Busy family life often demands an extra pair of hands. For many families, hiring a nanny is common place. The parents themselves might have had nannies at home when they were young. For other families the idea of a stranger helping with their children is an alien concept.
But regardless of the background, there are many things to consider when hiring a nanny – for the protection of your children, your home and your precious loved ones.
So what should you consider when hiring a nanny?
Package and Conditions
Every family and their individual requirements are unique. From whether they need a full time or part-time, live in or live out, or a nanny with specific skills such as a language, baby skills or special educational needs. Start by considering exactly what it is you need as a family. The more clarity you have, the easier it is to communicate this to others and in turn, find the perfect match.
You should look at global as well as market rates for your nanny. It is important you are realistic with your budgets, and also the standards you require. For example, an au pair is very different to a professional nanny, and the salaries are reflective of this. You need to make your package and conditions attractive, particularly if you want your nanny to stay long term.
Commute Distance and Travel
When you consider hiring a nanny, think about whether they will be live in our out. If you are considering a live-out nanny, you should seriously consider the commute distance they have. It depends of course on the role you are looking to fill. If it is a rota position, and the nanny will live in for the week(s) they cover, then the commute is less important, but if it is a daily role, and the job starts at 7am, if the nanny lives two hours away, their commute becomes impossible. You might also want or need a nanny to travel with you, and you should consider their home situation, and if they have the flexibility to do this. These are good questions to ask at the interview stage.
Specific Skills
When you consider hiring a nanny, you might be looking for this person to have specific skills. For example, a language skill might be important, or skills such as having experience working with newborns. These skills vary from family to family but are equally important. Remember, however, that the more special skills you opt for, make the pool of candidates smaller. So, create a list of non-negotiable skills and then others that you can be more flexible with. For example, the nanny might have to drive due to your location, but if they don’t ski it’s not the end of the world. You want to keep your options open, so try not to limit yourself before you’ve even started!
Flexibility
The most important element of a nanny is their flexibility. Family life is hectic, and can and will change at last minute, and a professional nanny should be willing to accommodate this (within reason). In a recent Tatler article, the magazine discusses how flexibility of a nanny is highly sought after, with many families experiencing the opposite (and in turn creating stress). Flexibility is an important part of the role and commitment to a family, and this is something a professional nanny should pride themselves in.
Length of Commitment
The recruitment process can be stressful, and every family wants a committed nanny who will stay with their family long term. So it’s always important to find a candidate who is willing to commit to a reasonable timeline – for some families this might be a minimum or a year, or others it may be longer. Of course, it can be hard to tell if a candidate is serious about staying long term, so look at the length of their previous roles, and this can be an indication of their length of serious commitment, or the tendency to jump from role to role.
How can Polo & Tweed Help?
Hiring a nanny is an exciting process, as it will ultimately give you the ability to have more time and ease the pressure of family life. However, the recruitment process can be daunting and it’s always easier to work with a professional company as we take the stress out of the process. Polo & Tweed work with clients around the world, helping match the perfect nanny to their family. Whatever your requirements are, we would be delighted to help. Why not get in touch with us here and one of our lovely consultants will be happy to chat through your requirements.