WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN TRYING TO FIND A QUALITY NANNY SERVICE

You've made the choice to hire an agency to find the perfect nanny for your child but you're reeling from the number of service agencies that are out there. Which of the agencies can you trust with the safety of your child?

Instead of starting with the Yellow Pages, try talking with your friends, family, neighbors or anyone else you trust. Maybe they've uncovered a secret while doing their own nanny search. They will give you candid praise or critiques of the nanny service agency they used. All nanny agencies are different, do your research on the costs and the benefits. 

If all else fails, page through your local newspaper for ads or try an online nanny service like NannyPro.com to easily find the right candidate online. Online nanny services like NannyPro.com make it safe and easy to find a great caregiver. 

Finding The Information

Once you have a few names of online nanny service providers, think of yourself as an investigator. It's your job to dig for information on the nanny services agency that best suits your family's needs.

The first place to start your investigation is the internet. Do a search and check out social media groups to hear about other parent's experiences with the online nanny service. You should also pay attention if the agency if associated with any professional organizations such as the International Nanny Association. The Better Business Bureau is another great place to check for any complaints that may have been filed against the online agency.

If you want to go even further, you can contact the online agency itself. If it's a reputable agency, the representatives will answer any questions you may have. They should be open and willing to share information with you.

How are these perfect nannies screened? The first step in the screening process involves the all-mom NannyPro Team reviewing the applicant's profile. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, must have at least 6 months of prior childcare related experience, and must have at least 1 childcare related reference. The next step is for the candidate to take the International Nanny Association Basic Skills Assessment that tests their childcare skills and knowledge. Then parents conduct short phone interviews with 5-6 prospective hires to whittle down their list of potential nannies to 2-3. These nannies should be screened with one or more background checks, which can be done right through NannyPro online. The next step involves in-person interviews. Parents can use the interview questions in the Complete Hiring Guide by Carolin Soldo to conduct the phone and in-person interviews. When there is a match, the family can go on and develop a nanny work agreement and hire their candidate of choice. 

The hiring process may sound complicated, but it doesn't have to be if you do your homework. Ask questions and do some research, and you're bound to find an agency that suits your family's needs.

If you are an Austin Nanny, Baltimore Nanny, or Phoenix Nanny, check out our resources page for more information on the hiring process. 

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