Looking for a Nanny...

hi Tazz, i have just came across your post now. my sister she looking for a job, if your are still looking for nanny. and again on you post you have said 2012, i am not sure if you wanted to say 2013.

she has done a pre-cause in basic nurisng in pretoria.
she worked as a helper, and was also looking at a child .
she has also worked in Pretoria looking after an old lady there, unfortunately the lady past away.
she has alos this year looking after my child as she was not working.

she staying in JHB ( Betrams)
if you need more info please don't hesitate to contact her on this no- 072 7377 152 or me on 082 552 9457.

i guees if you are need her you will get all onformation you need from her when you interview her and discuss salary as well.

Hi Tazzy,

We have a live out nanny, we are based in Randburg and she comes in from Diepsloot daily. We started her on R2650 for the first 3 months but this is below the going rate of about R3000 - R3500 and she will be getting an increase in Jan.

Live-in Nannies in our area are earning about R2400 plus they get their room (furnished with the basics) and meals included.

Our Nanny works Monday - Friday 7am - 5.30pm (although I am generally home by 4pm so she leaves by 4.30pm)

Babysitting at night or over weekends would be overtime and would need to be paid at 1.5 times her hourly rate

I googled interview questions and found a nice interview guide. I will PM you if I still have it.

Yes, you would need to pay UIF. 1% is deducted from their salary and you are responsible for the other 1%. Visit www.labour.gov.za/documents/forms/unempl...and-sample-documents

I sent Esther to Help at Home - it was a 3 day course and they covered basic childcare and first aid. I have heard wondergul things about the Sugar and Spice course though so google them. What I liked about Help at Home was it was presented by a black lady and so she could translate the information into their home language so it was easy to understand. Help at Home also does placements, we interviewed 5 candidates from them and 2 referrals. We shortlisted 2 from Help at Home and 1 referral and chose to go with Esther who was a referral as she was a bit older (50) and lived closer. The ladies that are placed by Help at Home have already done the basic childcare course. We also bought an activity box with stimulation games that Esther does with Emily. The box was R350 and most of the toys you would have already. The nanny training is R550 and way cheaper and more valuable than any other stimulation course I could find. Let me know if you want more info on the activity box.

I still have a maid once a week to do a "deep clean" but Esther would manage if we didn't have her. Esther packs and unpacks the dishwasher, sweeps the floors, wipes down the bathroom and tidies the kitchen daily. She also does Emily's washing and ironing once or twice a week.

It is a HUGE decision and it has taken some adjustment to having someone else in our home but my advice is to be clear about your expectations from day 1, make sure she understands what you are asking of her, keep a nanny diary (I have a template if you are looking for one) and most importantly remember that this is the best thing you can do for your LO. They will get the one on one attention they deserve and will develop a special bond with the nanny.

Good Luck and shout if you need anything!

Thanks so much Widget for the response Very useful info indeed

Hi Tazzy,

I see you posted this over a month ago so you might have come right already with all your questions but I may have the answers to some of them. I completely understand what an absolutely emotionally exhausting and stressful thing this can be!

I would say the going wage is probably around R2600 to R3000? Perhaps less because it is live-in, so closer to R2400pm.

They can work however many days you want them to. The nice thing about live in is that you can use her on weekends also if necessary if that is the agreement you have with her, but make sure you set out all her working hours and days in a contract in accordance with the labour law and have an overtime rate in place.

Food and accommodation will normally be included in their salary. Again, you can then offer a salary and say it is inclusive of both, or if you have a separate flatlet with a kitchenette and you prefer her to cook for herself you can give her a salary excluding meals.

Yes you furnish their room as far as I am aware.

You have to register them for UIF yes, but it is a simple process. You download the form from the labour department website fill it in and fax it through. You then make a monthly payment and the UIF deduction should reflect on her salary also. Foreigners should also be registered for UIF as from this year.

Baby sitting at night would probably be extra (overtime), again, depending on her normal working hours.

I would say first aid course is a must for your nanny to attend. Child minding courses are good but I always feel common sense and experience count for more. Help at Home in Florida Park does a child minding and basic first aid course in one. Then there is also pulsepoint (www.pulsep.co.za).

As for another domestic to do the major cleaning all depends on you. We had a domestic come in twice a week and a nanny that worked half day because I wanted the nanny to only focus on the baby. But I did find that then we doubled up on cost (salary, meals and taxi fair) as well as now you have two different people working and intruding your home. Not something I ever liked, and if I ever had to do it over I would get a nanny domestic right from the start and just assist in working out some sort of weekly roster so the housework gets done. It will all be trial and error until you find a routine that works for everyone.

I would say word of mouth is more important than an agency yes, but always always, weather you use an agency or word of mouth follow up on references! You might also find that you think you are employing the perfect person but then after a month or so your realise that your personalities clash or there are some things you don't like and you just accept that, let her go and find someone new!

Using an agency though does make the process much less painful as they assist with a lot of the paperwork, interview questions etc. They do ask a placement fee though which can be quite a bit. There is Edubabe that has a very good reputation from what I have heard, and I also know of Help at Home who is very good. Contact Ruth.

Good luck! Hope you find the right person for you and your family!

Hello Mommy's

Please help me... I am looking for a full time live in nanny to start on the 1st Feb 2012. I have no idea where to begin?

Can you please give me some guidlines? Im clueless?

What is the going wage for a fulltime live in nanny in Sandton area?
How many days do they work a week?
What is included in their salary? Food?
Do you furnish the room?
Do you pay UIF?
Do you pay extra for baby sitting at night? If so, how much?
What questions do you ask them in the interview?
What additional courses can we send them on? Child minding, First Aid etc
Will we need another maid to come in once a week to do major housework? windows/ironing etc?

More importanting where can I find a nanny that will become part of our family?
Is Word of mouth is more reliable than an agency?

Does anyone know of a good nanny

Thanks for your assistance ladies