Debbie TopTips | Babysitters LMM

A huge proportion of a Parent`s decision to progress a Childcarer to the next interview stage rests In the first minutes of:

Speaking to a Childcarer to know they can set their Child a reasonable spoken English example.
Meeting a Childcarer face to face in how they dress with good personal hygiene for an interview and if come across pleasant.
After an Interview, if either wants to progress to the next interview stage or a job offer, it is ESSENTIAL to discuss points by voice and not by text or email as words may get misunderstood. For Parents, it is reassuring to hear a delighted reaction to know making the right decision. In the past for 38 years, it was my (Debbie's) responsibility to telephone a Nanny with a Parents' decisions and I loved hearing their joy if accepting a job. Neither should feel pressured to immediately offer or accept and may ask to think about the discussion overnight.

In the era of your name being listed on Facebook, Childcare.co.uk, and Parent WhatsApp group sites:

Top Tips for Childcarers:

Not turning up (on time) for an interview or an agreed work day is unwise as upset Parents do warn other Parents of unreliable and unpunctual people. If an unavoidable circumstance Parents appreciate a voice telephone call and may be flexible to rearrange.
Childcarers that do not come across as professional are unlikely to be progressed to the next interview stage.
Prepare and take to all interviews a new display folder of original Childcare references, Childcare Qualifications, DBS, Childcare Work Insurance, and Ofsted Certificates and when arrive offer your passport as identification.
The rate we advise is based on the number of years a Childcarer has worked as a Nanny or/and level in another Childcare sector.
Many Childcarers are Childcare Qualified but have only worked under supervision in a Day Nursery so we advise as seeking their first Nanny job therefore learning the role it is not fair they are paid the same rate (from £13 per hour gross) as an experienced Nanny. That said these Childcarers are ideal if a Parent works from home as unlike decades experienced Nannies are used to interacting all day on and off with adults.
Offer and only accept to do Child related housekeeping duties.
Naturally, Parents will have varied views on a Childcarers personal choices as they may influence or affect their Child.

Online - affecting Childcarer and Employer long-term relationships there is so much incorrect salary and Nanny duty mis -information so to avoid upset at a later date both are wiser to register with an established Nanny Employment Agency of their choice and gain correct advice on:

Gross salary - as online Childcarers in interviews tend to only speak of the take-home (Net)` per hour rate they aim for. This often means Parents either overlook the Gross per hour rate they need to budget to which can trigger off PAYE Tax in full not being paid. This is the reason we ask each Childcarer and put in their CV Report both an approximate Gross per hour rate alongside a minimum Net per hour rate they aim for.
Nanny Duties - in recent years it is upsetting to us to that professional Childcare Qualified and/or Experienced Nannies we have helped for years find work are weekly phoning us in tears as they explain they gained a job with a family they like online BUT daily now feel degraded and not respected by their Employer who is asking, texting or hinting to them to do their whole house cleaning, cook Parent evening meals, clean the Parents shoes and iron their clothes. Most Parents don't mean to upset or make their Nanny feel humiliated risk a great Nanny leaving which is then unsettling and upsetting for the Children. Debbie Tip - shorten the Nanny's hours by half an hour per day and use that money to pay for a non Childcare Qualified person who has chosen cleaning as a job, this way the Children and Nanny are happy until the agreed contract end.

Top Tips to Parents:

It is essential before interviewing for a Daily Nanny or Evening Babysitter that a Parent know the maximum Gross per hour salary rate they can budget up to as that determines saving everyone time which Childcarers we can actually introduce for interview.
It is essential Parents to their satisfaction do their own Reference Checks.
99% of Qualified and experienced Nannies give notice when a Child (ren) starts all day at school only because they miss the company of caring for younger Children.
Unprecedentedly Parents increasingly may work part or all week from home so Nannies are struggling to adapt to Parents changing needs. A Parent will naturally feel tempted to see their Child (ren) but unfortunately, some Nannies feel that unsettles the children and can feel checked up on. Nannies have to accept and find it easier to do so if a Parent wants to come into the room to chat to their Children if they get a mobile text message with 15 minutes notice so they can finish perhaps lunch or current activity to prepare for a 15 - 30 minute handover as Nannies at this time prefer to go in another room and do their Child-related housekeeping duties.
We offer 3 - 4 - 5 or 6-month contracts for Parents understandably worried about committing to a one-year contract due to difficult financial times for us all as we are hearing of Parents booking a Nanny for a one-year contract then after they start within weeks telling the Nanny who is devastated and stressed by the news as also with a mortgage or rent to pay that the Child is going to Nursery. We believe these Parents would know of this possible scenario so it is best to be honest about this and employ a Nanny happy to do a 3 or 6-month contract in the hope they can continue as long as you need but if not we can easily if need introduce a 2nd Nanny, we understand not ideal but fairer to the Nanny.
Nanny asking to bring their own Child (one) to work - working as a Nanny is a unique occupation and Parents only consider a Nanny they don't know bringing their own Child to work IF a lower £10 - £12 per hour gross rate is agreed as the Nanny is not giving sole care to the Employer's Child or paying any childcare costs unlike the Employer so they can work. If the Nanny works part-time after the tax allowance scenario often within UK law they achieve the lower Gross rate agreed to Net. • Ofsted was not created for Nannies to charge Parents higher gross per-hour rates but to help working Parents who struggle to pay for a higher cost Nanny, Nursery, or Registered Childminder.