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5 ways to ensure you hire the right nanny

Post date January 31, 2023

Hiring a nanny was once only something for the elite, but today it has become a much more common childcare solution, with families understanding the value that a nanny can provide.

Not only can a nanny offer more personalised care, in the family home, but with multiple children, a nanny can often work out to be relatively cost-effective too.

Hiring a nanny is an important decision with serious consequences for family life, so to ensure that these are all positive it’s crucial to select the right candidate. Here are five ways to ensure that you hire the right nanny.

Hire through a trustworthy source

Many people rely on their friends for recommendations when finding a nanny, but this is not possible for every parent. Luckily, you can go to a nanny agency that has a good reputation.

They will help you find a nanny according to your needs and can even create a contract to govern the terms of service. This will make sure you find a nanny that will be a good fit for your family so that you feel confident leaving your children in their care.

Ask the right questions

While hiring a nanny, you should ensure that you ask the right questions while interviewing. This will help you to decide whether the person is right for the job or not.

You can ask questions about their expectations of the role, their experience working with children, their aims and values and get to know them better as a person.

Consider the nanny’s educational background

Hiring a nanny is a very important decision as your children will spend a lot of their time with them.

Some nannies have qualifications in education, childcare, or child development which many families find reassuring as they know that the nanny will be prepared to work with their children and plan appropriate activities.

If the nanny is well-educated themselves, they are more likely to be able to help your children with homework. You should consider the candidate’s education and whether this will be a good fit for your family before hiring them.

Do reference checks

Checking references should be an important part of hiring a nanny, you should carry out at least 2 childcare related reference checks; if the candidate has worked as a nanny before then you should contact their previous employers and check the information about the role that they have provided you with.

You can also ask about the nanny’s performance and strengths.

Have a trial before hiring

A trial day is a good option where circumstances allow for this. A trial day should always be paid, to show respect for the nanny’s time, but it is a good opportunity for you to get to know a candidate better, observe their behavior towards the children and how they handle new situations. This can help to give a better overall sense of someone’s abilities and working style.

Hiring a nanny can be a complicated process but, you can consider asking the right questions, observing their behavior, and running background checks to make sure the candidate is suitable and trustworthy.

We at International Nanny conduct two thorough background checks. We also carry out an extensive interview of the Nanny and undertake further reference checks as necessary. We assist parents when they hold interviews with potential candidates by preparing questions for them and staying present whenever needed. This all helps to ensure that you select the best Nanny for your children.

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5 things to consider when creating a nanny contract

Post date January 24, 2023

Contracts are essential in any nanny-family relationship. At first, it can sound intimidating and complicated but having a contract in place is invaluable especially in situations when something unexpected arises.

If something goes wrong, a contract can ensure that fair treatment is given to both parties.

Creating a contract does not necessarily need a lawyer’s presence but you do need to make sure that the contract is fair and have both sides, the employer and employee, agree with the terms for it to be effective.

So, what are some of the key issues to consider when drafting a contract?

Pay/Salary

5 things to consider when creating a nanny contract

This is the most important factor in every working contract, so it’s important to be clear on exactly what the nanny will be paid and by when.

You should set down in the contract what a nanny’s normal working hours will be, if and when overtime will be paid and at what rate.

You contract should be clear about holidays and sick days, how many are allowed, whether they are paid or unpaid adn all of this should reflect employment law in the main country of residence.

Another area you will need to consider is tax and insurance, which will again need to reflect the relevant employment law. In some countries the employer is responsibly for paying taxes, in others it is the employees responsibility to file taxes.

You should also state in the contract whether there will be a trial period of 15 days that can serve as a probationary period, this is a good clause to include for both parties as it allows you both to change your mind if it becomes apparent early on that you aren’t the right fit for each other.

In the contract, you should also state when the nanny will have a performance review where they can renegotiate their salary.

House Rules

The nanny-family relationship requires lots of trust and respect from both sides since it is such an intimate role; a family is letting someone into their house and their lives and a nanny is becoming an integral part of the family, sometimes living in the same house, but certainly spending many hours in the family’s home.

Establishing clear expectations, and setting them down on paper, is really important.

The contract is a good space to clearly describe your expectations of your nanny, and what the nanny can expect from you in return.

For example, will there be a room or space intended solely for the nanny?
Are visitors allowed during work hours?
What are the house rules on drinking?

These are all important matters that should be considered and written into the contract.

Childcare Expectations

A nanny’s contract needs to contain a detailed outline of their roles and responsibilities.

In the contract you need to be clear not only about the hours that will be worked but what the nanny is expected to do within those hours.

Will the nanny be driving the child to school and doctor’s appointments?
Is housekeeping included in their duties?
Do you expect the nanny to care for other children when your own child has a playdate?

All of these expectations must be made clear in the contract otherwise the nanny has the right to refuse additional duties.

Benefits

A nanny should be given benefits such as paid sick leave, maternity leave and contracted holiday.

They should also have pay premiums for days they are expected to work during national holidays (keep in mind that these days are supposed to be for rest and relaxation but nanny’s are often required to work, so this should be recognised)

If the family is going on a vacation, will the nanny be required to travel with them?
And how will this be compensated?

All of this needs to be considered and included in a Nanny contract.

End of Contract

The nanny contract will also need to stipulate how and when a contract will end.

You will need to consider the following questions:
If the nanny decided to leave, how long should the notice be?
What are the grounds for termination?
When is the nanny let go without prior notice?
Is there a severance pay in any particular circumstances?

All of these stipulations will need to reflect employment law in the relevant countries.

It is needed by both parties to hold on to their right and safety.

If you are a family looking for a nanny, then you need to create a contract between yourselves and your nanny in order to protect the rights and safety of all involved.

You should have the potential candidate involved in drawing up the contract so that it is democratic and fair.

Remember, this contract is considered valid as long as both parties agree and sign it.

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5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Nanny

Post date September 20, 2022

After shortlisting suitable candidates for a position, the next step is to arrange interviews where you can get to know the shortlisted candidates a little better and ask all the necessary questions. Some parents find it challenging to come up with a list of effective questions when interviewing a nanny, after all it is a very specific role, and one that matters a great deal to the hiring family. Here are 5 important questions you should ask when interviewing a potential nanny.

1. How long have they been in this profession?

This is a great starter question that allows a candidate some space to talk about their experience and a nanny, in childcare, or working in education. After this, you should ask about the age groups they have worked with. which age group they prefer to work with and why. You can also ask about any other experience they had that helps them understand children better, for example they may have spent some time working as a teacher, gymnastics coach, nursery nurse or have children of their own.

2. Are they trained and educated?

It is essential that whoever you hire is well-trained in CPR and first aid because children tend to get hurt while playing, and should the worst happen you want someone who knows what to do. You can also ask them if they have taken any classes or have any qualifications in childcare, or if they are willing to do it if this is something you would find necessary. If you speak different languages, it is good to ask if they know any language besides English.

3. What was their previous position like?

This question is essential as it will determine the nanny’s working style. You can extend this line of questioning by asking questions like what their daily routine was, whether they faced any stressful situations and how they solved these and how long they stayed with that family. You can add the question of their reason for leaving, or the nanny may offer this information themselves. All these questions will give you a deeper insight into a nanny’s experience and working style.

4. What do they expect from this position?

It is better to establish open lines of communication from the very start; in ther interview you can ask the nanny if they are willing to take up a flexible work schedule or to take on other house jobs, such as cooking or cleaning, and establish pay expectations. You should discuss your expectations of the successful candidate so that the nanny has a realistic picture of what the role will entail and can decide whether or not they would like the position based on this.

5. What do they like and dislike about being a nanny?

This question will help you get to know each candidate better and understand where they might need support from your side and where they will be able to support you, or excel in their role. This question can also give you a clearer picture of a candidates personality and values.

Many parents come across this issue of what to ask when hiring a nanny. Which is why we want to help you as much as possible during your search. As well as performing a minimum of two background checks, we can help to prepare a set of interview questions customized according to the needs of the family and even stay present during the interview if any other help is needed. By doing this, we can make sure that families get the perfect nanny who meets their requirements.t