INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

Welcome! Our mission at Necessary Nannies is to refer caring, qualified nannies to our client families. It is our purpose to consider each family’s individual style, preferences, and needs as we assist them in selecting the best nanny for their family.

Absolutely nothing is more important to us than the care and nurturing that your children receive! That is why we invest so much time and energy in recruiting and carefully screening nanny candidates before referring them to our individual client families.

The Benefits of a Nanny for your Family
The heart-felt benefits of professional in-home childcare are numerous:

• Individualized care in a child’s home setting fosters security, self-confidence, and creates an environment for learning.
• Schedules and daily routines are more comfortable and manageable for both children and parents, and can be planned around the individual child’s personality and family’s lifestyle.
• The value of a consistent, trusted caregiver in a child’s life cannot be emphasized enough!
• When children get sick, parents can still rely on their nanny.
• In-home childcare results in less exposure to other children’s germs and illnesses.
• A nanny becomes a relied-upon partner with parents and a valuable resource in the family’s support system.
• Consistency and trust results in peace of mind for busy parents.
• Flexibility. While it is important for your nanny to have regular work hours, there is generally more schedule flexibility for you with a full or part-time nanny.
  

The Process

After completion of your family’s registration with Necessary Nannies (including in-home consultation and paid retainer fee), we’ll conduct a job-specific nanny search on your behalf. It is our commitment to take the utmost care to recruit a qualified nanny for your specific needs. While we may have a nanny in process already that may be a good fit, we are prepared to search for just the right individual for your family. The entire process may take from one to six weeks.

Next, you will be presented with nanny portfolios (See items listed below) for your review. Once you have reviewed the nanny portfolio(s), arrangements will be made for you to personally interview the nanny candidate(s) that you have selected. You may choose to have an initial interview and a working interview before you make your hiring decision.

Once you have selected the best pre-screened candidate for your nanny position, we will assist you in preparing an employment agreement according to your preferences. We will conduct a placement meeting with you and your new nanny and review the agreement details together. At this meeting, you and your nanny will sign your agreement together. Also, you will be provided with important information and resources regarding IRS compliance as a household employer of a nanny.

• As part of our thorough screening process, a nanny seeking a position provides these items for review by parents:
• Current childcare resume showing childcare experience and/or education in the field of child development.
• Introductory letter from nanny to family.
• Three excellent childcare references. In the portfolio, you’ll see detailed notes from our conversations with each nanny’s references, but parents are encouraged to speak to a candidate’s references, if desired, before making a hiring decision.
• Criminal background screening and motor vehicle background check.
• Completed Essay Questions / Situational childcare questions.
• In-person interview with Necessary Nannies prior to referring to families. Notes from our interview with the candidate are included in the nanny portfolio.
• CPR and First Aid Certification.
• Valid social security card, driver’s license and auto insurance/registration.
  
  Other Requirements:
• Be a non-smoker and be at least twenty years of age.
• Be willing to make a one-year commitment, unless another time-frame is specified by parents.
  
  

Other Advantages of relying on Necessary Nannies Placement Services:

• Time-saving for busy parents! You can spend hours on advertising, screening, and sifting through applications.
• Many parents unknowingly miss important steps in the screening process that may result in disappointment and frustration later. All of our nannies must complete our thorough screening checklist before becoming available to work with our clients. All pertinent information is available to parents in the nanny portfolio.
• Individuals not experienced in hiring nannies might not discuss all of the important issues that need to be addressed. We facilitate the important discussions that help families and nannies understand expectations in advance.
• We take the worry out the paperwork by providing a format for a written job description and employment agreement. This smoothes the way for a successful relationship with your nanny and prevents misunderstandings down the road.
• Many families are not aware of IRS and other tax obligations. These are clearly addressed, and we are able to provide solid information and professional resources to families that will give them peace of mind and protection. Also, we share information on tax credits that benefit families who employ nannies.
  

Agency / Placement Fees:
Please call our office for specifics regarding current nanny placement fees.

A portion of the placement fee is required as a non-refundable retainer to initiate the search for your nanny. This is due at the time of the home consultation. The balance of the placement fee is due at the time that the Nanny / Family Agreement is signed and your nanny is scheduled to start working for your family.

In addition to permanent full-time and part-time, live-in and live-out nannies, Necessary Nannies also provides occasional and temporary nannies for a variety of needs and schedules. Please call our office for more information.

Guarantee: With each long-term nanny placement, we include a replacement guarantee of three months at no extra charge and up to one year at a discounted rate.

Taxes: It is important to note that the IRS sees a nanny as a household employee which means that families that employ nannies are household employers. Families are required by law to administrate their nanny’s payroll. This can be managed by utilizing a household payroll service or nanny payroll software. In our initial meeting with families, we provide detailed information on how to hire and employ a nanny legally and offer referrals to household payroll services.

Recommended Nanny Salaries

It is our desire to place qualified individuals with our valued client families and to serve families that are prepared to compensate their nanny competitively. We have a Nanny Salary Chart that we share with our client families showing recommended pay for nannies based upon experience, education, job description, etc. Generally speaking, the pay range for a qualified nanny in Idaho is $11-17 per hour. It is becoming standard to offer nannies a compensation package that may include some or all of the following: paid vacation, sick days, holidays, and a contribution toward health insurance. You are not required to offer these benefits, but you may attract the most desirable candidates if you consider some benefits as part of your nanny’s compensation package.

How to Get Started

Please call us at our Meridian office at 208-846-8411
or 208-631-2544 to discuss your child care needs. We are available to answer questions between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. We do our best to return phone messages promptly.

If you prefer to schedule a meeting with us prior to completing your family application, we can meet with you in your home, describe our program, answer your questions, and fill in your family application together at that time. Generally, we have day or evening appointment times available. If you fax or mail your application, we will contact you promptly to review your nanny position, answer any questions, and set up a time for your in-home consultation.

In-home Consultation: The purpose of the consultation is to get to know your family’s childcare needs and preferences as you begin the process of hiring a nanny. At this time, we work with you to design your nanny job description. This meeting time is essential in the successful selection and placement of your nanny.

The in-home consultation is currently available to these areas in Idaho: Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Star, and the Greater Treasure Valley and proceeding west to the Oregon border, east to Sun Valley and the surrounding area, and also to McCall, Stanley and surrounding areas. There is a mileage charge for consultations in areas outside of the Boise, Idaho / Treasure Valley area.