast. If you can only find 2 profiles you really love, this is fine, one will be great and the other a comparison to let you know you made the right decision.
Have a chat to each candidate on the telephone then, if you feel confident, arrange to meet them. Your home is the most comfortable place for nanny and mum. The nanny will understand the working environment and be more inclined towards your position.Interview Etiquette – What your candidates should bring to the interview. Always ask to see TWO forms of I.D (one must be photo I.D.)
The candidate should have a CRB disclosure or be willing to do one. If the candidate has been in the UK for less than 6 months ask to see a police check from their home country. Always request original copies.
Ask to see written references. If this is not possible ask for landline and mobile telephone numbers of a minimum of two verbal references. These do not both need to be childcare references. A character reference from a respected member of the community is fine, i.e. a doctor or University Professor.
The candidate should bring an up to date CV.
ORIGINAL copies of any first aid or other relevant certificates. Pre-interviewArrange a time to meet the nanny or babysitter when you will be able to concentrate fully. It is important for her/him to meet your children, but having them present for the entire interview may be distracting.
Go through the candidates CV carefully. Look for areas you wish to question her/him on:
What activities did you plan with the children in your previous position?
Why did you leave?
Do you still keep in contact with previous employers?
What was the most challenging aspect of the position?
What was the most enjoyable aspect?
Question the candidate about her qualifications, remember babysitters and nannies may still be very good candidates even if they do not have qualifications. Experience is always the most important attribute:
How did you benefit from the course?
What aspects of the course do you think you have applied to your nannying positions?
If a chosen candidate is from abroad ask her why she would like to live in the UK and how long she intends to stay. This may affect your choice as finding another nanny in 6 months is not ideal for worried parents! The InterviewAn interview should last 40 minutes to one hour. Plan the interview so the children can be introduced at the end. If your child is young s/he may take an afternoon nap - you could plan the interview to coincide with your baby waking up.
Take your time when meeting a prospective candidate this will help you both to feel at ease. Begin by talking about your children and the position:
Confirm the start date and hours of work or in the case of a babysitter how often you may likely need a sitter.
 In the case of a nanny discuss household duties, i.e. cooking, cleaning.
Run through each child's routine and which aspects the nanny will be responsible for, i.e. playgroups, swimming lessons, homework.
If the children have any allergies, medical conditions or special dietary requirements discuss these with the nanny.
Discuss the rules of the house. If you are hiring a nanny it is normal for a nanny to arrange playgroups with other nannies and meetings at the park. Let the nanny know your policy on this, i.e. is she allowed to invite other nannies and their children to your house?
Confirm salary/hourly rate and in the case of a nanny holiday allowance.
Now proceed with your prepared questions. A good candidate will be proud of her career choice and her work with children - look for passion in her answers, but remember she may be nervous
What do you enjoy about caring for children?
What qualities do you think are important to have as carer of children and why?
What do you feel is the most difficult aspect of childcare?
In the case of a nanny: What are you philosophies on discipline? Give the nanny specific examples and ask her to comment, i.e. What would you do if Peter refused to take a bath?
Ask the candidate about herself, what hobbies s/he has.
Ask the candidate to describe herself. Does s/he believe s/he is punctual, reliable?
What activities do you enjoy doing with children?
In the case of a nanny: How would you plan a typical day?
Ask the candidate if s/he has experience in specific skills you require of him/her, i.e. perhaps you have a toddler soon to be going through potty training, ask the candidate if s/he has experience in this field.
In the case of a nanny: What are the important areas of development for each child during the following year.
What do you think is important in my child’s diet? How would you plan their meals and what would you cook?
How would you react in an emergency, i.e. what would you do if Peter was choking? Have you ever been in an emergency with a child? Post InterviewIf you loved the nanny or sitter that you just met, tell them! Don’t lose your opportunity to employ Mary Poppins.
Let the candidate know you would love for them to come back for a trial if they are interested … no pressure of course. The candidate may have other employment offers that they are considering and you could lose the opportunity to have them as your child's nanny.
July 2008
by Vanessa Cook
Director of Nanny Agency www.findababysitter.com
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