Nannies
Nannying can be a wonderful career for the dedicated childcarer. It is the ultimate position of trust for a parent to hand over their children to a third party, and no more so than the mother returning to work for the first time.
Nannies are supporting children at key formative stages of their lives and in many happy cases remain in contact with their client families for years to come.
If you're a parent looking for a nanny, please tell us about your childcare requirements. Taking on a nanny to care for your child is a big step, so we will want to speak to you in order to better understand the kind of person that will best suit you and your family.
At County Nannies we value all our childcarers and place equal importance on our Nannies’ requirements as well as those of the parents. We also provide clear guidelines to our client families regarding the Nanny’s role so that both parties understand that this is a professional working relationship. (Types of Childcarers - Nannies)
We believe that the key to a successful Nanny placement lies with an accurate assessment of what you are looking for out of the job. Whether sole or shared care; full or part time; temporary or permanent – we are happy to work to your specific brief.
During your interview with us, we will advise you of the realistic options open to you and give you the benefit of our advice - based on both current market conditions, and our experience with the many Nannies for whom we have made successful placements and who come back to us time and again.
We place nannies in private households in Kent and throughout the South East of England.
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REGISTERING WITH COUNTY NANNIES
The simplest way to register yourself with us is by completing and submitting our Nannies Registration Form. To access this please click here.
You can also contact us by telephone; or email to make an appointment to be interviewed at our office in Kent. It is essential that we meet you so that we can best assess what it is you are looking for whilst also giving you an honest and realistic opinion on options available to you.
Please bring an up to date CV; proof of identity (passport or driving licence);original certificates of qualifications gained and written references with contact telephone numbers. If you have previously been police checked please bring your Enhanced Disclosure document with you.
At interview you will be asked to complete an application form outlining details about yourself and your career background.
Once you are registered with us we will contact you with details of any jobs we feel may be of interest to you. If you wish to pursue one of our jobs we will arrange all interviews for you.
INTERVIEWS
There is no reason to be daunted by the prospect of an interview. Think of them as structured discussions about your qualifications; work experience and personal background. Try and relax when answering questions; reply truthfully and don't worry about trying to give the interviewer the answer you think they wish to hear.
Remember they are only human and are probably feeling quite nervous and vulnerable themselves. They are trying to choose the person who will be one of the most important people in their children's lives other than themselves. In many cases, it will be the first time they have left their children alone with somebody other than direct family.
Whilst you are not applying for an office job, do remember that first impressions count. A suit and briefcase are not necessary, but a smart, stylish appearance is going to give out a good message to any future employer. If you take care of yourself you will seem a more likely candidate to take good care of their children.
Even if you are a recent college leaver, do bring a typed CV. Don't just list college placements - describe what your typical duties were. If you do babysitting regularly, ask the parents involved if you can give their name and number as a potential referees. Bring original documentation for any qualifications gained.
Whilst the employer is likely to lead the interview, do remember that this meeting is also about your choice and your career.
Come prepared with some questions e.g. "Have you employed a nanny before?" "Do the children have fixed routines/set bedtimes/food preferences or allergies?"
"Are you happy for me to organize their week or is there a set timetable of organized activities for them?" "Do you want a Nanny diary kept?" "Do any of your friends have nannies and if so would you be happy for me to take your children out with them for joint outings?"
If the children are present during all or part of the interview, behave as you normally would around young children wishing to get attention. Even if a traditional interview format is being attempted, remember that by focusing on the children you are instantly demonstrating your childcaring skills.
The first interview is your opportunity to find out whether you are fundamentally interested in the job; do you like the children? Do you feel you can work for the parents? Do you feel you have a good understanding of their expectations of a nanny?
Nitty-gritty detail is usually best left to the second interview. Be honest with the employer and explain that you would like to take this opportunity to cover quite a bit of ground in order to avoid any misunderstandings later.
Are you clear on the hours and days to be worked? Is regular babysitting expected, if so, when?
If they are wishing you to use their car to drive the children, is this car also for your personal use?
If you are using your own car, will they pay mileage? (You will also need to ensure that your car is insured for business use.)
Are there any basic house rules that they would like to cover with you?
You may wish to negotiate directly with the employers regarding your terms and conditions; alternatively County Nannies can do this for you. It can sometimes be less awkward if a third party is negotiating for you. Do not accept any permanent job without having discussed a proposed contract of employment. (Click here for more info on Nanny Contracts & Paying Your Nanny).
Any new job needs a settling in period and this is never more true than when you are working for someone in the privacy of their own home. A mother employing a nanny for the first time may feel a little uncertain as to how and when she should devolve the responsibility to the nanny.
Working mothers in particular may feel guilt for leaving their children in someone else's care - a professional Nanny will be sensitive to this and be able to reassure the mother of her/his childcaring capabilities whilst reaffirming the mother's relationship with the children in her presence.
Honest open working relationships usually work the best. Little things that bother you can quickly build up into bigger issues if they are not discussed.
Whilst you don't want to test the temperature of a working relationship every five minutes - either raise the issue casually at an appropriate juncture, or ask your employer for a convenient moment to chat about it.
Try not to broach a problem as soon as your employer walks through the door - this will only give the impression that you have been agitating about it all day to the detriment of the children.
You are also welcome to ring County Nannies for advice on a strictly confidential basis; if it is appropriate and you would like us to do so, we can also speak to your employer about a problem that needs resolving.
Nannying is a job like any other and your time off should be exactly that. Even if you are living in, make it clear in the nicest possible way that weekends or evenings etc are when your private time starts. This does not mean however that you should feel that you must remain closeted away in your bedroom, or that you have to go out every evening.
Equally it is essential that you respect the privacy of your employers' personal or business affairs. Don't be tempted to gossip to your nanny circle about your employers - whilst you may only be engaging in what you believe to be harmless chit chat; these conversations can often be reported back in a distorted way resulting in an unpleasant feeling of mistrust between the nanny and their employer.
As nanny to your employers' children you have an unique role in the family's life - like all jobs there will be good days and bad but fundamentally you will hopefully find your new job to be stimulating and rewarding.
When you have been for an interview, please let us know your feedback even if you are not keen on the job because it will give us a better understanding to help you find the right one. If you are interested in the job and the employer feels the same way, we will organize the second interview for you. At job offer stage you are welcome to negotiate directly with the employer or we can do this.
