Wednesday Worry: I can’t find a new job

My last employers gave me notice in June and I finished in August. I’ve been looking for 3 months and I still don’t have a new job. What am I doing wrong?

NannyAnnie, Hampshire

Looking for work is a very stressful time, and unfortunately the job market isn’t great at the moment so lots of nannies are in the same position you are – it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you! You don’t say whether you’ve had any interviews or interest from employers, or where you’re looking so let’s try to cover everything.

There are lots of places to find jobs these days. You can register with local and national agencies, look on websites where parents can post nanny job vacancies privately, post an ad at toddler groups, look in local papers and magazines and ask your friends and acquaintances whether they know of anyone looking for a nanny. If you’re only trying a few of these avenues, for example only looking at jobs advertised with agencies, try some other options, but remember to be safe when arranging to meet a family.

If you’re getting contacted about jobs but they don’t appeal to you then maybe you’re being too specific in your requirements. Most people’s dream job is one family, full time, sole charge while the parents work out of home, but those are few and far between these days. Consider putting two or even three jobs together to fill your week, looking for nanny share positions or try a job where the parents work from home. If you set everything out clearly at the start then parents working from home doesn’t need to affect you.

Perhaps you’re getting interviews and find yourself being pipped to the post by other candidates. Try asking families for feedback on what you can do to improve your chances. It might be that you could take a course or volunteer to get some extra experience.

Finally don’t give up hope! Not having a permanent job is hard and you might need to take temporary nanny or nursery jobs but it’s all experience and the perfect job will come and find you one day!

Thursday Thought: Watch your back

This week is Back Care Awareness Week.

As nannies our backs are constantly put under stress and strain, and taking care of ourselves is vital to ensure our career isn’t cut short because we become physically unable to lift, bend and care for children.

If, like many nannies, you spend most of the day on your feet it’s vital to wear sensible, comfortable, well-fitting shoes. We all know high heels are bad for backs, and they’re not too practical for running around after children either, but flat shoes – especially ballerina styles and flip-flops – can be just as bad. The most supportive shoes have a well-cushioned sole and a slight heel. If you can’t bear to give up your flats then investigate inserts that will support your instep. Look after your shoes too, as over time shoes will wear out and stop supporting your foot properly, which can unbalance you and put stress on your back.

Carrying children is obviously a bit part of a nanny’s job, and many nannies will have a child who needs to be carried in their care throughout their entire career, which can be thirty years or more. When lifting a child make sure you employ proper lifting techniques:

Engage your stomach muscles
Bend from your knees
Don’t lift and twist at the same time

If you have a baby or toddler who likes to be carried a lot you should use baby carriers that are ergonomically designed for baby and adult. Avoid types which have very thing straps crossing high in your back and avoid carrying children on your hip for extended periods without some kind of support. You can get advice on different types of carrier here.

Pushing a pram is another daily event for most nannies, but few parents take the physiology of their nanny into account when they choose their pram. If you’re a short nanny working for very tall parents, or the other way round, you might encounter problems with an essential piece of equipment! Where a pram has adjustable handles then make sure you use that feature, but if you find using their pram impossible then do talk to them and try to come up with another solution. It’s also something worth considering at future interviews – if you know you have a problem with a specific model of pram then it should be a consideration on whether you accept the job. A good employer will be willing to work with you on this. After all, no-one wants a nanny going out on long term sick leave over an occupational health problem.

Bags can be another big culprit. An over-filled changing bag, especially if it’s a shoulder bag style rather than a backpack or cross body bag, will cause you to tilt to one side. You might also find yourself carrying several other bags on the school run with older children. Try to minimise the weight of their school bags (this will protect their backs too in the future) and encourage them to carry their own belongings. If necessary get a shopping trolley. They come in pretty funky designs now!

At any sign of discomfort stop what you’re doing and assess whether you can do the task a different way. If you start to notice a pattern raise the issue with your boss and if necessary make a doctor’s appointment. Looking after your back is looking after your career in the long run.

Thursday thought: Saying no

When it comes to charges, gently refusing is second nature. We accept they have to learn that certain behaviour is unacceptable, certain objects are out of bounds and that they are probably hungry because it’s nearly lunchtime and we aren’t going to let them have a biscuit.

Employers, on the other hand, are a totally different matter. For some reason we find ourselves saying ‘yes, of course’ when we really meant ‘it’s not terribly convenient’ or ‘I’d rather not’ or ‘I had something completely different planned for my evening’. Whether it’s coming in early, babysitting, running an extra errand or doing last night’s washing up we always seem to end up helping.

Of course this usually makes them grateful. It reflects well on us and references are peppered with ‘always will to go the extra mile’ and ‘really flexible’ but it also makes me personally feel like a bit of a mug.

I find it difficult to be assertive. I find it difficult to turn down an unreasonable request, let alone a reasonable one. I find it difficult to say ‘NO’ to anyone over the age of about 8.

And I’m realising that’s not terribly good for me.

So in future I’m going to think about myself before I say yes, and I’m going to practice saying no nicely. So next time we’re supposed to meet up and I’m asked to babysit at the last minute, I’ll see you at 8!

Wednesday Worry

I’m coming to the end of the probationary period in my new job and my boss wants to have a meeting. I think she has some concerns and I don’t feel I’ve bonded with the children either. I’m worried I’m going to lose my job. Can you help?

*Hammersmith Nanny*

 

Hi Hammersmith Nanny,

I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling worried about this meeting. Getting together at the end of the probationary period is normal so it doesn’t necessarily mean your boss has concerns or is unhappy with you.

Has she said anything specific since you started, and have you tried to modify it? Perhaps if she does have some concerns you could suggest extending the probationary period with a clear list of things she wants you to change and that will give you some time to bond with your charges too. It’s normal to take a while to feel settled with children, especially if your previous job was a long term position, and your charges might be picking up on your anxiety as well.

If the worst happens and you and your boss decide it’s not working out then there’s nothing to be afraid of. I think every nanny has had at least one job where they’ve tried and it’s not gone their way. Well done for sticking it out until the end of the probation, and ask your boss to write you a positive reference. Don’t be tempted to cover up the position on your CV. Acknowledging that sometimes it doesn’t work is a great sign of maturity and prospective employers should understand.

Cost of childcare goes up, nanny salaries down

The Nannytax annual salary survey for 2012 showed a nearly 5% drop in nanny wages in some areas, and the greatest increase was 1.6% on last year, but the cost of other childcare has risen by more than 6% according to the Daycare Trust’s annual report over the same period.

Although it might not be good news on an individual level for nannies, for parents there is a silver lining. Live in nannies are now the most affordable option when compared to other forms of childcare. Last year we indicated that nannies were the most economic form of childcare for families with 3 or more children. It seems this year nannies may be more affordable for some families with 2 children than a nursery place, with the average full time nursery place coming in at £11,000 (£22,000 for 2 children) and a live in nanny in Outer London and the Home Counties earning £21,963 gross and a live in nanny in the rest of the UK earning an average of £20,509. Nannies are also working longer hours, with 14% working more than 60 hours a week. This makes them ideal for families with long working hours or long commutes.

Childminders and nurseries are being forced by economic circumstances to raise their fees. Increasing bills for utilities and food, the cost of compulsory training and the time taken to update paperwork in line with OFSTED’s requirements are all taking their toll. In contrast nanny salaries have to respond to the national trend for salaries, as they depend on the amount parents have free to spend on childcare. Squeezed budgets from hikes in the cost of living mean lower salaries or fewer nanny jobs.

Whichever way you spin it, childcare in the UK still costs parents too much, and doesn’t pay providers enough, nannies included. Being expected to work more hours for less money isn’t a sign of a healthy economy even if it is happening to almost everyone. But what’s the answer?

Some solutions look at the cost of childcare in general – increasing the amount of childcare vouchers which can be offset against tax, or enabling parents to claim childcare against their tax return. Others wouldn’t apply to nannies, unless changes were made, such as ring-fencing funding or paying providers directly.

There are two other solutions would decrease the costs associated with employing a nanny. For parents eligible for pre-school funding enabling appropriately registered nannies to deliver those hours would make a big difference. Another would be to provide tax relief on the costs associated with employing a nanny, such as Employer’s National Insurance.

Employing a nanny is a choice, but it’s sometimes the only form of childcare that meets parents’ requirements. Even if there are other options, it’s a choice that parents should be free to make and these figures indicate that a nanny may be an option open to more people than ever.

More Great Childcare?

Today the Government unveiled a report entitled ‘More Great Childcare’

BAPN applauds a thorough report which shows evidence of taking on board the concerns expressed by Professor Nutbrown however we are extremely disappointed by the lack of any reference to nannies, despite home based care being highlighted as meeting the parents’ needs for flexibility. We had hoped to see a provision for nannies, who are often highly qualified, to register to provide the Early Years funding which would ease the financial burden considerably for many parents. There needs to be a  focus on streamlining funding to ensure it reaches the front line and reducing costs for parents in a way that does not compromise quality. Children benefit from forming close bonds with carers and carers who are able to invest time in building relationships with them and relaxed ratios would be detrimental to this.

The report also ignores calls from within the sector for increased regulation of nannies or nanny agencies yet seeks to create childminding agencies which would be registered by OFSTED. We are concerned that a hard-headed focus on increasing quality in currently regulated sectors combined with the looser child:adult ratio will result in redundancy of less qualified staff, driving poorer quality providers to unregulated childcare work. BAPN works to raise the standard of professional nannies in line with other early years professionals. An influx of those considered no longer suitable to work in nurseries or as childminders would be detrimental to children and a real possibility if an entire sector of home based care continues to be unregulated.

The report rightly recognises there is an issue with parental confidence in the system. There is, however, no mention of the voluntary OFSTED register. Our recent consultation (report to be published) indicates that there is a significant amount of improvement to be made in this area. We fail to see how increasing the number of children per carer will inspire more confidence, even combined with more rigorous inspections and higher qualifications.

Overall we feel this report misses an opportunity to create a cohesive structure for the Early Years sector, or at the very least integrate on a voluntary professional nannies who have been marginalised by successive Governments. We call upon Ms Truss to take these issues into consideration when effecting legislative change.

New Year’s Resolutions: The Great Debate

Making ambitious New Year’s Resolutions (and promptly breaking them) is a bit of a tradition. What can be a meaningful exercise in self-improvement all too often turns into a farce, a series of guilty failures or a self-fulfilling prophecy where we know we won’t succeed so we never even try.

There’s nothing wrong with adults making sensible resolutions if they want to. Let’s just get that straight. In theory it’s a good idea to make lifestyle changes and gather support from those around us by publicly declaring our intentions. The problem comes when we over-reach ourselves. Then we’re sending out a message about the whole process to the most vulnerable around us: children.

If a child sees adults saying one thing and promptly doing another, or giving up at the first hurdle, that undermines both the credibility of the adult and the meaning attached to making a declaration. Worse is when children make resolutions alongside their parents or carers and are then castigated for breaking them while the adult gets off scot-free. Most children don’t have the capacity to understand the social ritual surrounding resolutions, or the cynicism which afflicts most adults!

The tradition of making resolutions is deeply ingrained in many of us, in some cases the same resolution is too, but this year take a moment to think about how your resolutions affect those around you and what the real consequences of giving up are. Here are our top 3 tips for managing your resolutions in a child-friendly way.

1. Keep your charges out of it

Children shouldn’t be encouraged to make resolutions, especially not the kind around exercise or healthy eating, and you shouldn’t make resolutions which centre on their behaviour. Instead try to incorporate target behaviours on a daily basis without making a big fuss – don’t announce it’s their/your resolution to eat a piece of fruit after dinner, just offer it to them systematically.

2. Keep calm if you fall off the wagon

If you accidentally eat a biscuit instead of a rice cake one day, it’s not the end of the world. You might feel like crying or beating yourself up but don’t mention that to your charges. If they’re the ones who point it out to you, tell them you promise to try harder in future. On no account should you tell them you’ve broken the resolution so you may as well have another biscuit or six!

3. Admit it if you get it wrong

While it’s probably better never to mention what your resolutions are, little pitchers have big ears. If you do decide to stop even trying to keep your resolution and your charges know about it then face up to the fact you were too ambitious and turn it into a valuable lesson for them about knowing your limits and setting realistic goals.

Good luck and Happy New Year!

Why when you’re looking for a job ISN’T the time to dust of your CV

Moving on happens to us all eventually, and it’s traditionally associated with the panicked search for where you saved your CV on your computer (or worse, the discovery that you lost it when your old laptop died a sudden death) and trying to describe your most recent job as accurately as possible so you can send it off to agencies and prospective employers. So it might seem counter-intuitive for us to say that the best time to work on your CV is when you’re settled in a job. Why, when you have no intention to leave?

The most important reason is that jobs evolve over time. Unless you keep detailed notes you may lost sight of important aspects that you no longer carry out, especially if you’re in a job long term. Refreshing your CV on a regular basis, or even better keeping a long version of your CV where you can note down exactly what new responsibilities you’ve taken on, means you’re always up to date and you’ve retained all the relevant information.

Another good reason is that it’s better to identify any gaps in your knowledge and experience, and act to correct them, while you have the flexibility to do so. Job-hunting makes it difficult to schedule attendance at courses – after all your prospective employer may not relish the idea of their new nanny having a day off two weeks after settling in – but your existing employer should be more accommodating in terms of arranging holiday. It makes good financial sense too, because if you don’t have a source of income you probably won’t be willing to pay out for a course even if it might improve your chances in the long run but saving up for a course is realistic if you budget your salary accordingly. This is doubly important if you know that your job will be coming to an end, for example your charges are starting at full time school, and you have some free time in your day. Check with your employers whether they mind you refreshing your experience with young babies by volunteering to help a local mum while your charges are at nursery or extending your skills with older children by going in to school and listening to them read.

Finally you can rest assured that when the moment comes you know that your CV is ready because you’ve had time to perfect it. This actually means your CV will be better as you won’t be doing it in a hurry, and it’s less likely to contain off-putting spelling or grammar mistakes. Creating a good nanny CV requires a substantial investment of your time to find a format and balance that works for you so use the time while you have it!

There’s a lot of generic guidance out there, which is excellent if you want an office job but nanny requires a more personal touch and parents often aren’t professional recruiters who are used to looking at CVs. Even when they are they may not know what a typical nanny does, so it’s important to make all the relevant information accessible. Here are some top tips from our professional development and CV advice service to get you started on your perfect nanny CV:

Make sure all the standard information is on there: name, contact details, education and training, professional experience

Take time to create a good personal profile which sets out your childcare style and what makes you unique as a nanny

Include a section on your interests because you never know which potential employers or charges might share one of your hobbies

Don’t over-complicate or use jargon. First time parents will be reassured by you spelling out exactly what nursery duties are and what you did on a day to day basis but….

Don’t be repetitive, because that may give parents the impression that you’re boring or stuck in a rut, even if many nanny jobs do have similar requirements

Emphasise your experience of caring for children as individuals. If you’re coming from a nursery or teaching background talk less about policies and paperwork and more about relationships with key children and their parents, supporting children’s individual development and times you’ve worked independently.

Remember that this is your CV and it needs to showcase your strengths. If you’re the kind of nanny who always does creative activities with your charges, talk about it!

BAPN’s professional development service is free to members, and because they tell us it’s so great we’re opening it up to non-members to. You just send in your CV – no need for personal data but do indicate where your name and address would go – and it will be looked over by someone who knows what nannies do and what parents want to know. For more information, including the details of the different services on offer, pricing and credentials, e-mail info@bapn.org.uk

Should nannies be registered?

Should nannies be registered ?

It would be very easy to simply say “yes, of course” to this question. The benefits of registration are clear to many:

• Standards would be consistent across the industry and nannies, parents and agencies would be clear on the minimum standards a nanny must reach and currently anyone can call themselves a nanny, so registration would ideally clearly define what being a nanny means
• Nannies would be accountable and it would make it harder for bad apples to remain caring for children
• Nannies could access support and training provided by local authorities in the same way that childminders can
• Registration on the Early Years register could potentially enable nannies delivering the EYFS to access funding, as some childminders can

Yet one of the biggest advantages of a nanny is the flexibility that they can provide, not purely in terms of hours worked but also in the style of care. Some parents don’t want a carer who is obliged to deliver the EYFS and deal with copious amounts of paperwork, ready for inspection at any moment. Registering all home-based childcare without thinking it through risks turning us into a “nanny-state” (if you’ll forgive the pun, it was irresistible!).

The first and most obvious consideration is what form this registration would take. Would it be modeled on the current approach, with the same requirements for the voluntary register? Would the checks that are carried out be the same? And would this prevent cases such as this failure to carry out proper checks? Or the anecdotal evidence of many nannies who say they have been allowed to register without holding a common core qualification or insurance? If registration were implemented without these problems being addressed, we believe this would seriously undermine the credibility of a compulsory register.

Alternatively, if the voluntary register were abolished and all nannies were required to register on the compulsory register would they be required to deliver the EYFS and inspected on their ability to do so? Where does this leave parental choice? What happens to nannies who work for families who only have older children? Nannies and childminders offer different types of childcare – a nanny is an employee of the family and contracted to do as the parents wish, whereas a childminder as a self-employed person can set their own agenda. A one-size-fits-all approach would risk losing the distinction between these fundamentally different types of care.

Secondly how far would this compulsory register extend? What about young people who are working in an ‘au pair’ role? In the absence of an official immigration category (with the exception of A2 nationals) when is the distinction made between an au pair and a nanny for purposes of registration? Some au pairs are registered with OFSTED, having taken the necessary steps, so they can be paid with childcare vouchers. Tightening registration may mean removing this financial assistance from parents who need wraparound childcare, remembering that accessing childcare vouchers is the principle reason many nannies are registered with OFSTED.

Thirdly what would happen about inspections? Inspection for a nanny is currently very different from inspection for a childminder. Crucially it does not take place until after the nanny has registered and only a fraction of nannies are inspected annually.The quality of inspection also varies from a cursory check of documentation to an in depth interview covering grey areas of record keeping, as OFSTED are yet to publish detailed guidelines of what exactly nannies do and do not need to have in writing. Should nannies be inspected to the same level as childminders? Would parents be happy to have an inspector entering their private property when they are not present? How would a nanny store confidential information safely? How would this be handled where a nanny works in different homes for different families throughout the week, who each have different expectations and requirements? Thorough and consistent inspections by appropriately trained, specialist inspectors would be a positive step but these need to take place at the time of registration, following a similar format to the childminder pre-registration inspection, to ensure that every nanny is of a suitable standard before they work in the door. This does not preclude spot checks/inspections to ensure that all nannies do indeed have a valid First Aid certificate and appropriate insurance at all times

Finally the question of ratios rears its head. At the moment a family with 4 children under 5 would find it impossible to find a childminder, and in any case a nanny would be a more economical option. If nannies were required to register, large families would find it impossible to find childcare for their needs and could be forced to employ 2 nannies simultaneously to fit in with Government guidelines.

Treating nannies like childminders, and nurseries, by forcing everyone into the same framework is not the answer. One workable option could be to create a system where home based childcarers wishing to deliver the EYFS could register one one part and those childminders and nannies who don’t want to, or who don’t need to, could register on a different part. Another solution would be to create a register for nannies similar to the current register with clearly defined requirements, stringent checks and consistent inspections. Forcing every childcare provider into the same framework is not the way forward.

Registration should result in workforce recognized as being competent and professional, and it is worth doing right.

End-Of-September-itis

Nannies and charges alike can suffer from a terrible affliction at the end of September: end-of-September-itis. Maybe your charge is finding school hard-going, maybe your new job is starting to seem less perfect, maybe you’ve caught that playground cold, maybe it’s just that mornings and evenings are darker….

Most children have returned to school by now and even new starters should have completed their settling in period. At this point reality can hit like a ton of bricks. The novelty of a new experience or the excitement of catching up with friends has worn off, work has started in earnest (and some children may already be struggling) and half term seems a long time away.

• Reassure children, especially little ones, that they do get holidays and that it isn’t too far off. Make a countdown chart and start planning fun things to do during half term, but don’t be too ambitious – they may well be tired.

• Encourage your charges to talk about their day at school and find out if they feel that they’re having any problems. You can make a big difference by supporting them at home, but only if you know what they’re feeling. Help your charges make friends by doing imaginative play with stuffed toys or acting out scenarios so they can learn some good opening lines. Make an extra effort to incorporate counting and basic arithmetic skills into daily routines and encourage them to show off their new literacy skills not just while doing homework but by reading recipes to you or writing down a message in the nanny communication diary. If you don’t feel confident in your own skills investigate adult education courses to give you a boost.

• Talk about the future and help them see how a love of learning is important.. Encourage them to be ambitious and be enthusiastic yourself about learning. If you’re positive about school, chances are they will be too.

September is prime transition time in the nanny world. A new job is exciting but after a couple of weeks dissatisfaction can set it. While bumps in the first month or so are to be expected , it can be disheartening to be corrected on a daily basis, and if your employers have been late home five times already you might be wondering just how frequently that will happen in the future.

• If you feel unhappy it’s important to talk to your employers sooner rather than later. If you don’t raise issues with them now it’s easy for something you aren’t happy with to become part of the routine.

• It’s a good idea to suggest a quick review of how things are going, that both parties can prepare for, and talk about the positive and less positive aspects of this new employment relationship. Try to come to the table with strategies and solutions. If parents are consistently late home you could suggest that the contract be amended to reflect what is actually happening. If you’re finding the job description too much, or at least for the time being, suggest that you decide together what areas to focus on and what can wait until you settle into the role.

• Focus on the good bits. It can be easy to get bogged down in what’s going wrong so think about the things you enjoy and how you can develop those aspects of your new job.

A new job may mean a new area, new activities and nanny friends. If you’re a shy person, and some nannies are, it can  be difficult to meet people. Even a confident person can feel overwhelmed.

• Ask your employers for recommendations! Hopefully you’ll have had a bit of a handover and during that time either seen or been told about the best places to go in the area. Maybe your employers have an activity they’d love your charge to do that you could find and go to.

• Get out and about to explore, taking particular note of child-friendly indoor spaces for a change of scenery in bad weather! Be proactive about looking for free activities online and try to introduce yourself to parents and carers at groups. It’s important for both your charges and you to have social interaction during the workday because children learn not only by doing but also by watching you model social skills. If you’re taking over from another nanny you may have some good contacts so don’t be afraid to call them. The children will probably know each other and that’s a great way to break the ice.

• Remember that parents may be wary of you taking their children to new activities or people’s houses straight away.This is perfectly natural, just try to reassure them that you have the children’s best interests at heart and won’t be putting them in any danger. Offer to send them a quick text to check in if it makes them feel more comfortable and look ahead – as time goes on they’ll trust your judgement more.

Germs are an unfortunate fact of life and September is often the start of the ‘cold season’. 

• Encourage good hygiene. Remind children to wash their hands frequently, blow their nose into a tissue and cover their mouths when they cough. These simple measures can drastically reduce transmission of colds and other bugs.

• Learn how to bust colds naturally. Eating lots of fresh fruit and veg may seem less appetizing when it’s cold and damp but it’s super-important. Learn more about nutrition for nannies

• Know when to ease off. A cold can make you feel really miserable and it’s okay to have a chilled out day or afternoon if everyone’s feeling a bit under the weather.

Finally wrap up warm and turn those dark evenings into something fun with these glow stick activities!