- Salary - The salary you're offering.
- Hours - The hours you want the nanny to work.
- Sole charge or supervised - Will the job be sole charge and, if not, will you be around a lot of the day.
- Duties - What her duties will be and what you expect of her.
- Activities - Whether your child has any planned daily activities.
- Overtime - If there will be overtime or babysitting required and the notice you will give for both. Also the hourly rate for these services.
- Notice - What notice you require and what notice you will give for termination of the job.
- Holiday - How many days holiday you will be providing a year and when they will be taken.
- Car - Whether you're providing a car, if it's available for home use, and if you'll be paying for the petrol, tax and insurance.
- Kitty money - How much kitty money you will provide per week for activities.
- Sick pay - How many days sick pay you give, and for how long you will pay full salary.
- Dietary requirements - If your child has any special dietary requirements or allergy.
- Maternity leave - If you're planning to have more children.
- Accommodation - If you're looking for a live-in nanny, what accommodation you are providing.
- Curfews and visitors - If you're looking for a live-in nanny, what your rules are about curfews and off duty visitors.
- Dress code - If you require your nanny to dress a certain way, or if you wish her to just be comfortable and be able to mess around with the kids.
- Second interview - If you want the nanny to come for a second interview and spend some time with the kids.
Questions to ask when interviewing
Here are a few important questions to ask when you are interviewing nannies. If you're interviewing a lot of nannies it's usually best not to rely on your memory but to take a note of each girl's answer as you go along. If you're concerned that you may mix them up ask permission to take Polaroid photographs and pin them to sheets of paper along with their answers!
- Last job - Why did you leave your last job and how long were you there for?
- Qualifications - What qualifications, if any, do you have?
- CV - Can I see a CV and can you explain any gaps in it?
- References - Have you brought some written references? Can I have at least two referees addresses and phone numbers who I can call or write to myself? Note: If you are writing to referees ask them to include a photo of the nanny if possible, so you can check it's her! And do phone as well since people are more inclined to be truthful when they are speaking to you. You should be able to dectect from their voice if something is amiss. Bear in mind that it can be difficult to criticise someone in a letter in case the writer is seen to be slandering the nanny.
- Criminal Convictions Certificate - Do you have a Criminal Convictions Certificate? (Police check)
- Experience - Do you have experience with children the same age as mine?
- Activities - What activities and projects will you do with my children? What arts and crafts do you plan? Are your favourite activities free or expensive?
- Smoker - Are you a smoker, and if so will you only smoke off duty?
- Situations - What would you do in this or that situation? Make up some unusual scenarios to test her.
- Swimming - Do you swim and will you be taking my children swimming?
- Hobbies - What are your hobbies and do you play any musical instruments?
- Stay - How long do you usually stay in posts and are you looking for a long or short-term position?
- Discipline - What methods of discipline do you use and would you ever smack?
- Live-in post - Have you ever worked as a live-in nanny before? Do you think you might be homesick?
- Live-in visitors - Do you have a boyfriend?
- Live-out post - Do you live far away for commuting to work? How will you travel to work?
- Cooking - Can you cook some simple children's meals? Are you a vegetarian or other?
- Babysitting - Will you be willing to babysit?
- Driving - How long have you held your licence? Is it clean? Would you mind taking me out in the car to check that you are a safe driver?
- Animals - Do you have any pet allergies and do you like animals? Would you be willing to walk the dog?
- First Aid - Do you have a first aid certificate? If not, are you willing to get one before starting work?
- Children - Do you have any children of your own? Will you be bringing them to work?
- Nanny Share - The job is nanny share - how do you feel about that? Or, how would you feel if the job changed and it became a nanny share?
- Duties - I may want you to do ironing for the children, get some food shopping and so on. Would this be OK with you?
- Handover - Do you object to a handover period with either my previous nanny or myself?
- Second interview - Are you willing to return for another interview and to meet the kids?
