Finding the right nanny for you: important questions you need to ask
Hiring a nanny and inviting someone into your home to work with your family is a big decision - so it’s only natural that you will want to make sure you find the perfect fit.
The right nanny can make a hugely positive impact on your family’s life: from their relationship with your children and the impact they will have on their early years to potentially helping you with tasks around the house, hiring a nanny is a positive step.
Here at Hummingbird Home Staff, we’ve got over 25 years of experience in nanny recruitment and pride ourselves on our ability to match the right nannies and home support staff to our wonderful families - so, if you’ve got questions on how to find the right nanny, relax: we’ve got it covered!
Read on to discover everything you need to know about how to find the right nanny for you and your family, important questions you need to ask to make sure you choose the best person for the job, and how nanny agencies can help to take the stress out of the interview process.
What are your needs?
But first, let’s take things back a step. Before you get to the stage of meeting with and interviewing potential nannies, firstly you need to know what it is you are looking for.
For example, do you need a full-time nanny, a part time nanny, a night nanny, or even a live-in nanny? Beyond childcare, do you require them to do anything else, such as housekeeping, cooking, or running errands? And are there any specific skills or qualifications you are looking for?
Here a Hummingbird, we work with nannies providing a range of different services and expertise, such as:
- Full time and part time nannies
- Live in and live out nannies
- Holiday nannies
- After school nannies
- Nanny housekeepers
- Maternity nurses
- Night nannies
Once you’ve decided what it is you’re looking for in your nanny, it’s time to begin your search!
Important questions nanny agencies ask that you should too!
Questions about their experience and qualifications
Understanding your nanny’s work history helps you gauge their experience, the types of families and children they’ve previously worked with, and ultimately decide whether they are the right fit for your family. Key questions to ask include:
How long have you worked as a nanny?
Can you tell me about your previous nanny positions?
What is your educational background and any relevant training?
Are you trained in first aid and CPR?
Do you have a valid CRB/DBS check?
Are you Ofsted registered?
Are you on the childcare register?
Questions about their childcare approach
When it comes to parenting, every family is different and has their own approach. When it comes to choosing a nanny, it’s important that you find someone who aligns with your philosophy and shares your beliefs on how to handle different attitudes and behaviour. Consider asking:
What is your approach to discipline and setting boundaries?
What do you think are the qualities needed to be a good nanny?
What are your favourite activities to do with children?
How do you handle tantrums and difficult behaviour?
Practical and logistical questions
As we said above, it’s essential that you find the right nanny for your family’s unique needs, whether that’s a live-in nanny or someone who can help with after-school care. You also need to outline from the very beginning if you expect your nanny to help with things such as cooking and cleaning. As such, you should ask questions such as:
What is your availability and flexibility regarding hours?
Are you comfortable with additional responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning?
What is your approach to planning meals for a week?
Are you looking for a live-in or live-out role?
Do you have transport?
Personality and right-fit questions
As a specialist nanny recruitment agency, for us, this is the most important set of questions. After all, your nanny will essentially become an extension of your family unit for the duration of their time with you, so it’s vital that they are the perfect match for you and your family. Here’s what to ask:
What do you enjoy most about being a nanny?
Have you always wanted to be a nanny?
What activities do you typically engage in with children?
Can you describe a challenging situation you faced in a previous role and how you handled it?
What qualities do you look for in a family to decide if they are a good fit?
What are your hobbies?
Questions about salary and remuneration
Finally, you need to have an open conversation about things such as salary and benefits right from the beginning, to ensure there are no misunderstandings further down the line:
What are your salary and benefits expectations?
What is your notice period at your current role?
Should you need to work extra hours, what is your additional rate?
Can you provide references from previous families?
How working with experienced nanny agencies can help
Finding the right nanny for your family is no mean feat, but by asking the questions above, you will be able to get a good feel for your potential nanny and uncover their experience, skills, personality, and whether or not they are compatible with your family’s needs.
However, if you want to be completely sure that you find the right person for the job, it makes sense to work with a trusted nanny agency such as Hummingbird.
With 25 years of experience, we have access to some of the best nannies out there. Plus, at Hummingbird Home Staff, we understand the delicate process of matching nannies to the right families, which is why we take a holistic approach to recruitment.
We’ll take the time to get to know you, your family, your values, and your needs, to make sure we find the perfect candidate with the right skills and experience for you. What’s more, we’ll also take care of the sourcing, selection, and interview process, taking the stress out of your hands and making the experience as seamless as possible.
If you’d like to learn more about our services or how we can assist you in your nanny search, contact us today to have a chat with our team. We look forward to hearing from you!
