Hiring a nanny or any caregiver can be stressful and time-consuming, confusing, and emotionally draining. I know, I’ve been there before.
I was once a client of this agency, and I have experienced the anxiety of searching for a trusted caregiver to take care of my infant son.
I ended up hiring a wonderful nanny but saw that the process of searching and hiring nannies could be improved to help families and the caregivers, so I bought the company. I also wanted to learn and find a way for nannies to be valued, trained and certified as a professional nanny.
If you’re searching for a caregiver by posting your job on our website, here are some tips for you.
We do our due diligence to recruit and register caregivers that have at least two years of childcare experience and agree to having their background screened. You will have access to purchase candidates’ screenings that include, criminal searches, motor vehicle records, and references.
1). Make sure the caregivers have completed more than enough information in their profile and application that include:
· Previous work experience and references
· Education or vocational training
· Medical conditions
· Certifications, including CPR, First Aid, and childcare training
2). You want to have a caregiver that has the appropriate energy level your child or multiple children and their activities. You maybe surprised that there are active senior citizens who are more energetic than teens and millennials who have been raised as “coach-potatoes” with video games and smart phones in their hands.
3). Qualify your position with personal preferences, such as caregivers who likes pets and is not allergic to them. On a personal level, treat the hiring of a caregiver first as a business, because they are providing you with a paid service. Your friendship with the nanny is important but secondary when it comes to establishing rules, policies, household, and childcare duties.
4). Make sure you understand all federal and state employment tax laws and liabilities. When you hire a caregiver, remember they are your employees and should be legally hired and have taxes withheld. As an employer, you should provide your caregiver with an IRS W2 Tax form to report wages earnings and taxes that are withheld. This is a benefit to both you and the caregiver when it’s time to file taxes. We offer a service to conveniently provide this service on our website through GTM & Associates. Here’s a link:
5). After you have hired a caregiver, make sure you have a written and executed Employment Agreement that details your job description, household policies, and childcare responsibilities.