Nannies Some childcare, for example nannies providing care in the child’s own home, are unregulated and are not required to go through the registration process (however, see below, Approved Home Child Carers). Parents need to be aware of the extra responsibilities involved in hiring a nanny (checking references and qualifications), and that this type of care is not eligible for the childcare element of Working Tax Credit (WTC) and/or childcare vouchers because it is unregistered. A nanny is some-one employed to look after a child (or children) in the child’s own home. There is no legal requirement for a Nanny to be qualified, but many have nursery nurse training, or other qualifications, in childcare. There is no national nanny register and unless they are looking after the children of more than two families, nannies will not be inspected or registered by the HSSTs as other carers are. A nanny can ‘live in’ or come to the home for set days or hours. They will take full responsibility for your child care routine and may also do some household tasks but expectations should be clarified in job specifications, employment contracts and at the interview stage. How do I choose a nanny? It is up to the parents to interview thoroughly and to ALWAYS CHECK ALL REFERENCES, even if you have used an agency, before employing someone. Make sure you have names, addresses and phone numbers of referees. A reference over a mobile phone is not a good idea - if at all possible, visit and talk directly to referees. Employing a nanny is an important responsibility because it will be up to you to make sure the person is able to look after your children well. Being a nanny is a skilled and demanding job. Look for training, experience and a positive attitude to the job. The Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN), an organisation based in England, produces a useful information pack aimed at both Nannies and parents/employers entitled All you need to know about working as a Nanny. It covers everything from the interview process, to drawing up a contract, to payroll issues. It costs approximately £5 and the address is listed at the end of this leaflet. Advantages - Nannies can provide childcare tailor made for your children’s needs.
- Your children will be cared for in their own home.
Types of nanny - Live-in nannies live in your home and will need a private bedroom and food in addition to their salary
- Daily nannies come to your home to look after your children
- Nanny share - an arrangement whereby a nanny is shared by two families. If a nanny is shared by more than two families they are required to register as a childminder.
Employment conditions There are many issues to consider when employing a nanny such as considering exactly what duties and responsibilities you expect the nanny to undertake, how to go about finding a nanny, selecting and interviewing applicants and checking references and employment histories. Detailed help with all of these issues are available from the organisations listed at the end of this leaflet. Parents are responsible for deducting a nanny’s tax and NIC and forwarding this, along with the employer’s NIC, to the Inland Revenue. To reduce the cost of employing a nanny, parents can pool their resources and employ one nanny between them. A nanny share post is usually live-out, days only and regular hours. If a nanny works for more than two families (ie three or more families) then she/he must be registered by the local HSST, in which case this type of care then becomes eligible for the childcare element of WTC, and/or childcare vouchers. However, there are no restrictions on the number of children cared for from the same family. A common nanny share situation is where one employer becomes the ‘sole’ employer. She/he pays the nanny a weekly or monthly salary while the other family(s) pay an agreed amount towards the nanny’s salary. Nanny sharing can bring more problems than working with one family. It is crucial, therefore, that the nanny receives a written contract which incorporates the duties required by both families, overtime hours, rates of pay etc before beginning employment with either family. The Inland Revenue operate an Employers Helpline on 08457 143 143 for friendly advice on tax and National insurance. Nannies are covered by national Minimum Wage regulations. For more information about the national minimum wage, or to order some free guidance please telephone the National Minimum Wage helpline on 0845 6000 678. Parents should also ensure they have adequate insurance cover in the form of Employers Public Liability Insurance. How do I find a Nanny? There are a number of Nanny Agencies operating in Northern Ireland and you will find them listed in the Yellow Pages under Nanny & Childcare Agencies. The benefit of using a nanny agency is that they will be able to carry out a police check on the background of prospective nannies. This is something individual parents are unable to do. Agencies usually charge a registration or finders fee, or some may only charge a fee when an appointment is made. You could place an advertisement is local newspapers or parish or community newsletters. Or you could approach local Further Education Colleges where tutors of national child care courses may be able to identify past or current pupils who have undertaken a childcare qualification. Useful contacts: Professional Association of Nursery Nurses 2 St James’ Court Friar Gate Derby DE1 1BT 01332 372337 Inland Revenue Employers Helpline 08457 143 143 National Minimum Wage helpline 0845 6000 678 The Department for Education Skills produce a booklet called Need a Nanny – a guide for parents which is available from their publications department on 0845 6022260. The guide is written with English and Welsh legislation specifically in mind, but the general information is valid for Northern Ireland.
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