Ready to hire a nanny but unsure where to start? DIY platforms, including Care.com, let you post a job and browse qualified candidates, but the process can be time-consuming. If that feels overwhelming, a full-service nanny agency can simplify things by curating a shortlist of vetted candidates for you to choose from.
“Agencies can provide many services, from verifying education experience, making sure references and experience are real and accurate, conducting a variety of background checks, and helping you develop a job description and work agreement,” says Carolyn Stolov, executive director at Wellesley Community Children’s Center.
Want to know more about nanny agencies? Read our article on What is a nanny agency?
So is a nanny agency the right path for your family? Here are six reasons you may want to consider hiring one. When you’re convinced, find a nanny agency on Care.com.
1. You don’t know what you’re looking for
You know you need a nanny to watch your two children. You know when you want them to start. You’ve read articles on the best qualities to look for in a nanny and how to interview a nanny, but you’re still not sure what specifics to look for. How do you decide on your family’s version of the perfect Mary Poppins?
A nanny placement agency may be able to help. As Sharon Graff of TLC Family Care, an agency in St. Louis, says, “Working with a nanny agency is a more personal process, as you will work with a placement counselor who will get to know you and find out what is uniquely important to your family.”
2. You don’t have time to search yourself
If your calendar is already jam-packed, you probably don’t have time to sift through dozens of online applications, conduct a slew of interviews and then check references. Nanny agencies are experts in pre-screening applicants to find those who specifically meet your family’s needs. They “should only send you candidates that fit all of your desired qualifications,” says Graff.
Sharyn Marcuson of Care Givers Placement Agency in Portland, Oregon, shares a similar sentiment: “I can usually match one or two candidates and the family will hire one of them. It’s that easy for a family.” If you use a nanny agency, you won’t be overwhelmed with applications.
3. You want a nanny who has been trained
There are no national government standards for the child care placement industry, and nannies aren’t required to have any formal training. But it’s a nice add-on.
If you hire a nanny agency though, almost all candidates you interview will have received training from their employing agency. “Each agency will have minimum requirements that each caregiver must meet in order to work with the agency,” says Stolov.
Every agency is different, but in general nannies need to be certified in infant/child CPR and first aid, and may have had some training in things like child development, safety, communication and planning activities.
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4. You want someone who has been screened extra thoroughly
Whenever you bring someone new into your home — from a nanny to a housekeeper to a pet sitter — the safety of your family is paramount. You should always get a background check on a potential nanny, which can reassure families of a candidate’s acceptability. In fact, to help maintain a safe community, Care.com requires all caregivers to undergo a criminal screening called a CareCheck.
But what if you want more?
“A nanny agency only sends you vetted nannies who they themselves have personally interviewed,” says Graff. They will handle all of the background checks and reference calls for you — but make sure you see a copy of the background check and call some references yourself.
As Marcuson adds, “I personally know the nannies. I’ve met them, talked to their references, secured character references and done the background checks myself. Many of these nannies will work with an agency for years and years, coming back every time they need a new position.”
Nanny agencies may screen potential candidates for you, but you should always investigate your top choices yourself as well. The more eyes looking for red flags, the better.
5. You need help understanding your role as an employer
Hiring a nanny to help care for your children on a daily basis is not like hiring a teenage babysitter to watch your kids for a couple of hours while you run errands. “Everyone who employs a nanny is that person’s legal employer,” says Marcuson.
You need to start thinking about things like state labor laws, unemployment and overtime — all which you may know nothing about. If you pay your nanny over $2,800 a year, you’re also responsible for paying employment taxes, also called nanny taxes.
You need to make important decisions about health insurance, other benefits, salaries, performance reviews and other critical matters. Care.com HomePay can handle all of your nanny tax questions and preparation, but a nanny agency can also hold your hand and guide you through the maze.
“A nanny agency will have you working with a placement counselor who will step you through the whole process of interviewing and negotiating employment agreements,” says Graff.
6. You want a safety net
Once you go through all the trouble of finding a nanny, there’s always the possibility that they won’t work out. If you go through the hiring process on your own, you’ll have to start over again from square one. If you use a nanny agency, that’s not necessarily the case.
“Most offer some type of guarantee for usually the first three months,” says Stolov. “If your nanny doesn’t work out, they may find you a new one.”
And, in the interim, they may also help you find backup care to fill in as-needed.
If you agreed with some of the above points, a nanny agency might be an ideal solution for you. Before you know it, you will have a list of highly qualified applicants in your hands and will be on your way to finding the perfect nanny to suit you and your family’s needs.
