How did you find your nanny?

[Finolisma]

Hi

I'm about to embark on employing a nanny and have been flabbergasted by the placement fee charged by agencies. I don't know whether it's really necessary to go through an agency to find a good nanny, and would appreciate advice on how others found theirs. Also any other tips on how to make the whole thing work well would be appreciated. I don't mean how to handle tax etc (I've read lots of previous posts about nannytax etc) - more how to make sure that the relationship is successful, the children happy and stimulated, etc.

By the way if anyone knows someone who's looking for a nanny post at the moment, I'm after someone for 36 hours a week (Tuesday to Friday), to look after my 1-year-old and nearly 4-year-old sons.

thanks

[womanofdulwich]

simply childcare is a really good website, and cheap. plus dulwich village newsagents, library, notices in childrens shop windows.

[Vickster]

I second Simply Childcare. They have a pack you can buy which will answer loads of your questions, and make doing it without an agency seem pretty easy.

[candj]

I third Simply Childcare as we've just found a lovely part-time nanny and their website is easy to use. We have used Gumtree successfully in the past, but now it doesn't seem to have an abundance of nannies as before.

You certainly don't need to go through an agency if you take the time to interview and do the work yourself.

Here is a good thread to help you a bit more.

Best of luck,

-C

[cbeebies]

I have used Gumtree and Simply Childcare to recruit nannies on two separate occasions. You get many more replies through Gumtree but a lot of them turn out to be not suitable. Having said that Gumtree came up trumps both times

Good luck in your search

[mrs.lotte]

Another vote for simply childcare. Also this forum seems to have lots of people advertising their own nannies who they no longer need! However my wonderful fab nanny (def not up for grabs) came to me via an advert I put in fourways chemist, Herne Hill; she was ex-Nelly's nursery and I think it's quite common for nursery staff to move into nannying so that might be another source...

I really dont think that there is any need to pay agency fees; personally I would have wanted to check references and confirm the CRB check myself anyway so not sure what you are paying for.

Good luck

[anna_r]

Another vote for simply childcare. The nanny we chose (I interviewed 8) was found through it.

[Sqiggles]

simply childcare, gumtree and personal recommendations. Ask all your friends with nannies to ask them if they have any friends looking for a job. All these mean more work than a agency (we got so many replies on gumtree that I had to be very careful to have folders for definite nos and possibles). Try to speak to potentials before wasting time meeting them in person - and check that they are happy with hours/days/ages of children/ location before you set up an interview.

Agencies come into there on if you are very short of time, looking for a temporary nanny, or you need someone urgently. But otherwsie it is a lot of money.

[SteveT]

The Lady magazine.