What You Need To Know

Abracadabra understands that employing someone in your home or to look after your children is a big responsibility. Thus we have implemented the required measures and will endeavor to provide you with the relevant tools to put your mind at ease.

Children’s Safety
All nannies and babysitters at Abracadabra have current First Aid certificates and have at least 2 years experience with children.

Clients Original Testimonials
Can provide upon request.

Advantages and Disadvantages of hiring a nanny
Advantages:

• More flexibility in your child’s activities and development.
• Your children will not be being disturbed by a change of an environment or routine.
• Siblings and sisters can stay together.
• An important one to one relationship can be established between the nanny and your children.
• Working arrangements for busy parents can be completely flexible to suit their needs.

Disadvantages:

• Learning to trust the nanny’s actions in your absence can be difficult
• Costs for a single child, can be expensive.
• Responsibility for all financial and insurance matters must be undertaken by the parent
• Changing a nanny can be more difficult to change than other childcare options.
  

Tips for interviewing nannies
Planning the Interview:
We recommend that the whole family is present for the interview. The children are not required to stay for the entire time however, this is extremely important to see the interaction between the children and prospective nanny

The Structure of the Interview:
A formal structure will ensure everything is covered and lead to a more productive interview. Try to make the nanny feel comfortable and explain how the interview will be structured to give the nanny the most opportunity to respond to your questions confidently.

• Talk about your family and children.
• Tell the nanny about your requirements
• Ask the nanny to tell you about herself with reference to their resume
• Encourage the nanny to ask questions.
  

Suggested Questions for the Nanny:
Use open-ended questions that will prompt informative answers, like What? When? Why? How? Where? Or tell me about, avoid yes no answers.
Examples:

• Why did you decided to become a nanny?
• What do you like most about caring for children?
• Given our children’s age and development, what sort of activates would you involve them with?
• How would you plan a typical day?
• Do you have any experience in toilet training?
• Do you have experience with preparing a baby’s bottle including sterilisation.
  

Discipline techniques should be outlined by the parent in the interview so that any differences of opinion can be cleared up.

Reviewing the Nanny's CV:
It’s important to ask the nanny to describe her previous childcare experience. You may consider asking questions in relation to each position e.g. Why did you leave?

Read through the nanny's written references, and raise any questions you may have in relation to those references. If the nanny has childcare qualifications, ask her to describe the course – how long it was for, whether she studied full time or part time, and what the course covered. In particular ask whether it involved her doing work experience and placements either with families or in nurseries.

Questions from the Nanny:
Encourage the nanny to ask questions about you and the family set up, specific details about the jobs, routines, hours etc. Do not be surprised if nannies have many questions to ask.

Bringing the Interview to a Close:
When the interview is over and that you have covered everything, bring the interview to a close. You will need to let the nanny know what the next steps are.

If you want to offer her the job it is worth making this clear now as she will probably be attending other interviews therefore you may lose the opportunity of employing her. If she does want to take up the position then you can discuss the nature of the contract together.

However if you are unsure and want to see other nannies, then tell her that you will be contacting Abracadabra after the interview and that the agency will contact her to let her know the outcome.