The above Salary Guide gives an approximate idea of current market rates – however, as all positions vary, salary depends on the individual requirements of the job.
How long do you think it will take to find someone suitable?
If we already have someone suitable registered with us, who has already been interviewed and reference checked, we would be able to send you their details straight away.
However, in the majority of cases (as we cover the whole of the UK) we would advertise your specific vacancy and then process any suitable applicants who may apply (this involves interviewing, reference and ID checking) and this can take around 1-2 weeks.
Do you have candidates “on your books” that you can send me straight away?
Whilst the days of agencies having applicants who are sitting waiting for a job no longer exist, we would always , as the first thing we do when we have a new vacancy is look through our current applicants to see if they are a good match.
Do you interview all of your applicants?
Yes , all our applicants are interviewed personally by us in a 45 minute interview and we also check their ID and do our own reference checks.
What are the differences between a Nanny/Housekeeper (can also be known as a Mother’s Help) and a Housekeeper/Nanny?
A Nanny/Housekeeper is usually someone who has childcare experience and is happy to do light housework and a Housekeeper/Nanny is really a child friendly Housekeeper and whilst they are happy to help with children, they are unlikely to have work related childcare experience. We can help you identify which would best suit your requirements.
What level of care and personal care do your Companion / Carers provide?
The help we can provide is best defined as basic care not nursing. Whist the Companion / Carer will be happy to help with some personal care including: showering/bathing, dressing and toileting, please bear in mind that as they are not medically trained they will not be able to do hoisting, manual handling, changing catheters, taking blood pressure etc. We can help you identify if the level of care we can provide will be sufficient for your needs.
How many hours and days could I expect a full time applicant to work and how many days off would I need to offer per week?
Most applicants classify full time as 5 days per week, usually Monday-Friday and would work up to a maximum of 10 hours per day (with breaks). In the current climate, it is unusual to find candidates who are willing to work more than 5 days per week, as they want 2 days off per week, usually consecutive days.
Do all childcare applicants have previous nanny experience?
Not necessarily , as some of the best childcarers may not have worked in a home setting before but may have previously worked in a nursery (especially those holding childcare qualifications) , been a parent themselves or worked in another position where they looked after children.
How specific do I need to be on working hours and salary offered?
In our experience, applicants tend not to apply for jobs where the details are too vague and you would get a much better response if you identify what days, hours and salary you are looking to offer.
Will I be able to do a trial with someone and do you offer a trial period?
If the candidate isn’t currently working then a trial period would be possible. However, as most of our applicants are currently employed, it would normally only be possible for them to a trial for a few hours or 1 day, as they wouldn’t give up their current position, just to do a trial.
We're interested in taking on a Live In Companion / Housekeeper for my parents. What sort of accommodation would they need to provide?
You would need to provide as a minimum their own bedroom with TV & WiFi and use of their own bathroom.
We live in a rural location and wondered if that will make it harder for us to find someone?
We place candidates in jobs all over the UK, and can assure you that your location is not a problem, as many of our domestic staff don’t want to work in a big city and are quite happy to work out in the countryside.
If I am providing self-contained or separate accommodation, should I also cover their utility bills and council tax as well?
It is usual for employers to pay for their staff’s council tax and reasonable utility bills. Exceptions can include: telephone, Wi Fi, TV license & Satellite TV.
I am employing someone on a live in basis; do I need to make sure they have WiFi in their accommodation?
Yes, most applicants would expect to have access to WiFi.
I need my live in help to be able to drive; will I need to provide them with a car?
In our experience, the majority of live in applicants who drive don’t have their own car, so you would need to have the option of them having a car they can use for work.
If my Nanny / Housekeeper uses their own car for work, do I need to pay petrol expenses and if so what rate would you suggest?
We recommend that clients pay petrol expenses based on the AA recommended guidelines which are £0.45 per mile and you ask your Nanny/Housekeeper to provide you with a monthly mileage summary.
What happens if it doesn’t work out with the person I have hired?
We offer a 12 week “like for like” replacement period which starts from the first day of employment, where we would endeavour to find you a replacement free of charge.
Please note: our replacement policy is only valid when our invoice has been settled within our terms of business (7 days from receipt of invoice)
What are your fees if you find someone for us?
Our fees for a permanent placement are 4 week’s gross salary + VAT.
Are you able to get a DBS Criminal Record Check done on your candidates?
Yes, we can arrange and help applicants to get an Enhanced DBS Criminal Record Check done. There is a small charge to have it done of £48.40, which is the amount we are charged by the company who process the DBS Checks for us.
I am looking for a job as a Housekeeper, what sort of experience would I need to have, to be able to apply for one of your positions?
You must have relevant experience in a similar role with work related checkable references or referees we can contact to back this up.
I am worried about how difficult it will be for me to be the official employer, and be responsible for paying their tax & NI, providing payslips etc. as I have never employed anyone before, is it straightforward?
It’s actually quite a straightforward process and if you need some assistance we are happy to recommend an excellent specialist payroll company who can offer professional help and advice available on being an employer and running a payroll system.
If I only need someone to work for me for 20-25 hours per week, will I still need to pay their tax & NI or can they just sort it out themselves?
If the candidate is only working for you part time, then it would be possible for them to qualify as being eligible to be self-employed, as they could feasibly work for more than one employer.
For more information about what qualifies as being self-employed, please click on this link: http://bit.ly/37CXskT
As many of our candidates prefer to be employed not self-employed, it is important, at the time of registering with the Agency, to let us know if you want the person to be employed or self-employed.
Will I need to provide my help with a contract of employment?
Yes, it is a legal requirement to provide all employees with a contract of employment. Once a placement has been agreed we will provide you with a draft contract that you can personalise.
At what stage would you invoice me?
We invoice once a job offer has been accepted, not on the actual start date. Our payment terms are 7 days from receipt of invoice, however the 12 week guarantee period starts from the date of commencement, not the date of invoice.
