The 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.
Caregiver Screening Tips
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.
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.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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