Difficulties and how to avoid them

Sometimes things can turn out to be unsatisfying for the child carers or families. Most of the situations can however be avoided to be happening at all.

Here are some examples:


Nannies


Nannies are experienced child carers and they have to follow their code of practice. If mother will ask Nannies something unreasonable nannies have the right to let the family know that that cannot be accepted.
Unreasonable behaviour may involve the punishing methods or different opinions in weaning or potty training.

Nannies are following the guides set by government and for the children’s sake and for their own risk of liability they can advise families etc not to wean the baby when baby is too young.
Sometimes young Nannies may feel pressured and the situation may end by Nanny leaving the family.

After the training Nannies are also very precise of their working hours and their job description.
Some Nannies have also left their job because the family does not take responsibility to pay taxes, NI and the salary on time.
If either parent (or Nanny) is constantly late, that issue requires communication before either of parties is dissatisfied and there is a risk for relationship to brake down.

Our advice to avoid problems what usually always involves communication problems is to keep a diary.
Nanny diary is very common way to make sure that family is aware of children development and the problems what may incur with children.

We always enjoy seeing that most of our clients will build up very good relation with their Nannies and it is very hard to let their Nanny go when the time has come when they don't need Nanny any more.


Mothers help


Mothers help positions are usually shorter than Nanny Position as the position doesn’t require so much experience and knowledge and the applicants usually do this job while they are studying full time.
Main problems that can incur can be the quality of cleaning work and timekeeping.
These problems can easily be fixed with communication.

Please note:

Mother’s help are usually employed part-time and their work involves cleaning and dealing with older children.
Many mothers’ help are employed to do school runs when children are in school age.
Mothers help cannot take care of children who are under 3 years old. 


Au Pairs


As Au Pairs are always in live-in position, it can be very hard for a foreign girl to move to London and not to have any friends.
We always advise for Au Pairs to start their English courses as soon as possible to avoid the loneliness.
Lot’s of Au Pairs also worry about the relationship between the family and themselves. Young girls find it very difficult to tell the families if they feel that their duties are not proper to Au Pairs as is sole care and heavy cleaning.
Some girl also find that they don’t have the proper working hours (max 25 hours a week) and that they have to be always to be prepared to be way to flexible.

We advise all Families to write the duty list with weekly timetable to avoid these problems.




Picture: Rohan Darrah