Nannies
What is a Nanny?
A Nanny is employed to care for children in the children's own
home. They may live-in or come on a daily basis; they may be full
or part time. They will take responsibility for your
child/children's care routines.
Does a Nanny have to be
registered?
There is no requirement for nannies to register but they can
choose to join the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register.
This would enable parents to access help with childcare costs
through Working Tax Credits and parents will know that the nanny
has met basic standards designed to safeguard children.
How do you find a Nanny?
You can contact a specialist agency or place your own
advertisement in local Job Centres, Newspapers or Childcare
publications, or look for venues where childcare courses may have
students who may meet your requirements.
Trained Nannies will hold a recognised childcare
qualification.
How do you choose a Nanny?
Whether you employ a Nanny with formal qualifications or not is
up to you, you may want your Nanny to have some previous
experience. The person you choose should be someone you feel happy
to have in your home and to be responsible for your
child/children.
They should have a responsible caring attitude, a clear liking
to be with children, and the ability to provide warm and consistent
care. They should be aware of multi-cultural issues and treat all
children with equal concern.
You need to consider whether they will fit into your lifestyle,
and that their integrity and professionalism will ensure the safety
and development of your child/children.
Employment Conditions
If you interview the candidates yourself, it is a good idea to
draw up a job specification and contract, this could be forwarded
to all candidates to enable them to consider whether they meet your
requirements, and how they will present their skills to you.
Contracts should cover: the hours and days required to work;
time off and holidays; pay, including details of reviews, sick pay,
paid weekly or monthly etc; confidential issues; grievance
procedures; notice required on both sides; meals provided; for a
live-in Nanny, accommodation and any extra duties you may require
such as baby-sitting.
Long-term plans may also need to be discussed, as the nature of
the employment often means nannies become an accepted part of the
family, and children may become distressed if Nanny suddenly
leaves.
Remember when you are interviewing, you too are being assessed.
The Nanny will want to know about your family, the way you live,
and will want to create a working relationship of mutual trust and
respect that will enable you to talk about the welfare of your
child/children.
Questions you might want to
consider:
- How the Nanny envisages his/her role with the child/children.
The daily routine.
- Health and safety aspects: First aid knowledge, safety of toys
and equipment.
- Emergency procedures.
- Views on childcare: attitudes to coping with unacceptable
behaviour, feeding, weaning, toileting etc.
- What television programmes they consider suitable for young
children, the use (limited) of television in their programme of
activities.
- What the long term plans are.
- CVs and references are very important and should always be
followed up.
You will be employing the person who is to be your Nanny, Inland
Revenue Enquiry Offices provide special documentation for employers
of Nannies and similar employees, and will offer help to set up, as
you will be required to deduct PAYE and National Insurance and
forward these to the appropriate authorities.
House rules need to be agreed together.
