| Nannies – expensive or cost-effective?
We’re wary of child-minders who chain smoke, feel nervous leaving a baby at a noisy nursery, and our mothers are too busy trekking round Nepal. Henrietta Otley considers employing a nanny I have two children and work freelance, but the daily round trip to the child-minder for the baby, and nursery for the three year old, doesn’t leave me enough time (or energy) to fit much work in during the day. I fantasise about being able to leave the house in the morning, handing over my half-dressed, un-breakfasted children to a punctual, smiling nanny. So when I stumbled across The Nanny Handbook (Karen House and Louise Sheppard – Simon and Schuster £12.99) in my local bookshop, I thought I could at least put my fantasy to the test, and see if this is a realistic childcare option for someone like me. Karen House and Louise Sheppard are management consultants and, between them, they’ve employed ten nannies, so they ought to know what’s what. What does a nanny cost? Finance is, rightly, top of the list of things to consider. A recent survey by Nannytax, the nannies’ payroll service, showed that they’re expensive. While it’s absolutely right that whoever looks after your children should be paid a decent wage, you want to make sure your earnings after tax aren’t completely eclipsed by the cost of your childcare. The average salary for a full-time nanny in the Home Counties is nearly £18,000; in London this rises to £22,000 plus perks, which can mean a car or even membership of the local gym. Elsewhere, nannies can expect a salary of around £15,000. Is it really a nanny you want? A nanny becomes more cost-effective, the more children you have; but some people just aren’t cut out for employing someone who’s based in their house. My friend Helen, a barrister with two small daughters, has given her nanny notice and is going back to child minders and nurseries, because she can’t cope with someone doing things differently in her home. For reasons she can’t articulate, it’s fine for her children to be elsewhere watching television and eating crisps, but she can’t bear to have them doing it at home. If you suspect you’re a control freak, you must learn to delegate responsibility to your nanny, or you’re going to make everybody’s life miserable.
Nanny shares Many parents share a nanny very successfully with another family. It’s important to discuss details in depth with the other parents involved, and try to match yourself with people who have a similar approach to bringing up children. Karen House and Louise Sheppard say that, in their experience, this arrangement works best between friends rather than acquaintances. Live in or live out? This really depends on what you can afford, the size of your house, and how highly you value your privacy. While a live-in nanny is on site and on hand when you need her, it’s important for her and for you to have a clear understanding about what time is your time, and what time is hers for herself. Finding a nanny Think long and hard about the qualities and duties you want a nanny to fulfil. It’s a good idea to make a list. When things go wrong, it’s often because employer and employee have different expectations, and haven’t been clear with each other from the outset. Karen House suggests trying to find someone whose skill set compliments your own; she’s eternally grateful to the nanny who turned her sons into little artists, as she has no creative tendencies whatsoever.
Agencies make the job of finding a nanny easier, but they can be expensive; some charge a small finding fee, and others ask for a percentage of the nanny’s first year’s salary. There are now quite a few websites, some of which are free, where you can advertise for nannies or search a database of candidates. See: Interviewing Vet applicants over the phone before inviting a select few round for an interview. When they come, try to get them to play with your children so that you can see them in action. Pay attention to your gut feelings about people. The most important thing is to be convinced that your children will be safe with the nanny, that she’ll establish a good relationship with them, and they’ll have fun together. You must check all references for any nanny you’re thinking of employing Phone all previous employers and check thoroughly. Karen House unearthed information about nannies who had stolen, flirted with husbands, gossiped about the family and even tormented the children.
Taxing matters Don’t forget that if you employ a nanny, you’re responsible for paying her tax and national insurance. The paperwork this involves puts some people off, but Karen House and Louise Sheppard estimate that the process takes about 30 minutes every quarter. If you need help, there’s an employers help line for tax and national insurance queries: 0845 714 3143. Once you’ve found her, how do you keep her? It seems the key to a happy and enduring nanny-parent relationship is communication. This starts with a clear and realistic contract. Key points to include in the terms and conditions:
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