How to find a nanny

By Jenny Byrne, mother and former editor of a Parenting Magazine.

Once seen as many a mother's stalwart, in recent years nannies have come under scrutiny with several unfortunate and highly publicised incidents in the UK and America.

The Government has responded to this with a shake-up of the regulations governing nanny hiring.

Parents should take comfort from knowing that the majority of nannies are highly trained and dedicated, and that if they check out a prospective nanny carefully, they'll have done all the groundwork to ensure their child is getting the best care possible.

Different nanny arrangements

"If they check out a prospective nanny carefully, parents will have done all the groundwork to ensure their child is getting the best care possible."

• Live-in nanny: You must decide whether you and your partner will be able to cope with someone living in such close proximity.

• Daily nanny: She'll come to your home every day, at mutually agreed hours. This option preserves your privacy and means you don't have to find extra accommodation space.

• Nanny-share: This is an arrangement generally between two families, who share the nanny. The advantage of this arrangement is that it keeps the cost down as her wages are split.

For pay guidance, call the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (tel: 01332 834883).

Making the right choice

There are four steps to selecting a nanny

1. Drawing up a job description

You'll need to be clear about what duties you want her to do, hours she'll be needed, what wage you'll pay, are there any special requirements like overnight stays away, and terms and conditions of employment (like probationary period, annual leave and period of notice). Will you want: a non-smoker, driver, pet lover, car owner, speaker of more than one language, have experience with special needs children? For a small fee you can get a sample contract of employment from Parents at Work (tel: 0207 628 3565).

2. Advertising

The search may take several months so it's advised you get started at least 12 weeks before she's needed. There are several ways to find someone:
• Nanny recruitment agency - found in the Yellow Pages or specialist magazines such as The Lady and Nursery World. The agency will have vetted the person itself, but do ask what checks have been done and do some yourself. Checks include police record, qualifications and background. Expect to pay an agency fee.

• Place an ad in a magazine or local paper, detailing hours, wages, area, ages of children, duties.

• Talk to other parents or join organisations like the National Childbirth Trust. For your local branch call its head office (tel: 0208 992 2616).

3. Interviewing

Areas to cover include:
• skills, qualifications and training
• written references
• family background and does she have a boyfriend
• experience of working with children, ages, how long for
• why left previous job/s
• why works with children
• ability to organise safe, fun learning opportunities
• outline typical balanced day
• do's and don't of child safety
• nutrition - healthy meal ideas etc
• first aid training
• driving experience
• what would you do in….(invent family crisis)
• attitude to sweets, TV etc
• discipline.

4. Checking references and employment history

• Ask for proof of at least two forms of identity, such as passports and birth certificate, and insist on originals.

• Ensure all certificates showing training qualifications are also originals and ask the awarding body for verification if originals have been lost. For information on the new national standards on childcare qualifications (which mean many existing qualifications have been re-named), call the Early Years National Training Organisation (tel: 01727 847 636).

• Request two references, and when contacting referees find out reasons she left the last job, length of service, her strengths and weaknesses and whether they'd re-employ her. Check carefully any gaps in employment history. If the candidate seems uncomfortable when you probe reasons for gaps or explanations aren't clear of fulsome, it could be the gaps are concealing a criminal record or medical condition which may make her unsuitable.

• As long as the prospective nanny gives her permission, the police will run a check to see if she has a criminal record.


Trust your instincts

Naturally you'll want prospective candidates to meet your child / children and the way she relates to them will help in your decision making. But trust your gut feelings about them and don't take on someone if you're not 100% sure, no matter how desperate you are.