Top Tips for Finding a Live-Out Nanny for Your Family in London

Finding the perfect nanny for your family in London or internationally is an important decision that can significantly impact your children's wellbeing and your overall peace of mind. While many families consider the option of a live-in nanny, many parents find that a live-out nanny offers more professionalism and may be better suited to their needs.

Whether you're looking for more independence, flexibility, or specific qualifications, with the right approach, the search for a live-out nanny in London can be both manageable and effective - it really doesn't have to be stressful!

Here are our top tips for helping you find the best nanny for your family.

Define your family's needs

Assess your schedule and requirements

When families hire us, before we start the search for a nanny, we spend time to understand your requirements and specific needs. This includes being clear on your working hours, children's routines, parenting style preferences, and any other commitments that might impact when and how a nanny will be needed.

Here are some examples of things to consider:

• Working hours. How many hours will you need the nanny each week? Will you require full-time care (40+ hours per week)? You should also think about travelling time (to and from work), the possibility you may be required to stay late or work overtime, and even the need to perhaps wind down from work at the end of a long, stressful working day before you step into the role of parent.

• Nanny duties for nursery/school children. If your children are at nursery or school for some of the day, you may still need your nanny to carry out ‘nursery duties’ or child-related admin tasks at home, and you’ll need a nanny who’s happy with this kind of job. Many nannies prefer a more child-focused role, and we need to ensure the match is also right for her. Sometimes your needs change after 12 months if you decide to send your child to nursery for a few hours, so we want to ensure your nanny will be happy with this.

• Flexibility. Will you need occasional evening or weekend babysitting? If you need flexibility from your nanny (such as babysitting or overtime) due to your work demands, it’s important to establish this from the beginning. We find that otherwise many nannies burn out or can’t offer this. And it’s a waste of everyone's time to find this out later down the line! Plus, if this is a regular arrangement, you may need to reflect in your nanny's contract of employment and consider it when agreeing on a fair salary. Or, for example, will you need the nanny to travel with you for trips and holidays?

The type of help you'll need from your live-out nanny will impact which candidates we select for you, so it's important these details are thoroughly discussed at the start of the hiring process.

Consider qualities and skill required

Another aspect to consider early on are the qualities, skills, and experience you expect from a live-out nanny. We'll help you articulate these in our first consultation, but these can include:

• Experience with age groups. Some nannies are more experienced with infants, while others excel with toddlers or school-aged children. We'll want to make sure the nanny you hire has experience with the age group(s) of your child or children.

• Educational background. You might want a nanny with specific qualifications, such as CACHE Level 3, a degree in child development, or a qualification in the Montessori method, for example.

• Special needs. If your child has specific needs or requirements, consider looking for a nanny with relevant experience or qualifications to provide appropriate support.

When you hire Homebodies to find a nanny, a clear understanding of your family's needs will help us find potential candidates and make sure they align with your requirements. It's why we'll be asking questions about your current situation and expectations when we have our first consultation.

Don't rely on recommendations from friends and family

While getting recommendations from friends and family can be tempting and is an approach that may work for some people, we find that sometimes the recommended nanny isn’t the right match for the family’s specific needs. Many of our clients have found this to be the case, and unfortunately end up going through unnecessary stress as a result. Instead, we also ensure the nanny is a genuine match for you.

Here’s why relying solely on personal recommendations might not be the best approach.

• Limited experience. Your friends and family may not have the experience evaluating nannies, which can lead to potential mismatches based on personal biases or unrelated attributes.

• Diverse needs. Each family has unique requirements and values that may not align with those of your friends or family. What works for one family may not necessarily work for you.

• Incomplete information. Recommendations may lack important context, such as the nanny's professional background, screening process, and reliability, leaving you with gaps in understanding a candidate's true capabilities.

Hiring a professional nanny agency like Homebodies means we have access to a wide pool of qualified candidates that meet your specific needs and can also carry out thorough vetting and reference checking for you.

We are proud to say we’ve worked with many nannies who love our bespoke match-making approach, and they come back to us so often that we always have highly-experienced and tried and tested candidates we can call upon.

Conduct effective interviews and a paid trial

Once we present you with the most suitable 3-4 candidates, the next crucial step is conducting interviews with potential candidates. This step allows you to gauge personality, skills, and compatibility.

Prepare your interview questions

Having prepared questions will help you cover all essential aspects of the nanny’s qualifications, experience, and personality. Consider asking:

• Experience and background. For example, “Can you tell me about your prior experiences with families similar to ours?”

• Childcare philosophy. For example, “What is your approach to discipline, and how do you resolve conflicts between children?”

• Daily Activities. For example, “What types of activities would you plan for my child during the day?” Or, “How will you make sure my child reaches their developmental milestones, and how will you put theory into practice?”

• Flexibility. For example, “How do you feel about unexpected changes in your schedule, such as occasional late hour requests or weekend work?”

When you hire Homebodies as your nanny agency, we guide you through these types of questions (and more) to make sure you get the most out of interviewing the candidates we put forward for you. Due to our many years of experience placing nannies, we can advise on many aspects that parents have not necessarily thought about yet.

Run a paid trial

After the interviews, we always recommend you arrange a paid trial where the nanny can work with you and your child for a few hours or days. This gives you first-hand experience of how the nanny interacts with your children in a real-world setting. A trial period also allows the nanny to get familiar with your household routines and dynamics.

During this phase, observe the nanny’s interactions with your children and how she handles various tasks. Key aspects to consider include:

• Engagement. Does she engage the children in creative and educational activities? What is her level of engagement throughout the day? Does she keep her energy levels up? Can she manage your child's trickier times of the day with ease and in a calm, patient manner?

• Adaptability. How does she manage unexpected situations or changes in the day’s plans?

• Communication. Does she communicate openly with both you and the children?

A successful trial period can strengthen your decision and lay the groundwork for a trusting professional relationship with your nanny.

Establish clear expectations and boundaries

Once you find the right candidate, you want to establish clear expectations and boundaries from the start. This makes sure that both you and the nanny are on the same page.

For example, you'll want to be clear on the following:

• Daily responsibilities. Clearly outline daily tasks, meal preparation, and any household chores expected of the nanny.

• Communication protocol. Decide how you will communicate with one another, including updates about the children’s activities and any concerns that may come up.

• Time off and schedules. Discuss how time off will be managed, including holidays and personal days.

• Additional compensation. If extra duties (such as babysitting on weekends) are expected, be transparent about compensation for these additional hours.

After outlining your expectations, you'll want to create a formal contract that includes all of the necessary details. As a minimum, the contract should cover:

• Employment terms. Start date, role description, working hours, pay structure, and notice periods.

• Household rules. Anything related use of family resources, privacy considerations, etc.

• Termination clauses. Clear guidelines on how either party can terminate the contract if necessary.

When we work with us, we will help you with your nanny contract as well as putting your new nanny on  payroll.

Partner with Homebodies to find your ideal Nanny

Instead of looking for a nanny on your own, we recommend you lean on our expertise. Our award-winning agency specialises in matching families with the right nanny based on their unique requirements and preferences.

Here are some of the benefits of working with us.

• Personalised matching. We take the time to understand your family's specific needs, values, and dynamics to find a nanny who seamlessly fits into your home life.

• Expert screening. We conduct thorough vetting processes, including background checks and reference reviews, making sure you're always presented with trustworthy candidates.

• Continuous support. From the initial match to ongoing check-ins, we provide support throughout the hiring process and beyond, helping to facilitate a smooth transition and successful working relationship with your nanny.

• Time-saving. When working with us, you can focus on what matters most—your family—while we handle the legwork of finding the right fit for you.

• Extensive experience. We can also guide and advise on what salary to pay the nanny based on your needs and the market levels.

Would you like our help in finding your nanny?

Partnering with Homebodies means leaving the search for a reputable nanny to an experienced agency, making the process of finding a live-out nanny in London stress-free. The right nanny can significantly support your family and positively impact your children’s lives. So, if you’re ready to start this journey, contact us today for an informal chat to understand how we can help you find your ideal nanny.