Selecting Child Care Providers - CHAPTER TWO - WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW Part 4

First Contact with prospective Nanny

In most cases your first contact with a Nanny will be by telephone. It is vital that you note what your first impressions of the candidate are. Be aware of how she comes across on the phone, did she strike you as quiet, reserved, loud, brash, forward, unsure or demanding?

Write down your thoughts and use them in preparation for your first interview with the prospective nanny.

Preparing for the first Interview

Prior to the first interview there are a number of matters you should attend too:

Decide where you wish to meet her. Will it be in your home, at a convenient Hotel, at an agency?

Make out a list of questions you wish to ask her.

Have answers prepared for her in relation to wages, working hours, housework etc. These are matters in which a prospective candidate interested in the position will inquire about.

The first interview

When you first meet the prospective nanny take note of:

Her appearance.

How attentive is she when you ask her questions?

Does she answer your questions without hesitation?

Is she knowledgeable about the position she is applying for?

Does she seem enthusiastic and interested in answering your questions honestly and completely?

Curriculum Vitae

You should always request an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae, which is a detailed list of experiences and previous employers by date. Ensure that you look for related experiences as you want performed and be sure to contact all of the former employers and references available.

Also, you should take note of any long periods of time of not working and ask them about it. These long periods or gaps may indicate a poor reference of employment which was left out.

Meet all Candidates

Be sure to meet as many candidates as possible before making your final decision. Don't be in a hurry to make a quick, hasty decision in fear of losing potentially good candidates for the position. Instead, express your interest in their abilities and let them know that they will be contacted shortly with your decision.

After every interview it is important to write down their name and any important information or special notations about how they answered your questions as well as any good or bad points about them. You will use these notes latter on to determine who you will call back for a second interview.

The Second Interview - Involve the Family

During the second interview you will have the potential candidate meet your family. The interview should be conducted at your home and an adequate opportunity for them to answer additional questions you may have in regards to their Curriculum Vitae, references, and a chance to interact with your child.

This will also give your family the opportunity to latter express their feelings about the candidate.

What did Everyone Think?

Sometime during this second interview you should have the nanny interact with your child for a short period of time. This will allow you to see if their is any problems or instant dislikes, as well as positive interaction between your child and the candidate.

Before you offer the job to a candidate it is important to consult with your family and get their opinions and observations about the candidate you have chosen.

Employing a Nanny

Having decided on a candidate and offered her employment, ensure that she understands that it is on a trial basis. This trial period is usually one month and it affords you and your family an opportunity to get acquainted with the nanny you have chosen.

Trial Period

Over, the course of the initial trial period there may be some minor problems such as teething, most of which can be easily, remedied with some co-operation on everyone's part. If there is going to be a problem with a nanny it will often occur in these early days.

Factors that can cause problems are such issues as personal hygiene, laziness, punctuality, unwillingness to co-operate etc. If problems of this nature are not dealt with early it will be much more difficult at a later stage.

Hiring a Day Care Provider Checklist

This list is meant specifically for use when choosing professional caregivers or day care facilities that will be in charge of looking after your child on a regular basis.

First Things First

Is the provider licensed by the state?

If so, have you checked with the licensing agency to see if there have been any problems with compliancy?

What is the staff to child ratio?

How have the staff members been trained? Is continuing education required or encouraged? If you are considering an individual, what is their education level? What type of training have they had?

Does the facility have documentation of criminal background checks on all staff?

What is the cost of childcare? What does this include?

Basic Policy

What are the hours of operation?

What are the policies regarding drop-off and pick-up?

Does the provider have an open door policy?

Is there a consent form for emergency medical care?

Are permission forms required for transportation and medication administration?

What are the disciplinary methods used with the children?

What are the policies regarding breastfed infants? Will mothers be allowed to visit to feed their baby? Is there an appropriate place for this to occur?

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