Job Description of a Professional Nanny
Full-time nannies offer an ideal solution for homes in which both parents work full-time. How much such homes pay for a full-time nanny depends on a number of factors, such as where you live, the amount of training and experience the nanny has, and whether the nanny is live-in or live-out.
The role of a full-time nanny in caring for a child or children will largely depend on the responsibilities the nanny and the family agree upon. And as the family’s needs change and the child grows, that role can change over time.
Fundamentally, a full-time nanny will be responsible for taking care of a child in the absence of the parents during agreed upon work hours. These duties include care such as feeding, bathing, changing diapers, maintaining a routine, putting the child down for naps, and ensuring the well-being and health of your child. Some childcare providers also provide extra services which not all nannies will be able to give your child. These include driving a child to and from school or other classes, teaching the child another language, errands and taking care of household chores.
As with most jobs, professional nannies should work about 40 hours per week on average. If working in a full-time nanny position, a professional nanny will expect to be paid for 40 hours of work per week. Any work beyond those hours should be considered overtime and remunerated as such.
The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act states that full-time, live-out nannies (nannies that live outside the home of the family for which she nannies) should be paid time and a half for all hours worked over the agreed 40 hours. Therefore, if you are a live-out full-time nanny that is asked to work more than 40 hours per week, you are entitled to overtime. If a nanny is salaried for 40 hours per week, she will need to determine what her hourly salary and calculate one and half times this amount. It is important that the nanny and her employer have discussed overtime and that it is part of the contract before beginning a full-time nanny position.
Full-time live-in nannies are also required to be paid overtime, but the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act states that such nannies should be compensated for every hour of work that goes over the agreed amount. Live-in nannies are not by law entitled to time and a half.
When your full-time nanny is doing her job well, the child or children in her care will look forward to spending some time with her. A full-time nanny should be prompt and reliable. In general, a nanny should arrive to work on time and working the agreed days. A good nanny should keep the family informed of events during their absence. A diligent nanny makes an effort to keep parents abreast of the child’s general well-being.
A good nanny ensures both child and home are clean and well looked after. The child should generally be in good spirits, have clean diapers, and have clean clothing. The household should be well ordered, showing that the nanny is picking up after the child.
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Although requirements will vary depending on State or Local licensing requirements, here are some of the things you may be asked to provide when applying for a nanny license:
- Prior Childcare References
- College Diploma
- Valid Driver License
- Childhood Education Units
- CPR Certification
- Social Security Card
- Current TB Test Results
- Proof of Medical and Car Insurance
- Credit Consumer
Tip of the day
Finding babysitters when you're traveling presents its own set of challenges. You need to find a childcare provider for your little one, but you have to do so from afar. Although finding babysitters when you're getting ready to go on the road isn't the same as looking for childcare locally, there are some things you can do to ensure you are dealing with someone you can trust.
* Check with the hotel you're staying at to see if they offer a list of recommended babysitters. Always find out what type of prescreening or requirements the hotel has in place for babysitters on their recommended list.
* Do some research to find out what babysitter agencies are available in the area. Here, you can also be thorough and find out what sort of prescreening measures are in place for individual childcare professionals.
* Use word of mouth. See if a friend of a friend knows someone in the town you're visiting and can refer you to a reputable agency or a babysitter.
* Use an online database, such as Nannies4hire.com, that lets you search and browse through potential babysitters based on area.
IFor more Family tips, visit www.nannies4hire.com.
