Choosing a Home-Based Childcarer or Nanny - Torfaen Family ...

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Choosing a Home-based Childcarer or Nanny
What age range of child will a home-based childcarer / nanny care for?
Nannies can look after children of any age. The Childcare At Home Approval
Scheme Wales (CAS) covers approved nannies working with children aged 0-7
years.
Childcare At Home Approval Scheme
Nannies may register voluntarily with the Childcare At Home Approval Scheme
(CAS). The scheme covers approved nannies working with children aged 0-7
years offering parents greater confidence employing a nanny and also the
opportunity to claim back some of the childcare costs through Working Tax
Credits.
The scheme verifies that a nanny is 18 years or over and has: a level 2 Childcare
qualification; attended a Paediatric First Aid course within the three years prior to
application; and carries out an enhanced CRB check. Approval is valid for 12
months and there is a cost of £104 (correct at April 2011).
Before offering employment or applying for financial support, an employer may
check that a carer is currently approved by calling the Care and Social Services
Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) with the carer’s name and unique approval letter
number plus the CRB check number. For more detailed information on the
scheme please contact CSSIW on 01443 848450 or visit the website:
www.cssiw.org.uk.
Types of nanny
Nannies provide care in the child’s family home.
Live-in nannies live in your home and will need a private bedroom and
food in addition to their salary.
Daily nannies come to your home every day to look after your children.
Nanny-share arrangements can be set up to share a nanny with another
family.
What hours do nannies work?
Nannies can sometimes work flexible hours to fit your work hours. Make sure the
hours are reasonable and clearly explained before the nanny starts to work with
your children. Employing a live-in nanny may be an option if you require
childcare to cover shift-work or weekends.
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What about part-time childcare?
Many nannies are happy to work part-time. They often take children to school,
pre-school or other activities.
How many children can a nanny look after?
Nannies will look after your children in your family home. Nanny-share
arrangements can be set up to share a nanny with another family. Please note
that a nanny should be registered as a childminder if they care for children from
more than two families.
How much does a nanny cost?
When deciding how much to pay your nanny you need to bear in mind: that they
are entitled to receive at least minimum wages; their experience and training;
how many children they will be caring for; the hours that you want them to work;
the area in which you live; whether the nanny will live in your home; and if the
nanny will receive “benefits in kind” such as use of the family car.
Employing a nanny means you become responsible not only for paying the
nanny’s wage or salary but also for deducting the tax and National Insurance
contributions as well as holiday, sickness and maternity pay. The Inland
Revenue operate an Employers Helpline on 08457 143 143 or contact HMRC on
0845 300 3900 or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk for advice on tax credits and National
Insurance contributions.
You will also need to have the correct types of insurance including employer’s
liability insurance. Contact your insurance company for more information.
The Childcare At Home Approval Scheme means that by using an approved
carer you may be able to access financial support through the childcare element
of Working Tax Credit or through employer supported childcare vouchers. For
advice on Tax Credits please contact the Revenue Helpline on 0845 300 3900.
Please note that parents/carers will not qualify for the childcare element of
Working Tax Credit and NIC savings if the child is cared for by a relative in the
child’s own home even if the relative is registered or approved i.e. you cannot
claim the childcare element if you use a nanny who is also a relative. However,
you may be eligible for the childcare element of Working Tax Credit if a relative is
registered or approved and if the care is provided in the relative’s home i.e. a
childminder.
Many parents may find it beneficial for their homebased childcarer/nanny to
become approved with the CAS and so some parents may choose to pay the fee
for approval themselves. You will need to consider the cost of this when
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Freephone 0800 0196 330 www.torfaenfis.org.uk fis@torfaen.gov.uk
budgeting for your childcare, if you choose to ask your nanny to become
approved.
How do I advertise for a nanny?
You can advertise in various specialist magazines, your local paper, online or on
local notice boards where potential nannies may see it e.g. in drop in centres for
parents and children. Or, for a fee, an agency will match your specifications with
suitable candidates who you will then interview. Even though a reputable agency
should have carefully vetted potential nannies, you should still ask the agency to
tell you precisely what checks they have undertaken. There are no legal
requirements on a person applying to work as a nanny. Ultimately, employing a
nanny is an important responsibility because it will be up to you to make sure the
person is able to look after your children well.
What should I look for in a potential nanny?
Skills and knowledge – childcare and child development qualifications,
ability to plan and arrange safe fun learning opportunities, planning and
preparing healthy meals and snacks, first aid training, driving experience if
required, organisational skills
Attitudes – positive attitude to the job
Experience
What should I always ask for?
Childcare At Home Approval Scheme approval certificate (nannies may
register voluntarily).
Proof of identity – two originals e.g. passport, driving licence, birth
certificate (at least one should carry a photograph).
References – at least two references. One referee should be the nanny’s
last or latest employer or college tutor.
A full employment history.
Qualification certificates – originals.
Medical check – would the potential nanny be prepared to obtain a GP’s
letter confirming their fitness to work with children?
Criminal record check.
Paediatric First Aid certificate.
Verification that the carer is eligible to work in the UK (even if the carer is
approved, the responsibility for this check remains with the employer).
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