Forget Mary Poppins types, uniforms and prams. Nannies now come in many guises. The Daycare Trust takes you through the process of recruiting live-in, day or even shared nannies.

Nannies are employed by parents to look after children in their own home. They offer a personal type of childcare, tailored to the needs of the family.

Nannies need careful recruitment. There are no legal requirements for a person applying for a job as a nanny, and nannies are not registered or checked by anybody other than you the employer.

You must satisfy yourself that the nanny is safe, competent and has a suitable personality. Always interview potential nannies, and take up references. You can also draw up a contract to formalise the arrangement you make with your nanny.

Nannies work in different ways:

Live-in nannies live with the family they are working for. You will need to provide them with free accommodation and meals. Your home will also be the nanny’s home. Fixed hours and duties need to be set, although your nanny may do some babysitting by arrangement.

Daily nannies come to your home every day to look after your child. Babysitting may be arranged for the evenings, in exchange for extra pay.

With a nanny share, two families share the costs of a single nanny, who looks after children from both families. Local branches of the National Childbirth Trust (Head office: Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace, London W3 6NH. Tel: 0181 992 8637) hold nanny-share registers, as do some nanny agencies. If more than two families share a nanny, the nanny needs to be registered by the local authority and receive health and safety checks. A contract between the nanny and the nanny-share family is advisable.

Mother’s helps are employed by parents to help run the home and look after the children. They usually live near the family, and come in for a set number of hours per week. They are not usually trained, but they may be experienced.

Tax and National Insurance for nannies

You are required to deduct Tax and National Insurance from your nanny’s gross pay. This is done through the Inland Revenue PAYE (Pay as You Earn) scheme. If you are paying your nanny less than the ‘lower earnings limit’ you do not need to make payments on her behalf but she can still pay voluntary NI contributions.

• Telephone your local Inland Revenue PAYE tax office request Employers Control Section explain who you are employing and ask for the Simplified Deduction Scheme tell them the amount you expect to pay: check it is above the ‘lower earnings limit’ you will be sent a tax office reference number and a New Employers Starter Pack
• If your nanny has already started request provisional figures over the phone; you need to pay tax and NI from the beginning of her employment

What about maternity and sick pay? You will receive leaflets about these from the Inland Revenue and there is a helpline for employers - 0345 143143

Finding out more about nannies

You can recruit a nanny, au pair or mother’s help using a specialist recruitment agency who will charge you a fee. The fee is usually the equivalent of several weeks pay for the nanny. The agency should give you a shortlist of nannies to interview. The agency cannot confirm the quality of the nannies - that is up to you. You will need to check references again, although part of the service is for the agency to check them for you.

Alternatively you can advertise in your neighbourhood or in a magazine like ‘The Lady’ or ‘Nursery World’. Local National Childbirth Trust magazines also advertise nanny shares.

Put a deadline date on your advert and use replies to your advert to draw up a shortlist. Invite at least two or three nannies to interview and make sure you ask for references and follow them up.

You can get more advice on employing a nanny from
PANN (Professional Association of Nursery Nurses)
2 St James Court, Friar Gate, Derby, Derbyshire DE11BT.
Tel: 01332 372337