Are there any good, honest, professional nanny agencies in DC?

[Anonymous]

I'd love to hear from both nannies and parents. I run a very busy nanny agency in another major city. My husband just got a job offer in DC so we are weighing our options of moving there. What is the overall nanny community like in the area? Is it tight knit? I've been so fortunate to build a close relationship with both nannies I've placed and former clients. I truly believe in professional development and offer resume and portfolio workshops, different classes and certifications for my nannies to expand their knowledge and boost their resumes, free CPR re-certifications, etc. In turn, my nannies have always been fiercely loyal to my agency, recommending their friends, openly coming to me to help mitigate any work issues that arise, etc. We host monthly playdates and holiday parties for our nannies to get to know each other, kids to play, and parents can be confident their children are interacting with other fully vetted caregivers. We have an extremely low turn over rate and our average placement lasts three years. I'd really really love to be able to replicate this community in DC.

Is there an agency that all nannies want to be represented by? Is there an agency that parents confidently use and recommend to their friends? Are there any local nanny professional development groups?

Any insight would be very much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Let me ask this:

Are the nannies your employees? Or are they employed by the families?

Is the low turnover with your agency or the families?

What percentage of families are primarily looking for long-term cars with some backup to cover the nanny’s vacation and sick leave vs temp care for daycare/preschool families?