winning work as a nanny – Page 2

BAPN

Nannyjob is pleased to partner with BAPN, the No 1 Nanny Membership Association in the UK.

This article is provided by BAPN.

As the No 1 in the UK, we are proud of what we do and will continue to build on our reputation – that of delivering a high standard of services and benefits to our members. We will continue to work in partnership with highly respected companies within the childcare and early years sector, making sure that nannies are no longer the invisible professionals.

BAPN is a proud partner of Nannyjob. Learn more about BAPN at www.bapn.org.uk

The BAPN you see today isn’t a ‘New BAPN’, it’s more a grownup BAPN, changing with the times, developing to meet the needs of a more discerning, sophisticated nanny who quite rightly expects so much more than social get togethers or signposting to help, advice and support. They’re busier than ever before and they favour having everything in one place; to know where to go to for quick, reliable, trustworthy employment support, advice, discounted products and services they can afford.

BAPN hasn’t changed its remit, set up all those years ago, we’ve always offered high quality support and services. However, the most significant addition we have introduced, is our personal representation cover for when things go wrong.

Being a nanny can be thrilling and the most rewarding job you’ll ever get to do. However, caring for someone else’s children can leave you extremely vulnerable, you can feel isolated at times and unsure of your facts be it a childcare issue or regarding your employment rights. A Nanny might find themselves facing an accusation of some kind or with a battle on their hands to recover unpaid salary or wrongful deductions for example. Whether a Nanny needs a second opinion, some reassuring advice or requires support and personal representation, wherever they are in the UK, BAPN can now act on their behalf. We can now be there, in person, fighting their corner. Nannies tell us that it is this addition to the array of member benefits that has made them look again at BAPN and to join us.

It’s been an extremely busy 6 months and I’m delighted with what we’ve been able to achieve recently. We’ve more than quadrupled the discounted benefits available to members and we’re particularly proud that this includes much needed Health Care Benefits for nannies.

We’re also proud to be offering International Affiliate Membership to British nannies working abroad and we’re hopeful that this will enable us to further develop our overseas community, going some way towards tackling the isolation that often comes with working in a new country. International Affiliate Membership is also available to overseas nannies who are not from the UK but who want to keep up to date with nanny issues in the Uk, as well as make new friends. Everyone is welcome and we’re excited to see this membership flourish.

The signs that we are delivering what our members want from us are good. The feedback we’re getting is extremely encouraging. Obviously, as we move to add more support, more benefits, and to get out there, holding workshops around the country, we really do need nannies to join us. We’re a membership Association first and foremost and the only income we receive is from our membership subscriptions. We aim to keep our fees affordable while offering quality and that can only be achieved by member growth. So, if there are nannies reading this who haven’t taken a fresh look at BAPN we would urge them to do so. We’re confident they’ll like what they see www.bapn.org.uk

BAPN membership means your voice is heard and shows your support for the work we do to raise the profile of nannies, the outcome of which can only be beneficial and improve the employment of nannies.

Tricia Pritchard

Managing Director, BAPN

What to do if Nanny Does Not Have a National Insurance Number?

Our recommended partners at www.PayrollForNannies.co.uk provide payroll advice for parents and have created this content.

Have you employed a nanny who doesn’t yet have a National Insurance number? Are you a nanny applying for a job but you don’t have a NI number?

Don’t worry!

Continue reading “What to do if Nanny Does Not Have a National Insurance Number?”

Is there a nanny shortage?

It may seem crazy, but we’re constantly being told by top nanny agencies, who advertise their jobs on the nannyjob website, that there simply aren’t enough nannies for them to consider.

There are currently 132 agencies who regularly post jobs on nannyjob.co.uk!

So, if you’re a nanny and you aren’t yet registered, what are you waiting for?

It’s completely free to join and upload your CV. You can also use our free search tool to search for available nanny jobs that meet your criteria!

If you’re already registered, why not take a few minutes to update your CV?

Not only will you be seen by our top agencies, you’ll also be seen by hundreds of parents also looking for nannies!

What’s in Your Nanny Bag?

As a nanny, you need to be prepared for any situation, especially if you have young children. Even the simplest thing can save the day, or ruin it.

That’s why we’ve put together our list of essential items for your nanny bag:

Continue reading “What’s in Your Nanny Bag?”

What Should You Watch Out for in Nanny Job Listings?

When looking for your next nanny job, it’s important to thoroughly read through the nanny job listing and to be on the lookout for any warning signs that could spell trouble in the future.

The first step is to remember that not everyone knows exactly what a nanny is or what duties fall under the job title. First-time parents, especially can be slightly confused about what they can and can’t ask a nanny to do and so it’s important that you take the time to read through each listing and note down any questions that need clarifying by the employer during the interview or before-hand over the phone.

Top Tip: If possible, try to contact the employer over the phone as this will give you a better feel for who they are and what they want than communicating via email. It’s also a great way to make yourself stand out from the competition as they’ll be able to start getting to know you before you even set foot in the interview.

To help you identify the good listings from the bad, we’ve made a list of the most important red-flags that you should lookout for in a nanny job listing and interview.

Continue reading “What Should You Watch Out for in Nanny Job Listings?”

Why Nannies Should Include Volunteer Work on Their Resume

When applying for your first job as a nanny, whether you’re a student, a graduate or if you’re moving from another field of work, it’s guaranteed that you won’t be the only one submitting an application.

What makes you stand out from the hundreds of other nanny applicants trying to get the same position?

We’ve put together this quick article to show you how volunteering can help you stand out from the crowd.

Continue reading “Why Nannies Should Include Volunteer Work on Their Resume”

Making yourself memorable to agencies

You might have noticed that many of the jobs on Nannyjob.co.uk are via agencies. Targeting agencies, rather than parents directly, is a slightly different approach. Here’s a five step approach to fast-tracking your way into their good books.

Be concise. When you apply through the site try to mention all the jobs they have that interest you in one email. That way you’re not spamming their inbox with twenty applications. You only need one to sign up with them, and if they don’t reply then follow it up with a phone call rather than twenty more emails.

Continue reading “Making yourself memorable to agencies”

Choosing a childcare course

Do you want to improve your CV and get ahead in your career? Courses can be a fantastic way to do this or simply to explore new subjects but there’s a bewildering array out there. Here’s how to narrow it down.

What do you want the course to do?

If you’re hoping that it will lead to a new career you need to make sure that the course is recognised by potential employers. If you just want a bit more information then accreditation and recognition is less important but you still want to be confident that the course content is accurate. Deals through sites like Wowcher and Groupon may look great but they don’t lead to recognised qualifications and you may end up paying money, and putting time in, for nothing.

Continue reading “Choosing a childcare course”

Questions Nannies Should Ask Parents

Interviews can always be daunting! When nannies are preparing for an interview, the first thing they do is practise their answers. By now, they will be used to the crucial questions they will be asked. E.g. “Why did you choose nannying as a career?” Or “What are your views on childcare.”

What nannies also need to consider is what they’re going to ask when the parent asks that on-the-spot question “Do you have any questions?” Of course a polite answer is to say that they have been very thorough and given all the details you need. Remember that this is a two way process… this is much about the nanny as it is about the family.

A good nanny interview tip would be to show interest in the position & ask well thought-out questions, it will give the opportunity to find out more about the family & their expectations….

Nannies Inc., a premium London nanny agency, recently placed an Ofsted registered, qualified nanny and the mother commented on not only was she polite and gave a good impression, but she was prepared. I asked the nanny to share some tips on how she prepared and she said she took a list of questions with her.
Some of these included:

Ask about the family’ routine – what they like doing, their interests, what activities the children enjoy, how they want the day to be structured.

Ask about expected duties e.g. babysitting, housework etc. This will give the nanny the opportunity to know what is expected of them and whether this is in line with their expectations.

What method of disciplining do the parents use?

Are there any house rules the nanny needs to know of – e.g. special diets, religious beliefs, no shoes etc.

Don’t be afraid to ask about working hours, holiday and the dreaded question about salary. There is no point in being shy about these things, it is best to be upfront.

Ask to see the home, look at the playroom or especially if the nanny is live-in, ask to see the accommodation & what is provided.

The nanny said that she also closed the interview by showing she was interested and asked when the decision would be made and expressed her interest. She also recommended following up with a text or emailing a few hours later to thank the parents for their time.

Now, with these interview tips in mind, it’s time for you to go get that dream job! Good luck!

This guest post was written for http://www.nannyjob.co.uk by a Recruitment Consultant at Nannies Incorporated. To find out more about or to view their nanny positions, visit their website here.

Creating a portfolio

More and more nannies are taking a portfolio with them to interviews, to present their qualifications and other paperwork and demonstrate their style of childcare to prospective employers. A good portfolio is well-organised, neat and relevant. A battered file stuffed with tatty pieces of paper won’t impress anyone – in fact it will probably do more harm than good – so you need to pay attention to what you choose and where you put it.

First impressions really count. Whether it’s a funky scrapbook or a sleek leather wallet the outside of your portfolio sets up expectations for what parents will find inside. You should present a coherent and authentic image, so if you are a creative person show that your personality carries over to your work with children. Everyone can put things in a folder, making yours different, even if it’s choosing blue leather rather than black, will make you memorable.

Parents will expect to see your qualifications ordered logically. You can order them chronologically or by area (general childcare, maternity specific, Montessori etc). You don’t need to present all of your First Aid certificates, just the most recent will do. It can really help parents to create a quick overview of what your course involved and what you learnt alongside the certificate. Many certificates don’t give any more information than the date and title of the course so giving additional detail will help prospective employers see how the study you have done makes you a better nanny.

Some nannies like to include sample menu plans or weekly activities for different ages. These can help parents see what they can expect if they employ you, especially for first time employers who may not really know what a nanny does on a day to day basis. By including a typical menu you can demonstrate your cooking skills and your understanding of nutrition. If you like to present food in new and interesting way then jazz up your menu with some photos (and if you don’t have any ideas hop over to our pinterest board to see what we like in the kitchen). Showing what you might do in a typical week also shows your understanding of appropriate activities for various ages and stages, and gives parents an idea of whether you’re a nanny who likes to get out and about to classes and on playdates, or one who likes crafting, or one who’s at the beach or in the forest in all weathers. Throughout your portfolio you can include photos of activities you’ve done with past charges to bring your experience to life. Do get permission from your previous employers before including them though!

Last, but certainly not least, you should include copies of all your references and testimonials. It’s unlikely that a future employer will want to contact a temp job you did 10 years ago but you probably got a glowing reference and you should be proud of it.

What else would you include in a portfolio? Let us know!