Is this possible? Help creating a job description
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Anonymous
Sorry but I agree with PP. This sounds like an absolutely terrible job. Part time hours, SAHM, and a troupe of kids including an "older teenager" who for some reason needs mom and a nanny. Nanny will end up doing all of this kept woman's dirty work, and since its part time and she's around all the time, they'll constantly screw with the schedule, change the job description, micromanage, and won't want to offer any benefits. Most experienced nannies with any sense will run like hell from this job. |
Anonymous
Exactly. |
Anonymous
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OP here.
Thanks for the feedback. We're still at the brainstorming stage so sorry if this is all over the place. We know we don't want morning help as my DH is typically around to help. I say typically because he does travel for work., and it would be nice if the person hired could come in mornings those weeks. We know his schedule ahead of time so we would be able to tell when more help is needed. For the most part we would want help from noon to 7. Not sure if that would be 3 set days a week or the 5. We would absolutely need someone with the experience and maturity to care for the ages mentioned. I think we're a pretty easy going family, warm, loving, talkative and emotional, but within that there are individual personalities, and of course we don't yet know how the baby will be. We're busy and at times loud. so we'd need someone comfortable with that and someone who doesn't get flustered with children who that require extra emotional sensitivity as we have 2 children that I would describe as high needs. Not looking to do chores. I mean if there's a spill I hope they would be willing to mop up and serve snacks or meals, but no household cleaning. We also need someone who can drive. |
Anonymous
You might want to consider going through an agency OP. I'm the pp above that said this sounds like a very unattractive job. My guess would be that you'll have a hard time finding someone who is a good fit, and also willing to work part time hours that will shift. The shifting of hours makes it difficult to have any commitments outside of your job, which will only pay 20-30 hours. An agency will help match you to someone, will likely offer backup care, and will help find a replacement, as you will have a pretty high turnover rate. Good luck. |
Anonymous
This sounds very much like something I would love, but I live-in so I can afford to be more flexible with hours than most live-out nannies. If you want morning help occasionally, you might want to hire for that separately, or make it an optional add-on. Most part-time nannies have 2+ families, and with your schedule, the other family would need to be before school and/or weekends. If you want to hire and keep someone long-term, you need to list exactly what you need. Be specific about why you consider 2 of the kids high needs. State whether you expect the nanny to drive her car or yours. Most nannies don't like working with teens, but when it's a large family and teens are part of it, that's the way it is, so you need to be open to the nanny spending one-on-one time with your teen every once in a while to establish and maintain a relationship. You need to be clear what the household duties will be. Will the nanny cook the family dinner, or just help serve it? Will the nanny be expected to wipe up spilled milk or mop the floor to make sure there's no smell? It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on what you need, so write up a description, being as specific as possible. If you want someone legal, someone paid on the books (or conversely, off the book) or someone who speaks English fluently and can help with homework, those must be in your description. The more information in your description, the better. Nannies who take the time to read your description won't apply if they can't or won't do what you need. And you really, really don't want to hire someone who is going into it blind. So, the people who contact you and talk about what you posted will know what you expect and need, and they should feel that they are capable of fulfilling it. You may have more luck going through an agency, but perhaps not. Most agencies seem to just send applicants to families if they know that they don't have what a specific family needs. And all of the agencies advertise families on care, sittercity and the like anyway. You should be able to do your own legwork if you post on dcum. Because your position isn't the normal 1-2 kids and set hours, skipping your neighborhood listserv might be ok. |
Anonymous
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Op here . Thanks again especially to last pps.
We could hire someone else for the occasional travel weeks. It would be nice to have the same person so they would already know the routine, but I understand that's asking for a lot of flexibility. The most I foresee for meals is serving maybe warming up food and serving. Mopping up spills. We have a swifter so it's easy and teen is generally pretty helpful with the younger kids. Other than that be able to give the occasional bath to the younger kids. By high needs I mean one of our children is very sensitive. Super sweet, but we need someone who doesn't get flustered by tears and can talk them through a difficult moment . Another child is in the process of being adopted had some difficult years before coming to us is generally a good kid but can be extremely defiant so again someone who can remain calm if a kid snaps at them is important. For driving the nanny would be able to use my car or my husband's car. I used to work daycare when I was younger so in my mind I'm thinking of it like a whoever we hire and me will be like co teachers and work together mostly, with them occasionally working solo, or caring for 1 or 2 of the kids. I hope that's not a crazy idea |
Anonymous
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Also what's a fair rate?
We can't afford thousands a week. We were thinking $400 to $600 a week is that reasonable? |
Anonymous
As long as you and the mother's helper get along, it should be fine. Though I would definitely suggest phrasing it as mother's helper, not as nanny. For what you want, you need to be willing to offer at least $20/hour and make it guaranteed, even if you don't need all the hours. $20/hour for 7 hours per day, 5 days per week puts you at $700. I'm sorry, but for someone who lives out and what you want, I don't think you're going to find anyone cheaper. |
Anonymous
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We want a nanny. When we looked up different job descriptions a mother's helper just doesn't have the experience I need. From what I've found online they're usually teenagers. I can't have that.
We definitely can't afford $700 a week. I'm guessing we wouldn't find anyone long term willing to work 3 days for the $400 or so. Thanks for the honest feedback. At least we won't waste time with an add. |
Anonymous
| Why do you need this super experienced person when you're there to supervise... |
Anonymous
| Because I won't be there all the time. Maybe 90 % of the time , but there will be times I won't be. |
Anonymous
| Of course, if you hire no one, you are there 100% of the time. |
Anonymous
OP I don't think posting an ad would be a waste. I agree with PP that $20/hour sounds appropriate, but for 7 hour days 3 days per week that would be $420. You may need to compromise a bit on having someone super experienced, but you can find a moderately experienced person, and work with them for a bit until you feel comfortable that they can handle things without you. |
Anonymous
What I meant was I doubt we'd be able to keep someone long term, it seems from this thread that 5 day schedule would be preferred so the nanny wouldn't need to work around another job. |
Anonymous
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I'm a MB on my 3rd full-time nanny in 7.5 years and both of our previous full-time nannies decided to go back to school and would have been thrilled with a 3 day a week position if the days worked with their college schedules. You may find that the person you are looking for exists (e.g. someone with a part-time job already who needs more hours, or a someone who has a morning job and is looking for an afternoon one) so it's never a waste just to post an ad. Make it as detailed as you can, and see what the response is.
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