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If you’re looking into your childcare options, you may have a few questions. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Should You Hire A Nanny Who Doesn’t Know First Aid?
Nanny agencies will have a variety of different nannies for you to choose from. It all depends on what hours you need your nanny to work, and how many days a week you need them. You might even want to consider a live-in nanny if that would work for you.
Nannies need to know a lot. They need to know everything they can about working with and looking after children. Speaking to nanny agencies will give you a good idea of exactly what you should be looking for when you hire a nanny. And, one of the things that you should certainly look for is first aid training.
It is not a legal requirement for a nanny to have this qualification, and you are perfectly entitled to hire a nanny who doesn’t have it. However, it is much better to find a nanny who does have first aid training. It may seem unlikely that anything will happen that would require your nanny to use their first aid skills, but accidents do happen, and knowing first aid can be the difference between a life saved and tragedy.
Not only is it a good idea for nannies to have first aid training, but it is also useful for parents to have this training too. In an emergency, someone on hand with the right first aid training who can administer it effectively can make the difference between life and death.
If your child has specific needs, for example, is dyslexic or wears a hearing aid, you will want a nanny with skills in this area. With regard to the latter, you may want your nanny to take your child to their audiologist or to help with their hearing aid programming. You can learn more online about this.
Should You Provide Petty Cash For Your Nanny?
Nanny agencies have a wide range of nannies to choose from, and they have the experience to ensure that you end up with a perfect match. They are also able to answer any queries you may have about hiring a nanny and what to expect of them and the relationship.
The question of money has always been a tricky one to answer. As a nation, we do tend to be rather reserved when it comes to cash, and that can mean that a nanny might find it difficult to ask for extra money for day-to-day activities. Equally, the employer may also feel awkward about asking for money, and therefore, other than the salary, it is never mentioned. This can leave the nanny out of pocket and the parent wondering whether they should do something. In the end, no one is happy with the situation. Therefore, it is a good idea to leave a regular amount of petty cash for the nanny each week.
This can be used for transport, or to pay for groups and activities. The money should be accounted for with receipts – after all, you would ask any other kind of employee to do exactly that when it came to petty cash. Alternatively, you can reimburse your nanny after they have spent the money. Again, they will need receipts. Whatever you prefer, make sure it is laid out in the contract, so everyone knows what to expect.
Should You Provide Meals For Your Nanny?
Nanny agencies should have a discussion with the parents to find out exactly what and whom they need when it comes to a nanny. After the initial discussion, a number of nannies will be suggested, and interviews can take place. But what happens after you have hired a nanny?
What, for example, should you do about meals for the new employee from the nanny agency? Different parents have different ways of dealing with this issue. Of course, your nanny will need to eat, but whether or not supplying that food is your responsibility depends on how you want to look at it. If you have scoured nanny agencies and finally found one who is suitable for your needs, supplying their food is a good way to keep them happy and show that you appreciate their hard work. You will want them to stay with you as long as possible, but you will also want them to tell others that you are good to work for when they do actually leave. This makes finding a new nanny much easier. And, don’t forget that if you are asking your nanny to prepare a meal for your children each evening – and sometimes at lunchtime and breakfast too – then it is just as easy to suggest that they cook enough for themselves at the same time. The children and nanny can then sit together to eat, which is good for learning manners and social skills, and it also means that your nanny is fed and can continue her work once the meal is over.
