How To Recruit A Nanny - Part 2: Nanny Agencies

Before the internet parents who wanted to employ a nanny would typically approach a Nanny Agency who would assist parents in selecting a suitable nanny.

The internet in my view has changed the way nannies are recruited. Nanny Agencies can charge from several hundred pounds to several thousand pounds. Whereas internet recruitment websites may charge less than thirty pounds.

However parents still do use nanny agencies, especially if it is the first time they are recruiting a nanny. Why? Well I suspect it is to do with having someone else provide all the necessary information and advice, plus it removes some of the hassles of finding a nanny.

A nanny agency will typically have a selection of nannies on their books who they know are looking for work. The agency will try to match the parents requirements with a suitable nanny. If none of the nannies on the agencies books meet the requirements, then the agency will advertise for nannies.

Before accepting a nanny onto the agencies books, the agency will interview the nanny and check references, training certificates, make sure the nanny has an Enhanced CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) check, plus will discuss with the nanny about what positions they feel they are suited to. For example, when I have been interviewed by nanny agencies, I like to make it clear that I prefer working with babies & toddlers. That then helps the agency in placing me with a family whom has a baby or toddler.

Agencies will check a nannies references but due to the Data Protection Act it appears that if a parent wanted a copy of the reference, the agency may not be in a position to provide that. For more information and a discussion about this see: Mumsnet: Nanny References

The agency will provide you with a short list of nannies whom you can then choose to interview. When you interview the nannies, I would suggest that you ask them to bring with them written references and provide a couple of phone numbers of families you can chat with. That way you can see their written references plus obtain verbal references for yourself. That combined with the feedback from the agency with regard to the references they checked should be sufficient to help you make the recruitment decision.

The agency is there to support you. They should be able to provide you with advice with regard to the nannies contract of employment, taxation rules (they may run their own payroll service, or will be able to provide details of one - such as PAYE for Nannies), plus provide general advice about employing a nanny.

How To Recruit A Nanny - Part 1: Advertising

The internet has changed the way that parents find nannies. In the past parents would use Nanny Agencies who would in-turn advertise in local newspapers.

Now the internet has made if possible for parents to advertise directly to nannies looking for work. In the UK the most popular nanny recruitment website is NannyJob.co.uk which lists thousands of nanny jobs throughout the UK and even some abroad. NannyJob is used by agencies, so if you want an agency to help with the recruiting, do not be surprised if the agency places an advert on NannyJob. NannyJob charges a listing fee, about £20 at the time of writing.

In some parts of the country, Gumtree.com is a popular way of advertising for a nanny. However it seems to me that this concentrates on Cities, so if you don't live in a city it may not be that good. Gumtree charges in certain locations but not others... so you may find that placing an advert does not cost you anything.

When composing an advert you need to know what is you actually want. Do you want a live-in nanny (a nanny who stays at your home day and night) or a live-out nanny (a nanny who comes to your home each morning and leaves again at the end of the working day)?

Online adverts can often be quite long, so I feel you should give as much information as possible. In particular I feel you should be clear about:

• the working days and hours
• how much you will pay
• what housework duties you expect to be done (such as washing children's clothing, ironing etc)
• as clear as you feel able about your location - for example if in London, state the nearest tube station.
• start date
  

There are lots more things you can include in an advert, the more the better I feel but I am aware that some parents want to leave things to discuss at the interview.

Saying how much you will pay seems odd to some people. I feel you should give the salary (or a salary range) so that you don't waste your own or other peoples time. If you can only afford to pay £6 per hour, yet applicants want £10 per hour, then it is not worth them applying for your job.

The purpose of your advertisment is to get suitable candidates interested in your job offer. It is not to get everyone interested in working for you - you want the job advert to act as your first line filter... to weed out the unsuitable applicants leaving you with a handful of applicants to interview.

In England, Ofsted are now registering nannies. Many parents are now wanting to use Childcare Vouchers to part-pay a nanny and thus require a nanny who is already Ofsted Registered, or a nanny who meets the criteria and could apply for registration. If you are recruiting in a hurry and need to use Childcare Vouchers, then state in your advertisment that you require the nanny to already be Ofsted Registered (as the registration process can take a few months).

Other places to advertise include local village shops, such as a newsagents. Local newspapers are also an option - though can be expensive compared with internet advertising.

You may want to leave advertising to a Nanny Agency. I will discuss Nanny Agencies in a later post.