employing a nanny - advice needed please

jclm_2

we have a 2 year old and a 10 month old who has special needs. nursery won't take the 10 month old (because of his special needs) and i need to return to work in 4 weeks.

i think it would be best if i got a nanny to look after the 2 kiddies. it will cost a fortune to hire a nanny, as we will pay her tax/NI/holidays etc. my job is only temporary and finishes in the summer but i have to return or else i would have to return all the maternity money.

we have advertised on gumtree and have found a wonderful woman but she is wanting £8 per hour (she doesn't have any qualifications but has a bit of experience with children, but she seems confident). she has requested that we get liaibility insurance (in case she has an accident in our house) and we will probably pay for Nanny Tax (a company which organises the payment etc for the nanny as it is so complex and time consuming). I would like to pay with childcare vouchers but getting the nanny registered with OFSTED would cost another £100 minimum...

any advice about this would be great as i do not know what to do

pesky85

Have you written up a contract? I got help by googling, but it covered everything from sick pay, to warnings + dismissal, to hours per week etc. I have 2 young children close in age, it worked out cheaper for me to have a nanny than to send them to nursery (I was paying £1700 pm nursery fees) and no childminder had space to keep them together.

Our nanny was quite cheap, she had worked in a nursery previously but was not OFSTED registered.

I think you've covered everything....

Nicki

We've always found our nannies via agencies rather than directly advertising because they can also organise CRB checks and will vet references too (though we do double check references). If you used an agency, you could specify that you needed someone Ofsted registered. Alternatively you could advertise again on Gumtree for someone who is registered.

Another alternative is to try to find a childminder who will look after the children together in her own house and isn't phased by your 10 month old's needs. Childminders are Ofsted registered and have their own insurance, and as they are self employed you don't have to pay tax, national insurance, statutory sick pay or maternity pay.

The final alternative is to approach your employer and see whether you can negotiate leaving without having to pay back all your enhanced maternity pay. Even if you end up paying some of it back, you may be better off than you would be going back to work for 4 months with childcare costs and all your work expenses such as travel. If £8 is the net rate you pay your nanny, and you are doing a 40 hour week, her weekly tax and national insurance bill on top will be £79 per week which soon adds up.

Kayalana99

Have you tried Childcare.co.uk?

They advertise anything from Nannies to childminders...only problem is thiers a stupid fee to pay for you to contact them but most of the people looking for children to look after pay it and then if they contact you first you can do it for free (although I found one on thier I liked then facebooked the name!! lol )

ema_o

Just wondered if your partner could investigate taking some parental leave in order for you to return to work - that might be worth investigating.
Also do you have to return full time or could you negotiate part time?
Would also suggest childcare.co.uk to see if you could find a childminder who would take them both - may work out cheaper and certainly less stressful than employing someone yourself.

choccymoose

It may be worth contacting your local children's information service, they will have a list of childcare providers who are a.ready registered and have experience. If your 10 mth olds needs are such that a nursery can't take him, are you comfortable that a lady with limited experience could cope. Would you be able to relax? Just something to consider

claire16c

There are a couple of other companies other than nanny tax so check them out as they all do the same thing, and check their prices. They can advise you on insurance. The nanny should also have her own insurance. You can get her to join the voluntary ofsted scheme as long as she's got a paediatric first aid certificate. Also clarify if she means £8 net or gross.

BillyB

claire16c wrote: »

The nanny should also have her own insurance. You can get her to join the voluntary ofsted scheme as long as she's got a paediatric first aid certificate. Also clarify if she means £8 net or gross.

As the person you're looking at isnt qualified, she would have to do the common core skills as well if she wanted to register on the voluntary part of the OFSTED register, plus Public Liability insurance (about £70) and a Paediatric first aid certificate. Plus the cost to register with OFSTED is £103 on its own.

Bluemeanie_2

Hiw much maternity leave are you talking about? Have you done the sums that its worth paying out all this childcare rather than pay it back?

BillyB

Also, I just remembered.. I know there are a few companies who deal with payroll etc for nannies and employers, I think there are a few cheaper ones, so have a look around.

hardpressed

Do you have a Mencap Special Needs Nursery in your area? I used to volunteer in one and we took children who had physical special needs as well.