Childcare options
LIVE-OUT FULL OR PART TIME NANNY is employed by you to look after your child/ren in your home and come to your home for set days and hours. (Usually between 8 and 12 hours per day). Many have nursery nurse training or childcare qualifications, though this is not compulsory. For sure, they have sole charge experience, and a good organization skills. Daily nannies are willing to baby-sit one or two nights during the week, but this is usually paid in addition to the nanny’s weekly net salary. Please do not ignore that some of the childcares are married, running their own household, family life, therefore they may not want to baby-sit for you. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules; especially if you offer your nanny extra perks (i.e. shorter work week, late starts with full salary etc). The secret of good and blossoming relationship between you and your Nanny is the continued communication! All of your requirements in this case should be stated very clearly at the interview, mutually agreed on daily duties and write everything down in the contract.
LIVE-IN NANNY Families typically employ live-in nannies for the sake of convenience. Some of them have nursery nurse training or childcare qualifications, though this is not compulsory. Due to the benefit of not having to travel to work and having free accommodation, some families is expecting the live in nanny to work longer hours than a daily nanny – between 40-60 hours per week. It is also expected of a live-in nanny to do 1-2 nights of babysitting each week are not paid in addition to his/her weekly net salary. Bank Holidays are should be given as day off unless a prior arrangement the employer asks the nanny to work, and it is common to give a day off to her during the week instead. The secret of good relationship between you and your Nanny is the continued communication! All of your requrements in this case should be stated very clearly at the interview, mutually agreed on daily duties and write everything down in the contract.
MOTHER’S HELP The main difference between a mother’s help and a nanny is that a nanny’s primary duty is childcare, and a mother’s help is generally there to assist the parent with both childcare and housekeeping duties. If you go out to work, you will need a nanny rather than a mother’s help. A mother's help assists the mother in the home with childcare and light housework. She does not usually have sole charge of the children, but may do if agreed. If you have just had a baby and need some general help with housework, laundry and/or your other children, this could be for you. A mother's help will not necessarily be qualified but should have some experience of childcare and good references. There is no formal training available for mother's helps. All of your requrements in this case should be stated very clearly at the interview, mutually agreed on daily duties and write everything down in the contract.
AU-PAIR They must have their own room with TV, CD player, internet access, full board and be paid pocket money as agreed. Typical Au-pair duties: wake the children up, give them breakfast, get them ready to school/nursery, taking and collecting them from school/nursery. She/He can also prepare a light meal for the children then help with their homework, organise bath time. Keeping them to a routine. Doing the washing and ironing of the children’s cloths once a week. During half terms she/he can be asked to take the children to the park’s, visit museum, go to the zoo, children indoor play areas etc. Usually they work from Monday to Friday, up to 25-30 hours per week.
Please, remember that au pairs are NOT trained nannies nor are they domestic servants although you can ask light housework to be done, such as dusting, hovering. An au pair should not be expected to take full responsibility for the children unless they have previous experience in childcare as well as discussed and agreed at the beginning of the interview.
Some families choose to give additional benefits, such as help with language tuition, complete a first aid course, use of a car or travel pass. During school holidays, if additional hours are required, or extra babysitting additional pocket money should be given. Other possible benefits are a bonus at the end of the promised stay or a return fare home once during the au pair's stay.
It is recognised that these are only guidelines and that the situation differs from family to family. Individual needs can be discussed when you register with us and we aim to match these with a suitable au pair.
NON-QUALIFIED NANNIES Not all of our Nannies are qualified. Many have extensive experience and good references which qualify them in a different but very practical way. Market research shows that they are just as much professional as the qualified ones. Since the EU expansion, there has been an influx of Eastern European nannies with fluent English and the added bonus of being educated to degree level in their own country. Their childcare experience is checked and proven that they are very professional – lovable childcarers, reliable, punctual which makes them very compatible as an employee.