Interview guide

Planning what you wish to ask the applicant during the interview will make the interview easier for you and help you to make a decision. We recommend you prepare questions in advance, ask each candidate the same questions and make notes, to avoid confusion.

Here are some suggested questions. Please feel free to add any which are important to you, for example:

What is the Nanny’s view of allowing children in her charge to eat sweets or watch television?

How long have you been a Nanny?
What ages of children have you worked with?
Why did you decide to work with children?
Why do you enjoy working with children?
What are your strengths when working with children?
Have you had any training in childcare or development?
Are there any areas of how you work that you plan to improve?
What would you do if (invent a family crisis)?
How might you spend a day with my child?
Do you think any aspects from your childhood have helped you to become a good Nanny?
Why did you leave your last job?
What difficulties have you experienced or parents or children and what happened?
How many days off sick have you had in the past year?
Would you consent to a medical report if necessary?

Issues to Discuss

The wage or salary and how it will be paid.
Expenses provided, e.g. petrol expenses
Holiday entitlement.
Length of probationary period.
Child safety at home, in the car and on public transport.
Whether you are happy for the nanny to take the children out to play groups, age appropriate activities, the park, activities etc or if you would rather have the nanny based at home.
What level of pre school education you are expecting your nanny to do with your children.
Positive discipline strategies.

Employment Gaps

You should explore fully during the interview any gaps in employment history.

What do your children think?

Let your children meet the potential Nanny. Watch them together- how did your children respond? Especially if they are they are over 5 years old, get them to ask the nanny questions, so that they feel involved in the decision making process. Ask their opinion on potential applicants, as often children are the best judges of character and if they do not like the person you are thinking of hiring, it will not work. We recommend you ask the best candidate(s) to do a half-day trial, as a second interview, to spend some time with your children, and this will help you make sure you are right for each other.

What does the Nanny want to ask you?

Interviewing is a two-way process so make sure you give the Nanny the chance to ask you questions. Always remember that it is as much for the Nanny to feel comfortable with your family, as for you to feel at ease with them.

Where possible give the new Nanny a hand-over period with the Nanny who is leaving. Even if it’s not the first time you have employed a Nanny why not let him or her check out a reference on you? Ask a friend or a previous Nanny to be your referee.

Checking your Nanny

At North West Childcare we always check the applicant’s details at interview, and we will send you copies of all her details, when we send you his or her CV, but feel free to ask the nanny to show you her original documents.

We always ask for proof of identity – for example passport or driving licence
References – North West Childcare always checks 3 references, usually verbally, as referees are usually more open when giving a verbal reference. For your own peace of mind we suggest you also contact at least one of them. We do our best to ensure that at least one referee should be the nanny’s present or last employer.
Full employment history
Qualification certificates – the originals. If they are in a different name, e.g. if the applicant has got married, then North West Childcare will have seen proof of the name change.

CRB – North West Childcare recommend that all applicants have a Criminal Records Check www.crb.org.uk