Recruiting a nanny to look after your child will never be a decision you take lightly. After all, a nanny will look after your child and be responsible for his welfare during the times when you are unable to do so yourself, whether you are occupied with work, education, home projects or perhaps the needs of your other children.
What does a nanny do?
In a nutshell, a nanny provides professional one-to-one care for your child in your home setting. In effect, they are responsible for providing safe and secure care and lots of attention and stimulation.
Most nannies work on a live-in basis, although some may only work during the day or on a part-time basis – for example, just three or four days a week. The precise role of your child’s nanny will be determined by the contract you draw up during the hiring process. However, in most cases, the nanny may perform childcare-related chores such as clothes washing, washing up, food shopping, tidying, and food preparation. In some cases, the nanny may even be employed as a Nanny Housekeeper, meaning that they will perform a broader range of domestic tasks. See below for a more comprehensive break-down.
A nanny will provide one-to-one care. This is possibly the main reason for hiring a nanny – knowing that your child has an adult caring for him when you can’t be there. It may also be preferable to sending your child to daycare, particularly if they are very young, as this means your child can remain at home receiving one-to-one attention and stimulation. It also means that your child can develop a consistent relationship and bond with one person, potentially helping them to feel more secure in the world.
Nannies can offer flexibility. Most nannies are able to work around you and your needs to some extent. This means that as your plans change and develop you can have greater confidence in knowing that your child is being safely looked after by someone both you and your child know and trust.
A nanny will honour your terms and conditions and be happy to fit in with your family. If your child goes to nursery, you will have little control over what they do while they are there. However, if you employ a nanny, you help to create the rules, conditions and environment for the nanny-child relationship.
The ease and familiarity of your home being the setting for nanny childcare can help both you and your child adjust more easily as you return to work and/or other pre-parenthood activities. It can make a real difference to your child’s feelings of security if they are surrounded by familiar signs, smells, toys and routines.
Employing a nanny may make economic sense if you have multiple young children, it may ultimately be no more expensive to hire a nanny to look after them all than it would be to send each of them to separate childcare.
It can also help to take the stress out of daily life. If you have a nanny in your home to help you deal with the busiest times, such as meal times, school pickup, bathtime and bedtime, you may find it easier to cope with a busy schedule. A nanny comes at a premium, but paying for one may provide you with the calm you need to successfully focus on your priorities.
Are nannies regulated?
Although nannies are not officially regulated, many may have undergone formal training – for example, from Norland College (which is considered by many to be the pinnacle of nanny training centres) or by undertaking a recognised, formal qualification such as:
CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education
Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Certificate
NVQ or SVQ Level 3 in Early Years Care and Education
There are numerous qualifications available and many nanny agencies will insist on their nannies having more than one qualification alongside relevant experience.
You should ensure that any applicant you employ has full and verifiable references. If you wish to ensure that your nanny has been vetted, it is useful to know that some may be registered with the following bodies:
In England: Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education)
In Wales: Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW)
In Northern Ireland: Home Childcarer Approval Scheme
Furthermore, recruiting a nanny who is registered with one of the above bodies may allow you to pay at least part of your nanny’s wages through the government’s Childcare Choices scheme.
Types of nanny
There are various different types of nanny, so it may be possible to employ a nanny on a tailor-made basis that suits the needs of you and your child. As such, your contract can be drawn up to fit your particular circumstances. However, the most common types of nanny roles can be broken down in the following ways:
Live-in nannies: live-in nannies provide flexibility. This means they are available to look after your children almost all the time – whether your child wakes unexpectedly early or takes a long time going to sleep, or, for example, if you have a sudden professional deadline or wish to go out unexpectedly. However, the role needs to be clearly defined as, inevitably, your nanny will need regular time off. You will also need to provide suitable accommodation, including during times when the nanny is not working.
Daily nannies: daily nannies work a set number of hours at set times during the week, as stated in an employment contract. They may work further hours – for example during evenings or over the weekends – but the pay rate for this additional work should be agreed in advance.
Shared nannies: a shared nanny may be ideal if you have a limited budget and only require a nanny on a limited basis. It may work for the nanny, too, as it allows them to have plenty of working hours without being overly tied to one particular family.
Nannies with own children: if a nanny has their own child and frequently has it with them when working for you, they may work for less money – partly because doing so enables them to keep their own childcare costs low. However, a nanny with their own child is unlikely to be able to commit to looking after your child fulltime or for unexpected, ad-hoc circumstances.
Should you hire a nanny for your child?
Ultimately, your decision whether to hire a nanny will be based on your own particular circumstances as well as the specific needs of your child. However, it can be useful to familiarise yourself with the many benefits before reaching any decision.
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