Need a nanny

This section is for you if you are thinking of employing a nanny.

It also provides some useful pointers if you are considering other types of childcare in the family home.

For a more comprehensive overview of childcare take a look at our Looking for childcare section. This aims to help you make the right choice for you and your child when it comes to choosing suitable childcare.

What do nannies do?

Nannies provide childcare in your own home and are a popular choice for many families. They can look after children of any age and should provide plenty of fun and learning opportunities in a safe environment. Nannies can often work flexible hours and can be a suitable option if you work at times when other forms of childcare are not available.

Employing a nanny

parent holding child 8 Making sure your child is safe, well-cared for and happy is one of the most vital concerns for any parent. Employing a nanny is an important responsibility. There are no legal requirements on a person applying to work as a nanny. It is up to you, as parent and employer, to make sure that you are employing a nanny who will look after your children well.

This section will help you to:

decide whether a nanny is the right choice of childcare for your family
plan your nanny’s job
advertise the job vacancy
choose potential nannies to interview
plan and carry out interviews
check your nanny before employment starts
support your nanny in the job.

Although this guidance offers useful advice, it does not provide any guarantee that your choice of a nanny will produce a favourable outcome.

Remember, it is your responsibility as the employer to ensure that you are completely satisfied with the person that you employ.

In this section: