Hiring your own Mary Poppins can do serious damage to your bank balance. So how is it that in the middle of a recession, when most families are watching their pennies, nannies have never been in greater demand?
The answer is simple. Nanny sharing. Latest figures from www.nannyshare.co.uk reveal a 500 more than usual nanny fees. Always do the interviews with both families present.
Sign a detailed contract
Once you've agreed upon the right nanny, sign a detailed contract. This will set out your arrangement clearly and concisely and it's always there if you need to resolve an issue. The contract should include how many hours each family agrees to pay for, how taxes will be divided and handled, the rate of pay, rules for covering holidays and sick days and agreed-upon approaches to childcare.
Meet up regularly
Set up a regular schedule to meet up with the other parents, and quite possibly the nanny too, to discuss any problems that might come up. Some people like a quick catch up once a week, while others prefer a more detailed meeting once a month.
Have one point of contact
Nanny shares often break down because the nanny feels overwhelmed by getting mixed messages from the two families. Avoid this by picking one family to be the main contact, should anyone have to make any changes.