European Aupairs / Babysitters Working As Nannies In Canada

Nowadays in most families both parents are working and a nanny is a necessity for those who want to keep the children in a happy and safe environment. The best solution would be to find a live-in nanny who can care for the kids while the parents are at work. The majority of nannies willing to work as a live-in caregiver are from overseas i.e.: Europe, Philippines, and South America.

Recent studies show that 96% of the caregivers arriving in Canada under the Live-in Caregiver Program are from Philippines. The rest 4% are from Europe (Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, etc,) and from South America.

In most cases the nannies coming from Europe are well educated and trained as teachers or nurses. After working as babysitters in Europe (in particular Great Britain) they decide to move on and seek a job as a nanny in Canada. Unlike Europe, the former babysitters can apply in Canada for permanent residence after two years of employment as a live-in caregiver providing better chances to settle in Canada in an easier and faster way. The majority of those coming from Europe have a driver license which allowed them to obtain a Canadian driver license after they pass the road test. Having years of experience in Europe as babysitters and most cases a University degrees they are easily accepted by Canadian families, moreover they are in demand as many parents are looking for a nanny who is able to drive the kids to activities, school and supervise them during studying time. European nannies are preferred by families who are looking for more of a nanny then a housekeeper. In this case the parents are most concerned to have somebody to contribute to their offspring education and for the cleaning they will have a professional housekeeper several times a month. Of course the nanny will do some housekeeping and cooking, but her main duty is to focus on the children well-being.

The former babysitter working as a nanny will need some time to adjust to her new environment. Unlike her job in Europe where she worked fewer hours a week for room and board and pocket money, in Canada she will have a busy schedule with a full time job and more responsibilities. It would be very helpful if the family can provide her with childcare duties and guidance about the house and work schedule. The nanny job requires somebody who is flexible and willing to adjust her schedule to family’s needs. For a happy relation nanny-family the parents should have a clear picture about what they require from a nanny and the nanny should have an idea about what the family is expecting from her.

Although most of the nannies are willing to do housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. it is recommended to have a work agreement in writing to avoid any misunderstandings. The employment agreement should include details about the work schedule, salary and benefits, overtime compensation, holidays, childcare and housekeeping duties, etc.

It is also recommended to keep an honest and open communication dialog with the nanny, praise her for the good work she has done and discuss any issues that arise before a decision is taken. Let the nanny know what is expected of and respond to her needs. The more you help your new nanny to adjust to her new environment, the sooner you will be confident to leave your children in her care.

Need a nanny? Here are some pointers…

Looking for a suitable nanny to look after my children was not an easy task as I had thought it would be. In a household with two parents working full time and two toddlers, a nanny is a necessity. First of all, will be cheaper than a daycare and secondly the kids will feel more at ease in a familiar environment. However, finding the right nanny on my own seems to me a tough job.

In the old days, the obvious route to start was to place an ad in the news paper. Normally the results are a nightmare. Dozens of phone calls at all times of the day. The answering machine will be jammed with calls, anybody from grandma’s neighbor to the high school kid down the street. In many cases it is so overwhelming you don’t know where to start. If you are to go through a screening process and meeting with all callers, you would need a vacation after this exhausting adventure.

To begin with, you have to figure out what are you looking for in a nanny. You know she will spend many hours everyday with our children, so you need someone affectionate, open minded, gentle but firm, and most importantly, someone who genuinely loves kids. Someone like… Mary Popins!!! Or maybe just somebody like her… Hey, you know this is almost an impossible task, but at least you have to try, right…?

Second, you have to prepare yourself for the interview: What questions to ask the nanny? What should you look for in a nanny? You may have to consider that she is very nervous during the interview, but how does she handle herself in such a situation? Did she approach the kids during the interview? How did they respond to her? You should also do your homework and prepare some ‘What if…’ questions. These are very important indicators to her ability to handle situations that may occur during an average day with children. … I told you, this is not an easy task.

After the interviews it’s time to make your assessment. Do it as soon as possible after the interviews while your memory is still fresh. Read your notes again on each candidate you met with (you took notes during the interviews, didn’t you?). Maybe now you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The other way is to call on a nanny agency. That should make things a lot easier to find a nanny. You call the agency, they send a candidate and… voila, you have a nanny - end of story. Well, not quite… As it turned out, you still have to put some work in this matter, before and after the actual hiring. How come, you say? Well, here is how it goes…

You start your search on the internet. You are looking for a reputable agency, preferably in business for several years. The best way is to ask about their experience. What happens if the nanny doesn’t work out? Are there any guarantees? Then, ask them to provide you with reference. Call on their customers and find out if their service is satisfactory.

Tell the agency what you need and they will know what to do. Provide them with a detailed description of so called “Mary Poppins” and let them do the job.

So, that was the easy part. Now, assuming the agency has done the preliminary screening of the candidates, you need to meet only a handful of candidates for a personal interview. After I put somebody else in charge with finding a nanny I can relax and watch another hockey game.

Good luck.

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Points to consider before hiring a nanny

Hiring a nanny can be a difficult process if you are not clear on what you are looking for and what you expect from your nanny.

Therefore, before you start looking for a nanny, it is recommended to evaluate your own situation. Depending on your budget and your needs you may want a live-in nanny or a live-out nanny, a full time nanny or part time nanny.

Now think of your scheduling needs, write a job description with duties, salary, working days and hours including overtime. Write skills required of your ideal nanny. Do you want a nanny who drives? Do you expect the nanny to travel with your family? Do you want a nanny who has First Aid and CPR? Do you expect her to be a good swimmer? Do you have any expectations regarding the meals preparation?

In order to find the right nanny you need to find the right agency. The more details you give to the nanny placement agency, the better are the chances to find the right nanny.

A good, reputable nanny agency should be able to provide you with references from other clients. Ask for how long they have been in business and check with the Better Business Bureau. Inquire about the fee and if there are any guarantees. If you are not pleased with the candidates presented, find out if there is any fee applicable.

A respectable nanny agency, with many years of experience, should carefully screen the nannies, provide you with a guaranteed replacement and will not charge you if the presented applicants do not meet your requirements.

Once the agency offered you a list of suitable nannies it’s your turn to evaluate the candidates. Ask the agency to schedule the nannies for a personal interview. You can meet the nanny either in your home (preferable) or in a neutral location.

Find out if the nanny has the skills required, what she is looking for in a job. Ask about her training, general health status, how she likes to spend her free time, what were her primary responsibilities in the job, how does she handle an emergency, etc. During the interview ask her about her previous job and why she left it.

Discuss with the nanny her duties (childcare, housekeeping, meal preparations) and find out if she is comfortable to handle the job.

Have a written agreement including responsibilities, duties, benefits, terms and conditions of employment, nanny schedule, and days off.

It is very important to maintain an open line of communication with your nanny on regular basis. Praise her work when it’s due and discuss matters you are not satisfied with.

Remember, if your nanny is happy, your kids will be happy and you will be happy.

nanny

Live-in versus live-out nanny – Pros and Cons

Once a decision has been made to hire a nanny, the first question you need to answer is: Live-in or live-out? Your answer must take in consideration several aspects, mainly about your residence, your working hours and your life style.

1. Is your home large enough to accommodate another person living there?
2. Is it located on or close to a bus route?
3. Do you live in a small community far from the big city?
4. Do you work regular hours or shift work?
5. Can you afford a live-out nanny’s salary?
6. Can you live with a live-in nanny in your home?

Many parents contact a nanny agency to discuss and assess their needs for childcare and the availability of personnel to perform these duties.
A professional counselor can help you determine the possibilities available and the advantages and disadvantages of the available solutions.

Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of the Live-in Nanny.

Live-in nannies positions in Canada is the domain federal of foreigners brought here under the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). Generally, they are 25 to 40 years of age, with work experience or training pertaining to child care.

PROS:
1. Flexibility to match your working schedule
2. Salary that start at the minimum wage set by the provincial government
3. Available to travel with you when needed
4. Does not have a second job to worry about
CONS:
1. Cultural differences
2. Loss of privacy in your own home
3. Somewhat limited English language skills
The vast majority of live-out nannies are “past” live-ins who applied and obtained a permanent resident status in Canada after serving 2 years as a live-in under the LCP. Generally speaking you can expect an improved English language skills and Canadian work experience with Canadian references.

PROS:
1. Verifiable employment track record
2. Total privacy restored in your home
CONS:
1. Higher salary expectations ($15 per hour is the average)
2. May have emergencies at home and could miss working days
3. Expectations of better working conditions and more working benefits.