Benefits & Advantages of using a Nanny Agency versus using an Online Job Site

When you decide the time is right to look for a Nanny, you may consider undertaking the whole process yourself. It would, however, be worth reading on to take a look at just how much more effective it can be using a company that has all the relevant expertise and experience of the nanny/childcare sector at its’ fingertips!

So, here goes with the best reasons as to why using a company offers the reassurance and peace of mind you need when searching for a Nanny:

Peace of Mind

One of the most crucial benefits of using an agency to undertake your search has to be the security, reassurance and peace of mind that comes with this. Before you even start looking at suitable candidates you know that they will have gone through a thorough vetting and selection process. Eden Private Staff (EPS) for example will only register candidates who show a commitment of at least 2 years to their career as a nanny and their CV must show a steady and trackable work history. EPS will interview every prospective candidate face to face (or by Skype if the candidate is abroad) and references for the last 3 years will for contacted. Using an online jobsite will not give you this amount of pre-screening protection in advance.

Expertise

An agency will also undertake all the relevant work needed to attract the right candidates to apply for your specific role and they know where to look. For example EPS will write a suitable and engaging advert and advertise the position on their website. They can also assist clients with writing a job description/contracts and agreements, will help with interview questions and all the necessary paperwork. If you are doing this online, you will need to do all this by yourself.

Time Saving

We all lead such busy lives, so by allowing an agency to get on with all the hard work that goes into finding the best nanny for you, you are able to get on with what you need to do. Not only will an agency such as EPS do all the relevant advertising and paperwork, they will also save you an enormous amount of time by shifting through all the applications, weeding out those that are not suitable and identifying those that are. Once that process is completed then they will interview, register and vet the prospective candidates and only then will the successful few be sent to you for consideration. This takes a good deal of time and organisation which is not easy if you are attempting to do the search and selection yourself.

Once the best two or three candidates have been targeted and selected for interview, an agency would then on behalf of the client, set up an interviewing schedule, liaising with both parties throughout the process. If you are not familiar with interviewing, it can be a daunting prospect without a little help and advice on what to look for, what to ask and so on.

Following interviews the agency will gather all the necessary feedback in order for you to make an informed decision about the candidates. Further interviews can be arranged if necessary and essentially you will be assisted through to making a job offer to the best candidate. All these steps and processes take time and if you are going it alone, you may not have enough time and consequently the search will lose impetus or worse, you will make a bad decision as you are short of time.

On-Going Support

An agency such as EPS will provide support and guidance not just during the search, but after the placement has been made as well, as the Nanny settles into the new role. Teething problems can be nipped in the bud quickly and a third party dealing with any issues makes for a smoother transition for everyone. It is always just good to know that at the start (for both parties) there is a friendly and experienced voice at the end of the phone. Using an online site will mean that once you have made your decision you will need to go with it and hope everything works out.

Guarantees Agencies offer replacement guarantees for a certain number of weeks after the commencement of the placement (subject to their terms of business) or something similar, giving you peace of mind should something go wrong.

Retention It has been statistically proven that by using an agency, you are more likely to retain your Nanny for longer. The depth, focus and personalised nature of the search and selection process by an Agency means you will find a Nanny with the right experience and qualifications and have a much higher chance of success. An online jobsite means a less targeted approach so possibly a lower chance of success and retention.

If you would like to chat to a nanny consultant at EPS for more advice and information then please call the team on 02074716000