Last Updated on August 18, 2024 by Ali Hamza
(That Some Wished They Had Known Before)
Majority of people who decide to have children know that having children would introduce them to all new types of experiences. Definitely, one of the greatest challenges is to achieve a work-life balance. To be honest, it is difficult enough to achieve it even without having children and that is why it makes sense that with a child, it just takes a lot of effort and extra help.
While you are pregnant, you are reading all the articles on asking for help from governess agencies and all types of different websites specifically designed to help you in your new role. All of the sudden, things seem much easier and you start to think for yourself that finding your “the one” nanny will not be that difficult.
If you’re about to become a parent (or know someone who is), you will not know everything immediately and that is normal, try not to be too hard on yourself. You will need the strength to take care of the child and later on get back to work.
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Nanny Numbers – What You Should Know?
In the beginning, you think it is easy, like in movies. However, these days you need to pay attention to everything. For example, when you add 30-40 minute additional commuting time and the penalties associated with being late for pick-ups, all of a sudden, you will notice that there are tons of things you will need to pay attention to.
For some of the new parents, it will be easier to accommodate a live-in arrangement. Nannies who prefer that option usually advertise their services for as little as £8-£9 an hour, taking home about £384-£432 for a 48-hour week and that does not sound so scary.
However, In the nanny world, hourly rates are never what they seem, all adverts are on net terms, meaning any law-abiding employer needs to take care of the numbers by themselves and it is not the easiest thing in the world. What you can do to make your life a bit easier is to hire HQ London governess agency and some of the tough work can be done for you. In the end, just have in mind that even after you’ve calculated the gross tax, you will be liable for all the insurance contributions.
Pay Attention to Add-Ons
The financial hit is often huge and some parents openly question the fairness of the UK’s tax framework, because they are paying nannies from their already taxed income. In addition, some parents pay for the nanny’s holiday pay and for substitute childcare on top.
Not to forget, you should not be surprised that women who have chosen to become professional childcarers often want to have children of their own. When your nanny becomes pregnant, as an employer, you are obliged to offer all statutory maternity benefits.
You will be expected to manage the payments, the costs, and the admin of finding a replacement nanny — and hold the old nanny’s job open. Parents are also responsible for recording and processing overtime payments and babysitting time, so be ready to think about everything and do not hesitate to ask for help from UK governess agencies that can make your life easier.
Qualifications Needed For Being A Nanny In The UK
You need to be aware that nannies are not required to hold any formal childcare qualifications. Still, more parents these days really pay attention to the ones who have taken the time and initiative to study for a qualification. This type of thing really makes you stand out since the nanny market is very competitive.
Of course, someone who has no qualifications but plenty of experience with children may also be a good candidate. It is a good thing to always have a probation period since even if they do not have qualifications, they can be natural talents and have exactly what you need in that sense of nurturing and kind qualities.
However, if you do decide that training is a priority, no one will judge you, you just want the best for your child. In that case, pay attention to well-known awards, such as:
- a BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) national certificate or diploma
- a CACHE (Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education) certificate or diploma
- an NNEB (National Nursery Examination Board) certificate
- an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification)
Of course, training is important but listen to your intuition also. It is the best when someone has it all of course, but sometimes you need to pay attention to some other qualities too.
Should Nanny Be Registered?
To be honest, that is totally up to you. Nannies who decide to join the voluntary register have to meet certain criteria though. These include a basic understanding of children’s needs, dealing with emergencies, and background and criminal checks should also be in order. If this is important to you, make sure to include it in your job advert for the position.
So, to repeat, nannies do not have to register with Ofsted. However, if they choose to do it voluntarily, this means that parents may be able to get help with childcare costs. Here is the applying link that you can always forward to them.
Top Qualities Of A Good Nanny
It would be awesome if your nanny shares your family values and your approach to care and discipline. Time management when your child plays, being an excellent cook- all those things are important of course. Still, there are some universal qualities that all nannies should have. A genuine love of children is the most important one since it is not a secret that you should really love what you are doing in order to do it properly.
Being reliable and committed is next on the list since you need someone you can rely on at any time. Communication and imagination are important for your child’s development. It is awesome that from the very beginning nanny stimulates speech activities, creativity, etc.
Last but not least is definitely Flexibility. We live in a very hectic period and from time to time, you’ll need to know that you can ask your nanny to work a little earlier or later so that you can be at peace with yourself and your work.
All in all, listen to your gut and your intuition, but also your brain since you will need it for the tax problematics and for all kinds of add-ons and different things that can be an obstacle between you and your perfect nanny. It will not be easy, but just invest some tie and it will be worth it.
AuthorBio: Anne Harris is an HR specialist working for londongoverness.com. She recruits nannies, governesses and other childcare professionals, ensuring top-notch services for parents worldwide. In her free time she likes reading about education, and children’s welfare, as well as visiting sports events.
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