How do I go about writing a job description for a nanny?
Childcare isn't usually the only part of a nanny's job. Most do some laundry, housework and run family errands, as part of their daily routine. If you are looking for a nanny to do these additional tasks, you should make this clear in your advertisement and the interview process. Talk to your candidate and walk your nanny through your day, then include all aspects of the job is some type of contract or work agreement prior to the nanny’s start date.
What type of duration are nannies willing to commit to?
There are nannies available for all levels of commitment, whether it be full-time, part-time, short-term, summer or temporary. Some nannies are available to live-in, while others prefer to live-out. It is important that you are clear from the start about the level and duration of commitment each of you expects from one another.
What should I ask the nannies that I interview?
There are a number of questions to ask a nanny for an interview. Essential questions include ‘what is your past childcare experience?’, ‘what are you expecting from the job in terms of time commitment, financially and what will be included in your day-to-day work?’
Can I ask for references from previous employers?
It is very important to ask for references from previous employers and character references. You need to know the extent of their experience, and whether they have worked with children of a similar age before; contact their last place of employment and ask how the nanny left, whether she was punctual and helpful and if she had a good relationship with the kids. Asking employers to name positive attributes of your nanny will also be quite indicative - you need plenty of helpful information about your candidate.
Once my nanny arrives, how can I help us start working together?
Work together to allow the nanny time to feel comfortable in the position and discuss a schedule of how and when things should be done, so your new employee knows what is expected of them. If your nanny is a replacement, it’s always ideal to let your new nanny work with your previous nanny for a short period of time. Make sure your children are also briefed about the new arrival to avoid any bad reactions to the change.
How can I resolve differences over how my nanny works without offending him/her?
Be straightforward and keep lines of communication open. Everyone runs their household differently, so if you don’t inform the nanny how you would like things done, he/she will not know. Particularly in the beginning, find time once a week to sit down with your nanny and talk about what's going right as well as what's going wrong. If there is something on your mind, bring it up face-to-face, and avoid leaving notes and messages which might be misunderstood. Signing a contract prior to the start date will also help establish what will be expected in the job.
Top tips to remember when hiring a nanny
• Have a face to face interview. Meet at a local public location or have the nanny to your home to meet you and the children. If the nanny will be relocating, many families will fly a nanny out for an interview or short trial period, while others will interview and hire over the phone.
• Remember to do reference checks on the nanny. Speak with past childcare employers and character references. There is a sample reference form available to registered members at www.nannies4hire.com.
• Run background checks. The most common background checks run are criminal histories, driving records, social security number trace, credit report and drug testing. There are background checks included in some of the packages and there is also an online investigation service available at www.nannies4hire.com.