How to find a good nanny

Finding the right nanny for your children isn’t always easy. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to find the right person that suits your family’s needs. Never compromise and make sure you find someone you can trust. Give yourself plenty of time so you can find the right candidate, carry out background checks and contact references. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to find your perfect nanny.

Step one: Identify the job description

The first thing you need to do is identify the type of nanny you need. Talk to your partner or a close relative and discuss what type of nanny you would like. Do you want someone with a formal education in childcare or are experience and maturity more important?

Writing an in-depth job description is very important. You need to address the issues like the expected working hours, responsibilities for the position, they type of characteristics you would like your nanny to have and any certificates or references that they need.

Step two: Find the right candidate

There are three main ways to find a nanny; recommendations from your friends or family, through an agency, or online.

Friends and family should be your first place to look. Let them know you’re looking for someone and let them ask around as well. There is nothing more reassuring than getting a recommendation from someone you trust.

Approaching an agency is another great way to find a nanny. Nanny agencies screen their candidates before representing them and an agency can help you find a nanny that suits your needs and is tailored to your requirements.

Going online is also an option. There are plenty of registered websites with a database of potential nannies in your area. These sites often have biographies, work histories and background checks of the nannies available for you to read.

Step three: Screening

Once you’ve found a selection of suitable candidates, set up interviews with them in your home and find out more about them. Ask the nitty gritty questions you want to know and get a sense of their personality. An important element of the interview can be introducing a potential nanny to your children. This can be either in a formal or informal manner but it is a very good way to gauge how the relationship will work.

After an interview, make sure to check references. Most agencies will have done this process for you but there is no harm in checking up on them yourself. All of the candidates should have passed their working with childrens check, however sometimes things do slip through the system – so make sure to manually check your candidates. The quality of a reference is just as important as having one.

Step four: Set up a trial run

Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few finalists, ask them to come over to your home for a few hours as part of a trial run. This is a great way to observe a nanny’s behaviour and is the best test of how the relationship will work.

Finding the right nanny isn’t always easy and is rarely a straightforward process. The key is not to rush. Take your time and never compromise. Simply follow the steps and you will find a nanny that’s right for you.