Hiring a nanny is never easy. Every parent wants to know that they are leaving their children with someone who is responsible, nurturing and shares their views about discipline and boundaries. And, most importantly, they need to to be sure that their child will be safe. Trust is important. Usually, trust is built over time, but what to do when there’s no time to spare? Running a background check is the best choice, but there are several steps to cover before:
Finding reputable sources
If you are wondering how to hire a nanny, the very first step is deciding how to find trustworthy candidates. From Facebook groups to local job boards to nanny agencies, how to decide which one is the best? Other parent’s recommendations are invaluable. Nanny agencies are also a great resource as they usually vet candidates and have a good list of options. We would recommend choosing the source that gives you the most information about each candidate and staying away from anything that seems shady or contradictory.
The interviews
Once you have selected your candidates, a really important step is to properly plan your interviews. Think about what is most important to you as a parent and write down your questions. Some issues that you may want to cover are:
# How do you deal with a meltdown?
# Do you first-aid training?
# Describe one or two activities that you would be doing with the children
# How do you set healthy boundaries?
There are hundreds of alternatives, but it mostly comes down to what is more important to you.
Cross-checking references
Ideally, each candidate will offer two or three references. Try to cross-check each of them, ask questions and try to find out as much as you can about how they performed at their previous placings. Usually, candidates will give references who will speak highly of them, so it is important to be attentive to contradicting statements, or lack of personal information. One recommendation is to make open-ended questions that allow for room to expand. An example can be: “What was the most difficult situation you experienced when X was working for you?” or “Can you describe a day of X’s work with your children?
When planning how to hire a nanny, people tend to follow their gut and trust their feelings. Unfortunately, deception can be easy, and neglect and abuse do happen. Thoroughly questioning the references that each candidate provides is a way to get really valuable information on who you are planning to hire.
Identity Verification
Once you have made a decision, the first step is to verify your candidate’s identity. Ask for a social security number, driver’s license or passport in case of non-US citizens.
The background check
Because a standard background check for nannies does not exist, there are a few suggestions on what items to include when planning to hire a nanny. Some really important aspects to consider are:
Criminal record, preferably at country, state and county levels. This will give you information from misdemeanors to felonies.
1. Checking the sex-offender registry
2. Verify that there are no child neglect or abuse records
3. If you plan on having your nanny drive your kids around, you need to check driving records
The depth of the background check will mostly depend on the information that you were able to gather from past references and your interview, but these four points are essential. Be wary of contradicting information at any level before making a hiring decision.
A probation period
A step that is sometimes overlooked is to establish a probation period. Even after running a background check, issues may arise. A probation period will allow you room to find out if you are a good fit. And of course, to understand if your children feel safe and nurtured.
Running a background check on a potential nanny can prevent complicated situations, and it is a very important step in the hiring process. Usually, people who have nothing to hide are open to the process, so their reaction when asking for one is also something to consider. In the end, they will be working with the people you love the most, so being thorough and cautious is not only normal, but essential.
