How to Find a Nanny in London?
In this article, we talk about:
how to begin your nanny search,
step by step process,
how to take references,
trial period and more.
There are two ways to find a nanny; through an agency or by searching privately. Agencies charge placement fees however they do the hard work for you. They already have many fantastic candidates on their books, they do the screening and interviewing of the candidates for you, checking their references and organising Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS). We also advise that the client take references and check all the original documents of a nanny before making a final decision.
How to begin your nanny search:
Regardless if you are looking privately or paying someone to do it for you, firstly you need to figure out your exact requirements. You don’t want to spend a lot of time meeting candidates who for one reason or another aren’t right for the job. Therefore it’s worth starting your search with an idea of what your minimum requirements are in terms of experience, qualifications, languages and other qualities you may be looking for in a nanny.
Step by step process:
The sequence of your search steps should be screening, reference checks, interviews and trials. Some families may prefer to conduct the interviews first and then check the references. We take references first as we know from experience that if they are done correctly you can learn more from the previous employer than an interview with a nanny.
How to take references:
The best references are those that are full of details and gratitude and not those that are vague and hesitant. Things you can ask are: how would you describe the candidate, what were the things they liked and didn’t like, and were there any problems, confirm the dates of employment, the ages of the children, the reason for leaving, would they employ them again. For further advice about taking a reference please click here.
Some candidates may have excellent references but looking at their experience and qualifications will also tell you how dedicated they are and knowledgeable about child development. An ideal match for your family would be a loving and dedicated caregiver, who can support your child’s emotional, intellectual, social and other areas of development.
At every stage of child development, your child will be looking at those who are closest to him or her for support and guidance, which will also be your nanny. Every day is full of learning opportunities and your nanny will be there to answer questions, demonstrate and provide encouragement to your child.
This is particularly important if you are looking for a nanny to work with younger children who will be with your child during their formative years. Relevant experience is key, which can be from either a nursery, a nanny setting or other formal setting with children of that age group.
Ideally, you should start searching for a nanny about 2 months or 6 weeks before your start due date.
Nanny trial period:
Once you have chosen your nanny we also recommend a trial period so that you can know for certain that a particular nanny is right for the job.
We hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful, if you have any more questions or if you would like us to help you find your perfect candidate then please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be delighted to help you!