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Nanny Screening Tips
Justifying the Nanny Cam
Whether or not you decide to try out a nanny spy camera depends on how much you trust the nanny you just hired, how old your children are, and if this is the first time you’ve ever left your children with someone other than family. It’s important to ask yourself some soul-searching questions before going the route of a nanny cam:
Are you planning on using a nanny cam just for a few weeks until you feel certain that all is well on the home front?
How critical do you think you’ll be when you see your nanny in action? Just because she does things differently than you would do, doesn’t mean she’s doing something wrong.
Where would you put the nanny cam in your home?
Yes, it’s justifiable to want to protect your children anyway you can and for some people, that means using a nanny cam as added security. Sometimes we have to be brutally honest with ourselves. If the nanny cam becomes your obsession, maybe you’re not ready to leave your kids with a nanny at all. On the other hand, maybe your plan is to use the nanny cam for a week or so just to put your mind at ease.
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Nanny Tip: Don't Overlook Nanny Background Checks
It doesn’t really matter how you go about doing nanny background checks, what’s important is that you do them. The key one to do is the criminal record checks. Your local police detachment office might have forms that you can use, you could hire a lawyer or a detective to provide background checks.
It’s tempting to just contact the references and take them at face value. After all, why bother with all of the expense and hassle of formal nanny background checks? The references supplied should be good enough, right? Not necessarily. The nanny’s references should be able to tell you how well the nanny worked with their children, whether the nanny was reliable and trustworthy, and anything else you need to know directly related to the nanny’s work ethic.
Nanny background checks should only be conducted after the nanny interview. Once you’ve decided to hire that particular nanny, let her know that the final requirement of employment is a clear background check. She’ll have to sign a consent form, but once that’s been signed, you’re free to complete the checks. Once everything comes back clear, you’ll feel much better leaving your kids with the new nanny.
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It's Not All About the Nanny Cams
There are some definite pros to purchasing and using nanny cams in your home, especially if you’re leaving a young child with a new nanny for the first time. They can help you flag warning signs of impending abuse (sudden outbursts of anger, inappropriate behavior, etc.) or catch the nanny involved in something you don’t approve of.
However, the question remains, is it ethical to install hidden nanny cams in your home? There may actually be much better ways of keeping tabs on the nanny if you’re feeling particularly nervous. Until you know the nanny a little more, have a friend, relative, or neighbor make random short visits to the house. Excuses for the visits could include anything from stopping by to pick something up, drop something off, or visit the kids (i.e., the grandparents)
It won’t take long for the nanny to figure out what you’re up to. However, you can rest assured that you’ll get valuable feedback without having to violate someone’s privacy.
Now, there are people out there who are going to be screaming, “Who cares about privacy? I’ll do anything to protect my children.” Absolutely! But that should be why you conduct thorough reference checks and have all of the nanny background checks completed. If you have serious concerns about the nanny, address the issue right away, don’t wait for a camera to paint a picture.
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Nanny Tip: No Free Nanny Background Checks
In most cases, you really do get what you pay for. When you’re looking for help completing nanny background checks, don’t expect to buy a discount package from anyone. In a world full of shortcuts, this is the one place where you want to go the distance. After all, this is someone you’ll be trusting with your children. Relying on a nanny cam to monitor what goes on in your home really isn’t the answer. Ultimately, nobody can give you a 100% guarantee that the new nanny you’ve hired is going to be perfect in every way. But you can at least ensure that there’s no criminal past.
Nanny screening services are available at various costs. Paying anywhere between $50 and $200 isn’t unusual. It usually depends on who is doing the nanny screening and how deeply they’re going to delve into the past. There really are no free nanny background checks. If you’re hiring a nanny through a placement agency, the fee you paid for the membership might include the cost of background checks, making it appear to be a “free” service.
You might be able to shop around for the best prices in nanny screening services, but pay attention to what you’re actually getting for your money. Ideally, you should be paying for a service that will do a complete criminal and background check.
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Shopping for a Nanny Cam
There once was a mommy named Jan,
Who purchased a new nanny cam.
She bought it real cheap
from a man in a jeep,
Only to find out the thing was a scam.
Where are you shopping for your nanny camera? Do an Internet search and you’re sure to find nanny cams at every virtual shop there is. Just because something has the label “nanny cam” doesn’t mean you’re getting what you pay for. If the Internet is your primary shopping mall, keep the following tips in mind so avoid falling for scams like poor Jan.
Shop with online retailers that you know. Major retailers who offer shopping in person and online are ideal.
Don’t waste your money on extended warranties for nanny cameras. A good quality camera will come with a limited warranty anyway, which is often good enough.
Read shopper reviews. Keep in mind that it’s not a fool-proof method, however, because it’s possible the retailer only selects the good reviews to post on the site.
Never give out credit card information online or over-the-phone if you’re not sure about the company.
Check and see if there are any return policies before buying.
Shopping for a nanny cam is no different than shopping for any other technical gadget. Stick with name brands you know, companies you trust, and seek advice if you’re not sure what you’re looking for.
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The Tale of an Ill-Gotten Nanny Cam
Helda Smackenburger was so nervous about leaving her two-year-old with a nanny that she decided to buy a nanny camera. Just browsing the malls for one instilled a certain amount of calm in her. She was certain she was doing the right thing. Sure there was a little nagging guilt about “spying” on the nanny, but when she weighed it against the chances of something terrible happening to her toddler, the guilt became justified.
She found the perfect nanny camera in a store that also happened to sell faux-fur handcuffs. Helda thought she was looking at 3 foot teddy bears, so imagine her surprise when the young sales clerk proudly played back the video of her pawing at it. Helda was sold. It was the perfect nanny cam! What Helda didn’t take into consideration was the fact that her nanny had enough common sense to realize that a 3 foot teddy bear nailed to the kitchen countertop was a setup.
Now, that same teddy bear is missing his left eye. The nanny cam is floating in a sewage swamp somewhere and Helda is in the process of hiring a new nanny.
The moral of this story is…don’t buy nanny cams from stores that sell faux fur handcuffs. If you’re serious about installing a nanny camera, stick with high quality nanny cams purchased from reputable stores.
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New Nanny Probationary Period
To tell or not to tell, that is the question. For some people, it might not make sense to tell the nanny that there’s a nanny cam in the house. However, that doesn’t mean you have to tell her where they are, or when you’ll have them turned on. Rather than being a secretive spy, talk to your nanny about the fact that you’ll be periodically doing nanny cam checks. To follow up, you could have monthly meetings with the nanny to say “job well done!” That’s right; nanny cams don’t have to be used primarily for negative feedback. It’s not unusual for new office workers to have to complete a three month, six month, or one year probationary period, so why not negotiate the same kind of probationary period for your nanny? Since you won’t be there watching everything the nanny does all day, installing a nanny camera is the next best thing.
Being open and honest about the fact that you’re using a nanny camera (for the probationary period only) you’ll show that you’re an ethical employer and that you value your nanny’s dignity. If the nanny has something to hide, she won’t get as far as signing the contract, let alone allowing you to video record her!
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Conduct Your Own Background Checks
When a family is interested in hiring you as their new nanny, they’ll likely want to conduct nanny background checks. Don’t take it personally! If the tables were turned, you’d probably do the exact same thing. Besides, you have nothing to hide do you? Nanny background checks really aren’t much different than the kind of screening done on teachers, coaches, people who’ll be working with large sums of money, or any other position of authority. People just want to make sure they’re making the right decision. More importantly, they want to make sure their children are going to be safe.
Even though you have nothing to hide, you might feel a little uneasy about the type of information the family is retrieving. If you want, you can go through the process of having your own criminal background check done. Nobody’s suggesting you went on a three month drunk and forgot everything within that time frame. It’s just that some people feel more reassured when the paperwork is right under their nose, even when it’s about them. By having your own background check done, you’ll at least know what kind of information the family is getting access to.
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Nanny Jekyll and Nanny Hyde
Your friends and/or family might be surprised to discover you’ve decided to use hidden nanny cams. “We thought you liked the new nanny!” they might say. Well, that’s true, you DO like the new nanny, but your penchant for outright paranoia is keeping you from putting your total trust in her. Everyone has seen way too many horror stories on the late night news. It’s hard to relax. You don’t want to be a psycho nanny boss, but you need to keep your children safe, even when you’re not around.
Go ahead; be as paranoid as you want. The alternative (hiring an unemployed middle-aged man to sit in the tree outside the house with a pair of binoculars) would probably land you on CNN, in a bad way.
You know what they say…it’s the quiet ones you’ve got to watch out for. What if the same thing holds true for nannies? What if it’s the ultra-sweet, super educated, highly ethical-appearing nannies who turn out to be crazier than a coo-coo clock? Okay, the whole Jekyll and Hyde scenario might be a little extreme, but at least with a few strategically placed nanny cams, you’ll know for sure. Once you’ve seen a few boring episodes of “The Nanny Opening a Can of Tuna” you’ll be ready to pack up the nanny cams and stick them in a yard sale.
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Conducting Nanny Interviews Over The Phone
There’s no question that nanny interviews over the phone are a lot different than face-to-face interviews. For one thing, you don’t get to see the person on the other end, making it sometimes hard to gauge reaction and response to certain questions. There’s a certain connection you get when you meet someone in person, creating an instinctive feel as to whether the person might be “right” for the job.
Legally, you can’t make your hiring decision based on how a person looks, so for that reason, conducting nanny interviews over the phone eliminates that possibility. When you do nanny interviews on the phone, you really have to listen to the responses to your questions, focusing solely on the quality of the interview, not the appearance of the interviewee. Here are a few guidelines to use when conducting nanny interviews over the phone:
1) A pause isn’t a bad thing. Allow the nanny time to consider the questions within a reasonable amount of time.
2) Listen for a positive attitude. Does that nanny turn answers into sentences that start with “I don’t..’ or sentences that start with “I look forward to…”
3) If the candidate doesn’t speak English as a first language, make sure she can communicate well enough to be understood.
4) Listen carefully as the candidate recites her nanny skills and nanny experience.
As you can tell, conducting nanny interviews over the phone put the onus on you to really hone your listening skills! Pay attention, take notes, and make the best decision for you and your family.
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Face To Face Nanny Interviews
If you already employ staff through your place of work, supervise employees, or have ever been on an interview panel, conducting nanny interviews may not be all that intimidating to you. However, if you’re new to the whole business of nanny interviews, here are a few do’s and don’ts to consider:
DO: Bring a copy of the interview questions for everyone involved in the interview, including the prospective nanny.
DO: Create questions that will help reveal nanny skills and nanny experience.
DO: Ask situational nanny interview questions that will help you understand how she would handle emergencies or last-minute routine changes.
DO: Meet in a public spot like a quiet restaurant or coffee shop.
DON’T: Ask illegal interview questions like the person’s religion, age, or marital status.
DON’T: Be surprised if the nanny brings someone along for the interview. The candidate might do this as a safety precaution.
Before you start asking a lot of serious questions, try to make the nanny feel at ease and comfortable. Offer her tea, coffee, or water, engage in some light preliminary conversation and don’t forget to smile! Before you begin the interview, explain to the candidate how the interview will go, the types of questions you’re going to ask, and how you’re going to record her answers (notes, tape, etc.) Let her know that you’ll give her a chance to ask some questions of her own at the end of the interview.
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DIY Nanny Background Checks
Before hiring a nanny, always conduct nanny background checks to make sure the nanny is legally allowed to work in the country, has no criminal record, has a good driving record, and has never been charged with child abuse. Contacting former employees will help illustrate whether the nanny has a good personality, is flexible, has a good work ethic, and is reliable, but it won’t necessarily get to the bottom of any legal problems or issues.
If you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person and want to do your own background checks for nannies, there are a few things you need to know:
1) Do a personal background check by contacting previous employers to find out why they hired this particular nanny in the first place, why she left their employment, how many children she was responsible for, etc.
2) Do a civil court check to see if the nanny has had any previous convictions or lawsuits filed against her.
3) Part of the nanny screening should always include a check into the Child Abuse Registry.
4) Make sure the nanny hasn’t had any convictions for driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
5) And finally, make sure the nanny is who she says she is. You should never rely on the nanny resume to tell the whole story. Instead, make sure to contact all of the references listed. If the references are only close friends or family of the candidate, ask for more work-related references to get a clearer picture.
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Taking Advantage Of Agency Nanny Screening
There are all kinds of reasons for hiring nannies through placement agencies, but one of the main ones is the ability to take advantage of their nanny screening services. Sure you’re going to pay a fee for the service, but if you were to compensate yourself for the time, energy, and aggravation involved in doing it yourself, the money you’ll pay a placement agency is a steal.
Just like any other service, you get what you pay for. That’s no different when it comes to nanny screening or nanny background checks. For a basic fee package ranging anywhere from $50 to $120 dollars, the agency will conduct a nanny background check including a Social Security Number trace, seven year address verification, and a single county records check. More in-depth nanny screening options include criminal record checks (usually for just one jurisdiction), a run through the National Sex Offender Registry, a search for criminal records and a driver’s license check. The more services you choose, the more you pay. Still, it’s well worth having a nanny placement agency do all of the legwork while you prepare your home and family for the eventual arrival of a new nanny.
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FCRA Compliant Nanny Background Checks
Once the nanny interviews are complete, you’ll want to conduct a pre-employment nanny background check. Why? To protect yourself negligent hiring issues, wrongful termination lawsuits, theft, etc. More importantly, you want to protect your children from harm. In recent years, the federal government issued stricter laws to protect the privacy of individuals seeking employment. For example, an employer can’t just pick up the phone and start phoning agencies with questions on someone who’s only met you once for a nanny interview. If you are able to contact an agency and get that kind of confidential information, you have to ask yourself just how accurate the information really is. A legitimate organization won’t disclose information about their clients to potential employers.
This is where the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) comes into play. Once you’re satisfied with the nanny resume, have interviewed the nanny, and want to make a job offer, it’s time to start looking at conducting a nanny background check. The standards around FCRA compliance vary from state to state and specifically apply to external Consumer Reporting Agencies, including the services offered by nanny placement agencies. However, as an independent employer, you’re still obliged to comply with FCRA standards. Confused yet? Forget about it! Instead of stressing over the nanny background checks, search for either a nanny placement agency, or an independent consumer reporting agency who sell guaranteed FCRA compliant background checks. Instead of sweating it yourself, let your wallet do the stressing. Depending on the services you choose, you might have to pay $100 to $300 for accurate, current, nanny screening. That one time fee can really buy you peace of mind when trying to comply with federal FCRA rules and regulations and might just save you from the hot seat of legal issues later on down the road.
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Nanny Experience Versus Nanny Education
If you were faced with the prospect of hiring a nanny with a ton of experience but little related education, or a nanny with a degree in early childcare and no experience, who would you choose? Of course, the best situation would be to come across someone with a wealth of nanny experience along with impressive nanny skills. When conducting nanny interviews, gear your questions to help illuminate just how much experience versus education she has. For example:
Ask open-ended questions such as, “Tell me about your education.” This opens the lines of communication to include details about her educational experience, not just the name of the course she took.
Ask the nanny what her long-term educational plans are to get a sense of whether she plans on continuing to upgrade through courses and workshops.
One of the nanny interview questions should be, “Give me an example of when you’ve put your organizational skills to best use in a previous job.” Again, this is an open-ended question that leaves room for explanation. It also gives you some insight into how the nanny has handled situational dilemmas in the past.
To get an idea of the depth of her nanny experience, ask her to try and list at least five of her most meaningful experiences as a nanny. A person could have worked for ten years and not learned anything from the experience. What you want to do is try and get a sense of how much she’s learned from the experience she has.
Using the nanny resume as a guide for dialogue, continue to ask the kinds of questions that really give you a picture of what her previous employment experiences were like. Those open-ended questions lure the applicant away from the rehearsed answers to answers that are more detailed and meaningful. Those are the answers that are going to help you decide if you want a nanny with more experience or a nanny with more skill, or something in between.
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Presenting Your Nanny Skills Through A Portfolio
Many educational institutions are now asking their students to create and maintain portfolios that can be used as a guide for showcasing skills, talent, awards, accomplishments, goals, challenges overcome, and long-term plans. Even if you didn’t have the opportunity to create a portfolio before, it’s not too late. Ultimately, you want to be able to accurately assess your skills and talents based on your life’s experiences, not just your educational accomplishments.
Before you send out your nanny resume, take a day or two to piece together a simple portfolio. Your portfolio should include the following:
1) Copies of all certificates and diplomas.
2) A personal narrative describing something in your life that was a great challenge to you and how you handled it. Take the time to reflect on all of the strengths you used when handling this particular situation. The only person who is going to see this is you, so don’t hold anything back. At the end of this exercise, before you begin answering any nanny interview questions, you want to be able to reflect back on the strengths you have used in the past to get through stressful situations.
3) Your updated nanny resume.
4) A few paragraphs detailing how you think others see you and why. Are you a loyal friend? What makes you think so? Can you give an example?
5) Goals. Do you want to work full-time as a nanny? Do you plan to return to university? What other things do you want to do with your life?
There’s no right or wrong way to create a portfolio, but it’s an excellent opportunity to spend a few days really reflecting on the kinds of nanny skills you possess. Remember that everything you’ve learned in life from the time you were a child are all skills you can bring to your job. Once you realize that, you’ll be able to present yourself the best way possible during a job interview.
