There are many avenues where a family can find a nanny. There are well established nanny referral agencies country, wide that will recruit, interview and screen candidates for you to consider. Agencies do a significant amount of tedious work for you, but do so for a hefty fees. If you are looking to find a reputable nanny referral agency, the International Nanny Association (nanny.org) can be a great resource.
Many families and nannies are turning to the internet, looking for "do it yourself" sites. Websites like Find the Best Nanny offer the families a pool of candidates in their area to choose from. Find the Best Nanny is the only internet company founded by an agency expert, Sharon Graff-Radell. Sharon is not only currently the Vice President of the International Nanny Association, but also has been consulting in the nanny agency industry for over 20 years.
Consider the following steps for a productive search. First, you need to determine what kind of care you need. If you are in need of someone more than 30 hours a week you are looking at full time care, and a full time nanny. If you need less than 30 hours, but have set days and times, then you are seeking a permanent part time nanny. The last option is babysitting. Babysitting is just as important as the other options but not necessarily permanent. Whatever the need, the importance of finding the right caregiver is paramount.
After determining the amount of childcare needed sit down and write a job description. The job description should include days of the week, hours, job responsibilities, compensation, as well as candidate qualifications and experience. You should also describe your family dynamics, your childrens needs and individual personalities.
Find the Best Nanny provides professional agency forms to all of its registered users. Using forms for reference checking, interview questions and employment contracts will ensure a safe hiring decision.
More than likely you will do initial screening of the candidates on the phone. The first interview is crucial and will help narrow down your pool of candidates for second interviews. Have paper and pen ready and be prepared to take notes. Ask the nanny to share some information about herself. She may be a little shy at first, so ask open ended questions, be patient and listen. When taking notes, do not just write down what she says, but also write down your thoughts and feelings during the interview.
This will help you with your decision later. Review with the candidate your job description and needs. After everything has been discussed, if you would like to move forward with this applicant, ask her for work related references. Childcare references may include, but are not necessarily limited to past nanny jobs, daycare or teaching positions, volunteer work in group settings (i.e. church or synagogue nurseries) and even temporary or on-going baby-sitting jobs. It is also recommended that you speak with a character reference as well as non-childcare job references.
Keep your eyes and ears open for red flags. Red flags may be gaps in employment, job hopping, not completing jobs or education, being let go from previous positions and frequent moves. Red flags are also physical signs like avoiding eye contact, being late for an interview, crossing arms or not interacting with your children.
After the first interview it is time to call the references. You should call all the references in order to get a clear picture of the candidate. If you are happy with the outcome of your conversations, call the candidate for a second interview.
The second interview is the perfect chance to see how she interacts with your children. Watch and see how she plays with your kids and how they respond to her. See if they warm up to her, if they seem calm around her. These are important signs. Most importantly, trust your parental instincts. You will know which caregiver fits in best with your family.
When you have completed the interviewing process and you feel you have found the best nanny for your family, make her an offer. Write up a contract and have both parties sign the final draft.
Find the Best Nanny recommends that families complete a background check on the provider they hire. This can be done through companies like US Information Search. You may also contact your county police department and ask about a police check and child abuse and neglect screening.
Congratulations, you have found a great caregiver! In order to keep the relationship positive, check in often with your nanny or sitter. Keeping the lines of communication open is the best way to ensure a successful employment relationship.
Debbie Hipp
debbie@findthebestnanny.com
Follow my blog for more in home childcare tips: http://findthebestnanny.blogspot.com/
debbie@findthebestnanny.com
Follow my blog for more in home childcare tips: http://findthebestnanny.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Hipp
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