|
TIPS ON FINDING YOUR PERFECT NANNY
Who to employ
It is not a good idea to employ an inexperienced nanny as your first nanny, this is particularly important if you are not going to be around during the day to supervise. You will need someone you can rely on and can trust to cope with any situation and this is where someone with experience will be most suitable. A more experienced and qualified nanny may require a larger salary than someone with little or no experience but it will be worth the investment since they should be able to work autonomously.
Before the Interview
There are a number of things you will have to think about before you start interviewing. These will include:
Deciding on questions to ask and the qualities you are looking for.
Are you looking for a part time or full time nanny, live in or live out?
Is this a shared care or sole charge position?
Establish your nanny budget. Offer your nanny a fair wage to reflect her nanny position, hours, days extra babysitting etc.
The hours the nanny will be required to work and the baby-sitting requirements you have?
The duties the nanny will be expected to do.
What are the holiday entitlements you are offering?
Be clear with what your needs are as a family, if you need 2 days a week babysitting
Provide your nanny with good additional benefits. Perhaps an incentive package. Some parents provide a car for their nanny to drive .
Do you need your nanny to be able to drive?
House rules such as use of telephone, visiting friends and boyfriends, meals and eating arrangements.
Might you need a bilingual nanny?
Be flexible and allow for some changes if necessary.
Structuring the Interview
A structured interview allows all points to be covered with each applicant, so you should have at least a rough agenda in mind, before starting the interview. This should include the following:
Explaining the job on offer, including hours, duties, rules and expectations.
Explaining your routine, what times you are out of the house etc. and also the children's routine, their school times and/or classes they attend.
Find out about the carer's views on child care.
Allow an opportunity for the carer to ask questions.
Show the nanny around the accommodation on offer (if applicable).
Sample Interview questions
Listed below are some questions that could be included in an interview. These are provided as a guideline only. The questions should be open ended to allow the nanny to discuss and provide an explanation. Try to avoid questions, which result in a yes or no answer, also avoid starting a question with "Don't you think that..." as this normally means "I think...." and loads the question. If you are interviewing a lot of applicants it is best to make notes as you go along so you don't forget who said what.
- Family background, do you have any brothers or sisters.
- Why did you decide to become a nanny?"
- What are your reasons for leaving your current nanny position?
- Tell me about your experiences of being a nanny?
- What is it about nannying that you enjoy the most?"
- In your opinion what qualities make a good nanny?
- Have you ever had a period of unemployment if so why?
- If there is a gap in the CV, ask what the nanny was doing for that period of time.
- Are you willing to work additional hours, baby-sitting evenings and weekends?
- What are your interest in your spare time?
- What was a typical day as a nanny in your previous nanny position?
- Why do you think you are suitable for this nanny position?
- What are you qualities when caring for children?
- How would you entertain my child (ren) on a day-to-day basis?
- How would you keep them occupied on a wet day?
- What artistic /creative talents do you have as a nanny?
- At what level can you cook?
- What nutritious children's meals can you cook for a chid aged (edit children's age)?
- How do you feel children should be discipline? How do you see your role in disciplining my child/children?
- What experience have you had with children and what ages were they?
- As a nanny what your particular strengths and qualities?
- What difficulties have you experienced as a nanny with parents or children and how were they resolved?
- How many days have you had of sick in the last 12 months?
- Are there any areas of your work that you want to improve?
- What would you do if .....(make up a scenario)....?
- What type of activities do you find valuable and enjoyable for children, are they free or expensive?
- Why do you feel that routine is important for children?
- Do you have any health related issues we should know about?
- What do you consider are your nanny qualities with regard to looking after children?
- What are you looking for in your next nanny position?
- Are you trained in First Aid? What would you do in the case of:
(a) a bad cut
(b) a burn
(c) a blow to the head
(d) choking
(e) high fever?
- Remember to ask to see a driving licence.
- When did you pass your driving test?
- Have you had any accidents?
- What type of car do you drive?
- Does your car have rear seat belts?
- What type of car insurance do you have?
- Have you got insurance for taking employers' children in your car?
- When would you be available to start a new position?
- Would you accept the position if it was offered to you?
Second interview for the nanny
At second interview stage, it may be helpful to have another party, say a relative or close friend casually observing the Nanny interacting with yourself and your children. However this should not come across as a trial for the nanny but more of a typical domestic scene with "Granny" or a friend dropping in. It is important to introduce the most suitable prospective nanny to the children before making the final decision. Decide whether to bring them in for part of the interview or arrange a more informal second interview to observe the interaction between the children and the nanny as you will learn a lot about them from the children's reaction and the way they approach them. It is not advisable to have the children present for the whole interview since this may be distracting.
Checking References
Although A Perfect Balance thoroughly check references we strongly advise you to speak to the referees directly. Points to consider include:
Checking dates of employment.
The duties undertaken.
Reasons for leaving.
Sickness record.
Reliability.
Strong and weak points.
Whether the referee would actually recommend them.
Interview Summary & Evaluation Check List
Key things to ask yourself are whether you instinctively feel that the Nanny is a capable and confident nanny, and equally importantly, is this someone with whom you are going to be able to get on, and treat with the respect they deserve in assuming responsibility for your children's welfare?
There is clearly a lot to remember when you interview prospective applicants for the position. Many people will wish to take notes during the interview or make brief notes immediately after, other people will just go with their natural instincts and recruit the person they felt most comfortable with. Whatever method you choose has to suit you, the main importance is to be consistent in you assessment of each applicant. You may want to create a brief assessment check list which you can tick off during or after the interview. The following check list may help you ensure each candidate is being assessed consistently.
In each category you should rate the candidate as follows:-
Significant improvement required
Some room for improvement.
Fully satisfied
Very good, exceeded expectations
Excellent
In cases where there is a lack of sufficient information, leave the section blank.
Personal
How well did you like the nanny?
How closely do their ideas about childcare match your own?
How well did your children like them?
How well did they react towards your children?
How easy would it be for you to share you home with them?
How well did they meet your expectations?
Professional
How good are their qualifications?
How good is their knowledge of childcare?
How good is their first aid knowledge?
How committed to being a Nanny were they?
How well did they answer the interview questions?
How closely did their answers match you expectations?
Background
How relevant is their previous nanny experience?
How good were there nanny references?
Are they experienced enough?
Suitability
How well do they match your criteria?
How keen did they seem to get the job?
How good is their availability?
How did they feel about the package on offer?
How well did you feel you met their expectations?
Check list
Insure you have copies of the following: references,Qualifications,Driving license, passport
Discuss responsibilities
Discuss house rules
Discuss the salary and benefits
Discuss Start Date
Overall Assessment
Assess their key strengths and areas requiring improvement.
Write a few summary comments about the interview
Before making the offer
Think carefully as to whether the person is right for your family.
Would you feel entirely happy leaving the children in their care? Would the children feel happy to be left with them?
Do you and the child carer share similar views on child care?
Do you agree on all the issues that are important?
Once you have found a suitable carer, you should offer them the position as soon as possible since they may be attending other interviews
Once you're satisfied that you've found the right nanny, make sure the terms of your arrangement are spelled out in an employment agreement that will be signed by you and your nanny
The Nanny's first day
It is best if you can stay with your nanny for the first day or part of the day, this way the child can become
used to them whilst you are around. It is a good idea if you can:
Introduce the nanny to the child's teacher, your local friends and neighbours, etc.
Show them how to work the washing machine, tumble dryer, dish washer, oven, microwave, etc.
Show them where the first aid box is.
Show them where the gas, water and electric cut-offs are for emergencies and also when the meter reader's call.
Discuss the child's routine, bed times, feeding, activities, bathing, etc.
Go through the duties you wish them to do (these should not be different from what you discussed at the interview) and when you want them to baby-sit, etc
House rules, e.g., locking doors and setting alarms when they go out, having people around, etc.
Do's and Don'ts - The Do's....
Leave your nanny a kitty so they can pay for playgroups, activities and extra food, etc. and top this up frequently.
Discuss problems straight away. Don't let it carry on for a long period as it will be harder for them to change.
Set suitable standards and ensure that these are met.
Let them know if any repair people are expected, what they are going to do and what time they are coming.
Remember that your nanny has her own life; don't expect them to baby-sit at a few hours notice.
Pay them on time and review their salary on a regular basis.
Appreciate your nanny, remember a good nanny is hard to find.
The Don'ts...
Ring every few hours to check how every thing is going, as they will feel that you don't trust them.
Assume they will know what you want doing and how to do it.
Be late home, or if you are going to be, ring and let them know.
Worry that your child will get more attached to your nanny than to you. Children always know who their parents are and if your child likes being with the nanny be reassured that they are happy with the situation.
The interview is a two way process where you and the prospective Nanny can exchange information and most importantly, find out if you get along and whether you could work together. Your first impressions are very important so don't ignore your instincts or your children's reactions towards the prospective Nanny. Throughout the interview remind yourself that you may have to work closely with them, leave your children in their care and maybe live with them in your house, so you must like, trust and feel comfortable with them.
Information to leave your nanny
It is a good idea to leave your nanny a list of emergency phone numbers and address's, even if you're in the house most of the day. This list should include:
The child's doctor and dentist.
The child's school their teacher's name and class.
Their activity classes.
The local hospital.
The local police station.
Your direct line work number.
Local friends and family.
The vets number if you have any animals
It is also a good idea to write down:
School times.
Activity times.
If the children have any allergies, etc.
The child's favourite foods and what they won't or you don't want them to eat.
Communication
With good communication all your worries about letting a stranger look after your child should disappear.
It's a good idea to have a certain time each week or fortnight where you and your nanny can talk (if possible without older children around who can understand what you are discussing). Being in a relaxed atmosphere and not being rushed always helps. Sit down, have a cup of tea and talk, maybe start off with the things the child has been doing. Good nannies love telling you about funny things your child has said and done, the progress they have made and if anything seems to be worrying them (e.g. If they have begun not wanting to go to school or if their eating or sleeping habits have changed). This will also give you the opportunity to catch up on the things you have missed whilst being at work.
Always bring up anything that's bothering you, e.g. If plates are always left in the sink when they go off duty, or if you feel that they should be taking your child out more often. Try to say your comment in a positive way and avoid heavy criticism.
Always thank your nanny for doing the little things, like taking out the bins, putting the bottles in the bottle bank, or tidying the child's bedroom after a very messy weekend, as it makes them feel appreciated and they are more likely to keep on doing a good job. If your nanny has helped with a child's party or worked extra hard it is always nice to give them a small bonus just to say thank you.
|
