[beigegirl]

I'm posting this partly to get feedback on whether this PD is sufficiently detailed (and hourly rate you'd expect), and partly in case it helps others recruiting a nanny as well, as you can copy it if you like.

Here's the edited PD (I have taken out personal info)
I was hoping to find someone for a live-in position for $12 per hour (all meals plus accommodation covered), am I dreaming?
Also I am concerned the hours I am asking for are too much from someone.

****

Role summary:
This is a live-in nanny position for a family in Sydney’s inner west. The nanny has sole charge of two children, ages one and three, for five days of 11 hours.
Some light housework and meal preparation is required.

Purpose:
The Nanny is expected to provide loving care and education for the children, advocate for their interests, suggest activities for the children, and contribute to the smooth running of the household. The schedule of duties may change as the children grow, and if you are able to suggest and implement improvements we will appreciate your flexibility. As this is a live-in position, it is important to us that you feel comfortable and welcome in our home. Regular opportunities to review both living and working arrangements will be provided and we will be flexible.

About us:
We both work full-time in ...
We have two dogs...
Hobbies – ...
Interests – ...
Religion – ...


Accommodation:
The family live in a ....
The accommodation provided for the Nanny is a comfortable room....
You will have the choice of exclusive use of a small older bathroom with a shower and toilet adjoining the laundry, or shared use of the modern family bathroom with shower and spa bath.
The main living areas are air conditioned...
The house is cleaned weekly by a professional cleaning service....

Duties:
At the commencement of the position, the duties required are expected to be:
• Sole care of the children from approximately 7:30am to 6:00pm (ten and a half hours)
• Preparation and serving of meals for the children in this time, breakfast lunch dinner and snacks
• Take children on pre-agreed outings and to activities. Eg. Park, local shops, music class, swimming lessons, sports class.
• Tidy up and wash up after children and their meals, sufficient to leave the house as tidy at the end of the day as at the start. During the working day the Nanny is not expected to pick up after the adults in the house.
• Hang laundry from overnight load in the washing machine.
• Once parents have returned from work, 6:00-6:30 preparation of a simple evening meal while parents reconnect with children
• During off-duty hours in the week and on weekends, the Nanny is not expected to clean up or tidy up after the adults and children, except as would be usual in a shared household (i.e., some washing up and meal preparation for shared ).
The exact duties and daily schedule is likely to change as the children grow. The majority of the duties will be care and education of the children, with limited basic meal preparation and light housework.
Changes to the exact duties and schedule we will negotiate together, but the basic mix is expected to remain the same.


Essential requirements for the role:
Positive and loving attitude towards children
Formal childcare education and qualification
2 yrs childcare experience
Driver’s license
Non-smoker
Pass police and working with children check
First Aid certificate

Desirable requirements for the role:
Can swim
Knowledge of Montessori education principles
Interest in child psychology and development

[FauxPas]

You are not dreaming at all. An au pair position with $660 pay is a very good offer considering the person will have no expenses.

I think the description is very good. You may want to elaborate on the "inner west" and area if you are looking to attract international au pairs. We have had a number and some (like our current one) are excellent.

ETA - oh, sorry just noticed that formal childcare qualifications and 2 years experience are essential for the role - you may find this difficult. Our next au pair has formal teaching qualifications but not 2 years child care experience (maybe if you add up her current au pair position and prior babysitting). This will likely limit your options but you may still find someone good.

This post has been edited by FauxPas: 24/05/2011, 11:47 PM

[libbylu]

It looks great but I think I would add one week night off.......that is, from when you get home at 5.30/6pm she is free to go out and not have to prepare a meal. These are really long days so I think it would help to have that free evening. I guess that is something you could negotiate.

[Lokum]

I think you're dreaming. An au pair might take $12 plus board and food, but then she'd be an au pair and not a nanny.

An au pair shoul not have sole charge of children for long periods, especially not pre-school aged children. You rightly want a nanny with formal quals for this job, in which case $12 per hour is not enough. Phone some nanny agencies in Sydney and see what they think the rate for live-ins is.

Also, your ad assumes the nanny is sort of part of the family/household. This is true to an extent, but she has to have some off-duty time. When I was live-in, I spent as little of my off-duty time in the house as possible and I never joined in family meals while I was off-duty. I would cook my own or eat out - I just needed to get away from work, which is reasonable, no?

An au pair/working holiday maker might be happy to join in the family and go with the flow, and would want to save money by eating 'house' food, but again, she'd not necessarily be a sole-charge nanny.

Do you have any other living space for her apart from her bedroom? Do you have a little study which could be her sitting room? Otherwise, how will everyone (especially the children) distinguish between on and off duty?

[sweetjane]

Dreaming

[greengoddess]

I think the rate of pay is extremely low for someone who is responsible for your children for 55 hours a week. You'd be able to earn more than that in retail with penalty rates etc. Think about how much you pay your cleaners per hour. It might be an interesting comparison.

A standard work week is between 35 and 40 hours, will you be paying overtime for the additional 15 hours? What about superannuation? Tax? Annual leave? Sick leave? Public holidays? Do/will you have insurance?

I think it is unrealistic to expect an employee to consider themselves part of a "shared household" and thus contribute to domestic duties whilst they are off the clock. You might need to work out conceptually what you are looking for.

[la di dah]

It jumps out at me that its involving solo care of the children for ten hours, plus constant tidying (doing laundry and keep house in same standard at evening it was at the morning while also supervising kids) and THEN after that ten hour day cook dinner, PLUS cooking ALL the children's meals and snacks PLUS do her "share" of household chores including cooking shared meals in her off time?

For twelve dollars an hour.

With two years experience, formal childhood education, and preferably knowledge of Montessori education principles and interest in child psychology and development. (Who might well wonder where that helps them in keeping up with the laundry and chores, or, whilst cooking, might wonder if they wouldn't have been better served with a culinary degree...)

I'm not trying to be mean, and I'm sure your children are darling, but... that's a hell of a workload for the money you're offering and the credentials you expect.

One would make more money waiting tables, and not be answerable to their employer for household chores on Sunday afternoons.

[Guest_FuzzyMum_*]

Even considering food and accommodation is included, it seems a very low rate esp. considering what you're expecting (i.e. formal qualifications). Don't forget that this rate is supposed to also cover their tax and super. Like another pp suggested to check out the going rates and also what your obligations are esp. considering the hours they will be working and the fact you're also looking for a housekeeper.

[Mopey]

I think it sounds rather slave like to me. Would you do all of that for $12 ph?

[Guest_FuzzyMum_*]

Would you do all of that for $12 ph?

A very good question Mopey. It's worth thinking about this OP.

Personally I would expect at least double that as a minimum (keep in mind the average working hours of a standard job per week and you're asking them to work overtime as well). Although I've never been an au pair or nanny so I'm not sure about what the standard is.