The Nanny Test

Choosing a nanny, au pair or babysitter for your children is a process that should be organized and performed carefully, to ensure you find someone who can be trusted, will contribute significantly to the development of your child and integrate well into your family. The detailed step-by-step process described below will help you make an informed decision and choose the best possible nanny for your kids, ensuring their well-being and safety.

Step 1 Define Requirements and Expectations

The first part of the hiring process is to define your exact requirements and expectations. Ask yourself questions and build a list of all requirements, then narrow it down to the most important ones. Are you looking for a nanny in a full-time or part-time position? Does she need to be flexible with over-time? Are you looking for a young, outgoing and energetic nanny or do your kids require an older and more authoritative person? How important to you are tidiness and cleanliness? Is the nanny expected to cook for your kids? Is she expected to drive them around? Are there any additional duties she is expected to perform?

Step 2 Interview

Once you know what you expect, you can start interviewing the nannies. The interviews should be structured with a standard set of questions that are asked of all candidates. This makes it easier to evaluate and compare the candidates and to ensure that all critical topics are indeed covered.

The Phone Interview

In order to save time and effort, it is recommended to start with a phone interview. First explain the requirements of the job and the duties it includes. Ask about past experience with similar age groups, the motivation for choosing this sort of profession, the reasons for leaving the previous place of employment, future plans, other responsibilities which may affect the job and any other questions you consider important at this stage. Also ask for names and phone numbers of references. If satisfied with the responses, invite the nanny for a face-to-face interview at your home.

The Face-to-Face interview

In the face-to-face interview, it is time to find as much as possible about the nanny as well as provide her with all necessary information to allow her to decide whether she indeed wants the job. Discuss your child's personality and routines, review the various duties and explain also the house rules concerning issues such as smoking, visitors, phone use, etc. Inquire on details about the nanny's views and attitudes on handling crying babies, disciplining a child, toilet-training children, ideas for activities and any other topics of importance to you. Describe certain scenarios and ask the nanny to explain how she would act in such situations.

At some stage of the interview let your children meet the nanny and allow time to observe the interaction between them. Children make it clear when they don't like someone. Trust your instincts and those of your child.

Step 3 Perform a Personality and Risk Assessment

Once you are satisfied with the interview results, continue and perform the NannyTest personality and risk assessment. NannyTest is a psychological test that will help you screen potential caregivers by providing a better insight into their personality and traits, as well as an assessment of possible risk factors. http://www.take-care.me/

Step 4 Check References

Checking references with previous employers and acquaintances is a sort of interview as well. Expect the previous employer to give you a good reference, but try to read between the lines and ask questions that require a detailed answer and may reveal underlining issues. Such questions may be about what has the previous employer liked and disliked about the nanny, why has she left her position, and whether would she be rehired by the same employer. Pay attention also to the tone of the responses. Is the previous employer excited about the nanny? Is he just being polite or does he really care about helping the nanny to get a new job?

Any red flags or problematic issues identified during steps 2 and 3 should be used to focus your inquiries and be validated or clarified during the reference check stage.

Step 5 Follow-Up Interview

If needed, interview the nanny again, either face-to-face or over the phone, to discuss and clarify any concerns you have following steps 3 and 4.

Step 6 Run a Background Check

The last step in the processes is running a background check on the nanny. Use a reputable background screening agency to verify identity, past employment and education and search for criminal records, driving records and more.

Step 7 Spend Time With the Nanny on a Trial Period

Before making a final decision, ask the nanny to spend a day or two with you and your kids, on a paid trail period. This period shouldn't be too long to avoid confusing the kids but it will allow you to see how the nanny interacts with the kids and performs her various tasks.

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About the NannyTest

TakeCare enables parents to significantly improve the screening process of their nannies and au pairs by providing them with an easy and affordable online access to the same psychological assessment tools used by the largest organizations.

TakeCare's NannyTest has been constructed specifically for this purpose by leading Israeli psychologists, utilizing the PsyPass Computerized Psychological Assessment system developed by Psiphas Psychological Applications Ltd.

The PsyPass system is being used by hundreds of companies, organizations and placement agencies in Israel, including the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Airport Authority, Bank of Israel, IKEA, FedEx and many more.

For more information on the NannyTest and its' developer, Yossi Pinkas, visit http://www.take-care.me/.

Marion Goodwin - Au Pairs

I caught up Marion Goodwin to discuss Au Pairs. Read on to discover what she has to say;

My name is Marion and I'm a WAH mom of two little ones. Originally from Germany, I came to the United States in 1997 to work as an au pair for a family in Massachusetts. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so when I got the chance to work as a Local Childcare Coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair I didn't hesitate to take it.

As a Local Childcare Coordinator (LCC) I help families across the country find flexible and affordable live-in childcare. I also provide advice and support for current host families and au pairs and make sure that they all have wonderful experience.

Cultural Care Au Pair, which is a division of EF Education, the world’s largest private educational institution, has been providing families with intercultural childcare and educational exchange since the U.S. government launched the program in 1989. We are regulated by the U.S. Department of State and have successfully placed more than 75,000 au pairs in welcoming American homes.

What is an Au Pair?

Au pairs are caring and committed, adventurous and educated young people from abroad. They are eager to experience American culture while sharing their own unique backgrounds. In exchange for the privilege of living in your home as a family member, they will provide you with up to 45 hours per week/ 10 hours per day of personalized and loving childcare. They will also assist you with light household duties such as preparing your children’s meals and helping them keep their rooms neat. Au pairs are a great way to expose your family to another language and culture and teach your children international customs and traditions.

Is it a difficult process to hire an Au Pair? What are some of the common things to expect in the process?

Cultural Care Au Pair tries to make the selection process as easy as possible. As a family in the matching process you get to work with a personal Placement Manager who chooses au pair applications for you based on your needs and expectations. The application is then placed into your account for your exclusive review so you will not compete with other families while trying to decide which au pair is right for you.
You may also take advantage of our "search and select option" which allows you to search through au pair profiles independently. Finally, you can schedule a "consultative matching appointment" during which you review multiple candidates at once over the phone with your Placement Manager.

While some families go through multiple applications before they find the au pair that's "right for them," others find theirs right away. To make sure that you feel comfortable with each other we require that all families interview the au pairs before finalizing the match.The phone interview is a crucial part of the screening process and the best way for you to get to know an au pair candidate before making a decision.

Generally how long does it take to get an Au Pair?

We suggest that parents start the matching process about three to four months before the desired arrival date. That way they have enough time to review multiple applications, interview possible au pair matches and find the one that is right for their family.

What is expected of the family once the Au Pair is living in the home?

As a host family you should welcome an au pair into your home as a family member and include him/ her in family meals, activities and outings. You should be committed to cultural exchange and must adhere to all U.S. Department of State regulations which are designed to ensure a successful program experience.
You are also required to give your au pairs one-and-a-half consecutive days off per week, one complete weekend off each month and two weeks of paid vacation during the year. Finally you are expected to pay up to $500 towards the au pair's educational component which is part of the au pair's program requirement.

How long do Au Pairs generally stay with one family?

Au pairs live with their host families for one year, but have the option to extend for an additional 12, 9 or 6 months!

Is it a luxury that only "well-to-do" folks can afford?
Not at all! Cultural Care Au Pair is one of the most affordable childcare options available. Regardless of the number of children in your family, the average weekly cost is just $340, which includes the application fee, selection fee, program fee and your au pair’s weekly stipend. That’s just $7.50 per hour for 45 hours of childcare coverage!

What happens if the Au Pair and family aren't compatible (for whatever reasons).

Families should always allow for a “settling in” period of about a month. Your local childcare coordinator will be there to assist you and your au pair during this adjustment period. If incompatibilities cannot be resolved, we will work with you to find a solution as soon as possible.

Contact:

Marion Goodwin is a local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair. She loves connecting host families from across the country with au pairs from around the world, helping families find flexible and affordable childcare. Marion welcomes your questions about the au pair program and can be reached at; marion.goodwin@lcc.culturalcare.com or 781-648-2410. For more information, please visit http://www.mgoodwin.aupairnews.com/ or http://www.culturalcare.com/.