The Benefits of using an agency.

As you may have noticed on our Facebook page this past week, at Nannies Incorporated we thought it would be a good idea to look at the many benefits of using an agency to search for a new role in childcare or a maternity nurse/nanny to join your family. In this week’s blog post I will endeavour to point out these benefits from not only the family’s perspective but also the maternity nurse’s/nanny’s perspective.

There are several online companies putting families in touch with nannies for a small fee, usually paid by the families searching for their next helping hand. What these online companies do not offer however is anything further than simply providing contact details for either party. Another common way of searching for childcare is through the ever-growing social media circuit of Facebook and Twitter. Whilst these are both great tools to maintain contact and link with people, they may not be the most reliable way of recruiting for your childcare needs.

Recruitment agencies specialising in the recruitment of maternity nurses and nannies offer far more than just the contact details. Whilst the fee is higher, there are many more advantages that will help to put your mind at ease and ensure that you have been offered the best possible candidates for your family, tailored specifically to your needs.

From the family’s perspective, you can be assured that the highly experienced consultants at Nannies Incorporated have personally:

- Screened each candidate presented to you.  We conduct in-depth face-to-face interviews with each and every maternity nurse and nanny that we have on our records.  With our offices located in London, Paris, Dubai and Sydney it is rare that we will have to use Skype for our interview techniques.

 - Conducted reference verifications, Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks Paediatric First Aid checks and relevant childcare qualification checks. We are thorough with all of these checks to make sure that candidates are suitable and meet our high standards. An article in the Sunday Times (http://www.nanniesinc.com/press.aspx) highlights the importance of these checks.

 - Confirmed the identity of the maternity nurse or nanny against original documentation such as their passport, driving license or birth certificate. 

Upon the offer of a position Nannies Incorporated will provide advice and assistance on the employment contract between the family and the nanny. With over 23 years of experience in the field of recruitment of maternity nurses and nannies, we will give you information on holidays, sickness, duties and salaries.

Nannies Incorporated provide support after any placement has been made. We will do a follow-up call to both the family and maternity nurse/nanny to ensure that everything is going well. We also offer a competitive 8-week guarantee period for our permanent placements.

It is also beneficial for maternity nurses and nannies to engage an agency for their job search.

We can assure you that our team has:

- Conducted a personal interview. This is a face-to-face interview where we are able to get to know all of our candidates so we can be assured to know the type of family and role they are looking for.

- Searched for the perfect fit. After meeting with maternity nurses and nannies we match all candidates with families that best suit one another’s needs and requirements. We ensure these steps are completed to the best of our ability to ensure both parties are happy.

Once placed with a family through Nannies Incorporated we will provide you with support whilst in the placement. This includes follow-up phone calls to make sure that you are happy and there are no problems.

The team at Nannies Incorporated pride themselves on being available for you both before and after any placement. We will respond to all questions and queries promptly and endeavour to support you to the best of our abilities through all your placements with us.

I hope that you have found this blog entry a helpful way to understand the importance of using an agency to assist you in the employment of your next maternity nurse/nanny or the search for your next position within the UK or Worldwide.

We have offices in London, Paris, Dubai and Sydney and you can be assured that a high level of service is provided in all of our offices.

For information on how to register as a client or candidate with our agency you can visit our website:

Client registration (for families)

http://www.nanniesinc.com/client-registration.aspx

Client Registration Paris

http://www.nanniesinc.fr/client-registration.aspx

Candidate registration (for maternity nurses or nannies)

http://www.nanniesinc.com/applicant-registration.aspx

Candidate Registration Paris

http://www.nanniesinc.fr/applicant-registration.aspx

 Positions currently available

http://www.nanniesinc.com/positions.aspx

Eliza

Relocating to Paris

A while ago I posted a blog entry on moving to Dubai and all the little bits and pieces that you need to either sort up before arriving or they’re just generally good to know before setting off on your new journey! I’ve decided to do another post, with some of my information from Ellie in Sydney, however this time regarding Paris. I am currently living in Paris now but hold an EU passport so this is all a learning process for me too and I hope it can be of use to you also.

Visas

Australians

To be eligible to live and work in France, it is required that you obtain a 12 month working visa. This visa requires you to obtain travel insurance for the 12 month period, despite whether you intend to stay for the entire period. The start date of your travel insurance is applied to the working visa. For more information or to begin the application process please visit http://www.ambafrance-au.org/spip.php?rubrique1

To be eligible you must:

• Be aged between 18 and 30 inclusive at the time of application
• Hold a valid Australian passport
• Not have previously participated in this Working Holiday Program
• Hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance
• Have a return ticket or sufficient funds to buy one
• Provide a police certificate from any country you have spent more than one year in over the last ten years     

Many other European countries also allow Australians to obtain a 12 month working visa. However, it is important to note that each country differs in their eligibility requirements and application processes.

UK Residents

For residents of the UK travel to France, with regard visas, is quite simple. Due to the EU Passport, any holder has the right to travel and live freely within the European Union.

Schengen Visa

This visa is a tourist visa for leisure, tourism or business and therefore not applicable in the case of relocating for work. For ore information on the Schengen Visa however see here: http://www.schengenvisa.cc/

 Accommodation

Due to the countless laws protecting tenants in France, landlords will likely require several things to cover your guarantee. These things may include salary slips, bank statements, tax forms and at times a third person must put up a bond to cover you.

Rents usually do not include water; gas, electricity or telephone but at times will include heating.

Finding accommodation can be the tricky part. If you go through an agent to find your property you can expect to pay an agency fee that is equal to roughly 12% of the total rental price agreed. Some useful websites include

www.seloger.com

www.lefigaro.fr/immobilier/

www.pap.fr

www.paris.en.craigslist.fr

(The last 2 are usually advertised direct from the owner and thus voiding the agency fee)

Health care

The French social security system remains one of the most generous in the world. If you live and work in France you are entitled to the same social rights as to French citizens. Foreign workers in France must get a social security number, which is organised by your employer in France. Upon receiving this number you can receive a “Carte Vitale” – Health Card. This card is accepted by most doctors and pharmacies and enables a ‘copayment’ for health care.

Bank Accounts.

If your stay in France is going to exceed 3 months then it is highly beneficial to open a bank account. As most things are done via direct debit in France it makes sense to open a bank account, which, believe it or not is relatively simple. The required documents that you need include;

Valid ID or Passport

Proof of residence in France

A valid residence permit (where applicable)

The debit card and check book will be delivered without difficulty and the debit card (Carte Bleu) is accepted almost everywhere. Most accounts attract a monthly fee of around €10 per month. Banks are usually open Tuesday to Saturday. Some useful banks;

HSBC France 

http://www.hsbc.fr/

BNP Paribas

http://www.bnpparibas.net/ 

Societe Generale  

http://www.societegenerale.fr/ 

Hope you find this information helpful! And of course, any questions don't hesitate to contact me as I have done this ever so exciting move to Paris myself!

Eliza

Destiny of a Child. Climbing for Children - What to expect!

Destiny of a Child – Climb Mount Kilimanjaro Jan 27^th – Feb 6^th 2013

7 Days on Mount Kilimanjaro

In keeping with last week’s blog post about the wonderful charity that all of us at Nannies Incorporated are committed too, I thought it would be helpful to include a breakdown of exactly what those who are already attending or who are contemplating taking this climb of a lifetime will be doing over the 11 days in Tanzania in January 2013.

The route that Destiny of a Child and the team at Hoopoe Safaris has chosen is the Machame Route. Its 64 km long and is to be done over seven days and six nights. Although slightly more challenging than other routes there is a variety of vegetation, scenery and stunning views.

Day 1. Today the team will meet at Heathrow Airport awaiting their overnight flight to Nairobi.

Day 2. After arriving in Nairobi a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro airport is arranged. Upon arrival in Kilimanjaro you will be taken to the Arusha Hotel for a welcome brunch. Throughout the day you will be welcomed by Ake Lindstrom the very experienced mountain leader. A personal medical checkup will be carried out and your equipment will also be checked. Early in the evening a group BBQ will take place before everyone retreats, ready for the first day of climbing the following day.

Day 3. This is the first day of climbing. You will be climbing from Machame Gate to Machame Hut. This climb is estimated to take between 5-7 hours and camp is pitched at around 3000 meters. On this part of the climb you will experience the mountains lower lush rainforests.

Day 4. Climbing again today for 5-7 hours from Machame hut to Shira Camp and Lava Tower, you will cross a valley and a stream, climb up rock ridges and hike through heather. You can expect an aggressive ascent of a steep volcanic fin that juts out of the mountainside however after this the terrain levels and the path eases onto the Shira Plateau. The camp is set with views of Kibo and the Shira Plateau at 3840 meters.

Day 5. Today you will be climbing for 7-9 hours and will enjoy some typical sightseeing that Mt Kilimanjaro has to offer. Reaching a high point of 4600 meters you will enjoy lunch before starting to descent for the afternoon. On clearer days, during this walk from Shira Hut to Barranco Valley, you can see Lava Tower and some distinct glaciers. The descent to Barranco Valley is particularly rewarding, the views of Kibo Massive are spectacular.

Day 6. Today the group will begin their ascent from Barranco Valley to Karanga Valley. At 4100 meters you will have lunch and have plenty of time to relax and take an aclimitisation walk if you desire. The views of the southern ice fields here are amazing.

Day 7. From Karanga Valley the group will now head towards Barafu Hut. This is another ascent and as with the day before the group will take it slowly and arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation. After lunch, you guide will prepare you for your final ascent in Day 8.

Day 8. Today you will be climbing from Barafu Hut to the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak and back down to Mweka. This is at 5896 meters. The attempt on the summit occurs during nighttime, very early in the morning. There is a summit guide to ensure that everyone makes it to the top and/or is returned in complete safety. The distance for this part of the climb is relatively short however the climb is a slow process due to there being less than half the oxygen here than at sea level! On arrival at Uhuru Peak the team can expect to feel an array of emotions. If timing is good you can watch the sunrise from the highest point in Africa. After sunrise the camp begins the descent to the ground. The camp tomight is pitched at Millennium – around 3750 meters.

Day 9. The final day of climbing for the team sees you descending from Mweka to Arusha and a shower at the hotel. The walk takes you through the lower heath section, which quickly turns into afromontane forest. The walk concludes at Mweka Gate where you are greeted with a cold drink for the finale. This evening you will have a farewell dinner with your fellow climbers and enjoy you night of rest and relaxation.

Day 10. After a buffet breakfast at the Arusha Hotel, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport for your late afternoon departure to Nairobi and onto London Heathrow where you will arrive on Day 11, February 6^th, 2013. The final day of Climbing for Children.Join us on this amazing challenge.

For more information on the climb or an application form contact Destiny of a Child.

www.destinyofachild.com

www.facebook.com/destinyofachild

www.twitter.com/destinyofachild

Eliza

Destiny of a Child.

If you are following us on Twitter or you are a fan of our Facebook page you may have noticed that the Nannies Incorporated team have been talking about Destiny of a Child a lot this week. I thought it may be a good idea to give our readers a bit more of an insight into this great charity which supports profoundly deaf children, children with disabilities in the UK and France and aids orphans in Tanzania.

In 2002, following her first telephone conversation with her godchild after he had received his cochlear implant at the age of 3, Annie Martin, founder and managing director of Destiny of a Child and Nannies Incorporated, was amazed and touched by the gift this cochlear implant had given him and decided she would like to help other children with the same condition. Thus, Destiny of a Child was created. Since its creation Destiny of a Child has grown and now supports other charities in the UK, France and Tanzania.

In 2011 Destiny of a Child embarked on a journey to Mount Kilimanjaro. The event, Climbing for Children took place in January 2011 and a film is available on YouTube and on the Destiny of a Child website www.destinyofachild.com/fundraising-events/default.aspx

The event raised £227, 000 with proceeds going towards the UK’s Ear Foundation, Generation Cochlee, Ace Africa and Catholic Sisters of St Joseph Children Aids victim centre.

In 2013, Destiny of a Child is embarking on yet another climb. This time however they will be “Climbing for Children, Building for Children”. The 2013 climb will be supporting Valence School for disabled children in Westerham, Kent UK, The Ear Foundation UK, Ceop France and ACE Africa, Tanzania. The funds raised will benefit profoundly deaf children in need of cochlear implantation in the UK and France, Children with physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties in Kent, UK and also a Tanzanian charity supporting AIDS orphans. As in 2011, there is more than 1 option available to people interested in joining Destiny of a Child in this great cause. In 2013 you can participate in either of these 2 options:

· An ascent of Kilimanjaro to the summit at 5,896 meters/19,340 feet with an experienced expedition leader, Ake Lindstrom.

· Participating in the building of a children’s educational centre in Arusha, Tanzania. Local builders will support the volunteers with this project. No special skills required.

Nannies Incorporated, on behalf of Destiny of a Child, is asking all our followers to please support this charity, like them on Facebook and follow them on twitter. If you believe in the cause but don’t want to participate in the event, even sharing a story or re-tweeting a post is a great help in getting our message out.  You never know what one of your friends or followers would be interested in getting involved and we need all the help we can get to get our message to as many people as possible!

The project is limited to 3 groups of 20 climbers and 36 builders and is open to men, women and couples. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of £1,500 for Destiny of a Child in addition to covering the cost of participating. The  £1,500 can be made by personal contribution or by fund raising activities amongst family, friends or colleagues and in comparison to other charities who require a minimum £3,500 donation is hopefully a reachable goal for anyone interested.

For more information on this great cause, please visit these links:

www.destinyofachild.com

www.facebook.com/destinyofachild

www.twitter.com/destinyofachild

www.destinyofachild.com/fundraising-events/default.aspx

If you are interested you can contact Destiny of a Child for a brochure outlining both options in great detail and more interesting facts on the other charities “Climbing for Children, Building for Children” is supporting. 

Eliza

Information for nannies and families regarding Ofsted registered nannies.

It has been discussed in the news in the UK recently that David Cameron is considering proposals under which working mothers/families would be given tax breaks for employing home help such as nannies, cleaners and gardeners.  Ofsted registration coupled with the childcare voucher scheme gives families a helping hand in financing a nanny. The Nannies Incorporated team has been working on putting together some helpful information on Ofsted, which can be found on http://www.nanniesinc.com/ofsted.aspx and also on this blog post. 

What is Ofsted?

Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) is known for carrying out inspections and providing feedback for schools in the UK.  It also carries out inspections on Ofsted registered nannies to ensure a nanny is meeting the requirements of caring for the child/children.

Why would a Nanny become registered with Ofsted?

Although it is not compulsory to become registered with Ofsted it is a benefit for families looking to employ a nanny as they are able to claim the childcare element of working tax credits or employer supported childcare vouchers (if their nanny is registered). It also serves as a peace of mind to employing families, knowing that their nanny has passed all of the required checks such as First Aid Training and has a full, up to date CRB check.

What are the advantages for a family with an Ofsted registered nanny?

An Ofsted registered nanny provides an array of benefits for the employing family, including benefits from the childcare voucher scheme. Employers are only eligible for the childcare voucher scheme if the nanny is Ofsted registered.

What are childcare vouchers?

Many companies offer the childcare voucher scheme because it is an easy and convenient way to contribute to quality childcare for their employees. It is not compulsory to take part in this scheme but it benefits the employees greatly, giving them huge savings on childcare over a long-term basis. It is used in conjunction with employee’s salary sacrifice.

How do you apply for Ofsted?

The nanny must apply for the Ofsted registration herself. She must apply as a ‘Home Child-carer’ not a ‘Childcare Provider on Domestic Premises’ as this is different. The nanny must hold a valid Ofsted registered certificate for presentation to families upon request.

The registration process for Ofsted can be done entirely online at the Ofsted website. Upon receiving your application, Ofsted will contact you with details on receiving your CRB check (even if you have a CRB check you will need another as part of your application process).

In order to register you must meet certain criteria, including;

1. You must have public liability insurance

2. You must have a valid paediatric certificate

3. You must confirm you have the ore skills in childcare and that you are suitable to work with children.

4. You are required to have an enhanced CRB check - this will be done as part of you registration process

The fees with registering with Ofsted are:

• Application fee of £103 (includes the CRB check and verification service operated by the post office). Please note a nanny does not require an additional CRB check if she has had one completed in the last 3 years by Ofsted.

• Public Liability Insurance: The cost of Public Liability Insurance varies depending on how much cover is required (generally around £70-£90).

• Paediatric First Aid Certificate: If the nanny already holds an up to date paediatric first aid certificate, she does not need to have a new one.

• ICP Course (Introduction to Childcare Practice Course): The nanny needs to confirm that she is suitable to work with children and has the Common Core skills in childcare. If the nanny has sufficient experience she does not require any formal qualifications in childcare. If the nanny has none/little childcare experience and no formal qualifications she will have to attend this course.

The whole process can take up to 12 weeks for the nanny to be approved. Nannies can apply to Ofsted at any time during their career, be it before or after receiving interviews with potential employing families.

Useful links

www.ofsted.gov.uk

www.childcarevouchers.co.uk.