TWINS NEED A PART-TIME NANNY 3-DAYS A WEEK IN SCOTTSDALE!
FLW & Thompson Peak Pkwy:  fraternal twinsAdorable, sweet 4 week old twin newborn girls are in need of a caring, reliable nanny with excellent newborn experience to care for them 3 days a week:  Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 8AM-3PM with flexibility.  The babies were born 4 weeks early and are doing well, but Mom needs assistance getting the babies on a routine from an experienced nanny.  Inspite being born early, both of the babies are a little over 5-pounds now.  One baby does have a heart murmur and has visits to the cardiologist regularly, but overall, they are both healthy baby girls. Mom is pumping and supplementing so they both babies take bottles well.  The family does have a 3 year old daughter as well who attends preschool during the day, so the nanny will not need to care for her unless there is a day the preschool is closed or she is sick. Mom is home during the day or will be in and out.  No driving and no travel is needed.  No pets.  A night shift can be added if nanny has the availability to assist with the babies at night one night a week. The family can be flexible with the nanny’s schedule but the 3 day schedule of MTW is ideal.  Mom’s sister-in-law assists with caring for the girls on the other days. They have a casual atmosphere in their home and the ideal nanny is loving and patient with twin experience or experience caring for multiple children close in age.  Interviewing starts ASAP and the position begins as soon as they find the right  fit.  Compensation:  $15/hr. (REF#VSSC)
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FULL TIME LIVE IN NANNY  NEEDED IN PARADISE VALLEY FOR 3 KIDS.

Lincoln & Mockingbird: This busy, professional returning Paradise Valley family with a 13 year old son, 10 year old son, and 6 year old daughter is seeking a live-in or live-out nanny / household manager who is very proactive; great at multi-tasking and can take charge and be a team player. A 3-5 year commitment is desired. The schedule is typically M-F from 9AM-5PM for a guaranteed 40 hour work week minimum but flexibility is needed. Mom is a single professional businesswoman running the household with her 3 children and her brother also lives in the household. Nanny must have availability to work overnight and weekend shifts when needed. Mom is preferring to hiring a live in nanny since they are offering their 1100 sq ft quest home with private bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and laundry room for the nanny’s use; however

they are open to hiring a live out nanny who has extreme flexibility and the availability to stay overnight when needed. The family has a semi-formal atmosphere in their home. Pets: 2 small dogs. 2 adults may be home at times. (In and out or working in home offices) Travel with the family may be needed or nanny will stay and supervise property (with or without children) while Mom or family travels. Travel in the summer with the family for a couple weeks is likely. Overnight shifts vary but on average 2 overnights per month are needed, typically every other week from 5PM the night before until noon the next day. All three children are in school full-time so household / domestic tasks are needed and a schedule is provided: cleaning and maintaining the house; changing sheets, laundry, organization, keeping stock of household items, running errands, grocery shopping. Picking up children from school and transporting to after school activities is needed and car is provided. Their 13 year old son is starting 9th grade, and described as being an old soul, very mellow, very wise, with a funny sense of humor. He is not into sports but likes to read, and is mature for his age. The 10 year old son is starting 4th grade and is funny and more of a daredevil; not afraid of anything, enjoys skateboarding, and playing minecraft. The 6 year old daughter is starting 1st grade and is a feisty girly girl, not afraid to speak her mind, very funny, likes to sing play with her dolls. Compensation is $15-$20/hr and for live-out candidates, additional overnight pay and travel pay is given. For live in candidates, same compensation plus room and board and utilities. Gated community. Private family. Confidentiality agreement needed. Interviewing starts immediately and position ASAP. (REF#RLPV)

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NEW FULL-TIME NANNY JOB WITH INFANT IN PHX, $15-$18/hr

44th St & Camelback: This amazing returning family of ours who are first time parents to a happy, healthy 9 month old baby girl are seeking a loving, reliable, committed, caring nanny with excellent infant experience to join their family and care for their daughter on a flexible, full-time basis. Mom currently works from home in her home office. The family is flexible with their schedule and can work around a nanny’s availability but ideally a M-F schedule of 8AM-4PM would work great. The nanny will be responsible for total and complete childcare responsibilities pertaining to the infant even when the parents are in the home. The nanny responsibilities will include the following; feeding, changing, putting the infant down for naps, going for walks, playing with age appropraite toys, reading books and working on developmetal activities. The family

will also need light housekeeping. The Dad works long hours and the Mom would love an extra hand around the household. Ideal candidate is someone who is focused on being engaging and interactive and who places an importance on educating their daughter and planning age-appropriate developmental activities as she grows. They are open to enrolling her in classes and having the nanny take her on outings and to activities. No Pets.  Compensation: $15-$18/hr. (REF#PBPHX)

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NEW FLEXIBLE FULL-TIME NANNY JOB (35 HRS) WITH TODDLER IN SCOTTSDALE, $15-$20/HR, ASAP
N Scottsdale and Dynamite: This wonderful returning family of ours has a sweet, happy, 1 year old boy who is in need of an engaging, interactive, educated nanny to care for him for a flexible schedule of 35 hrs M-F, typically 11AM-6PM, as both parents are physicians. They are open to providing 40 hrs if needed for the right candidate. Mom is currently working from home most days or will be in and out and she also likes to take her son to classes such as My Gym. She works 8 week days out of the month in the hospital and usually leaves by 3:30PM or Dad is home by 5PM so the nanny would not be needed later than 6PM. The family desires a nanny who has completed college or has some education and it is important to be engaging with their son like singing songs, reading books, and working on developmental milestones. No travel is required and no driving is needed at the moment but maybe in the future and gas mileage will be reimbursed. Pets: one large but friendly bullmastiff so nanny must be comfortable around a large dog. Compensation: $15-$20/hr. Paid holidays. Starts ASAP (REF#SKSC)
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When Jenny Riojas walked into the Caring Nannies’ office in the spring of 2011, our staff agreed unanimously that Jenny was the “It” girl we needed in our office! But Jenny had come in for a part-time nanny position, three long days per week, and at that time, she wasn’t wanting to work full-time. We definitely needed someone five days per week.
She had every quality we could ever want: 10+ years of nanny experience, 3 years of office experience,  prior experience as a Placement Consultant at ABC Nannies in Denver, Colorado. She was professional, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education,  well-spoken, warm, animated, and experienced both as a nanny and a Mom, with two boys, ages 6 and 4.  It took some convincing to get Jenny to agree to work in our office! Happily for us, the family we sent her to did not interview her fast enough–that does sometimes happen– and we worked out a compromise: she could work at home two days per week to be Mom to her boys, and in the office three days per week.

In the five years since the day she walked in, Jenny has taken Caring Nannies to new heights:  by expanding our Temporary Services to include Event Care, and Corporate Back-up Care; by initiating a new software program that saves our staff valuable hours;  by being an integral part of our education / training programs; and by continual growth of the domestic staffing side of the business. Her husband Jason has now taken over the accounting and bookkeeping as well.

Our own personal families have grown close over the past 5 years and Jenny has offered many a time to fill in the gaps with my own grandkids when I can’t be there. She brings Jason and her boys, now 11 and 9 to family parties and celebrations, where her parenting skills always bring remarks, like: “Those are the sweetest and best behaved boys I have ever met!”
At the end of 2015, Jenny purchased Caring Nannies from me after 32 years. I thought that after all that time, I would feel like it was one of my kids and miss it terribly. However, I am so busy with my second career, that I hardly have time to even think about it. I have five grandchildren that are five and under, with two more in the works. I enjoy teaching English to new refugees, going to hot yoga in the middle of the day, going on 20+ mile bike rides with friends, gardening, coordinating a class, studying, and a myriad of fun activities that don’t require me to sit at a desk all day! I think I am busier than before I retired!
I am grateful to Jenny for all the years of service she’s given our families and nannies and our corporate clients, and I’m excited to see where she takes Caring Nannies!
Beth Weise
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Our Caring Nannies staff is excited about the 2015 APNA annual conference starting this week in Scottsdale at the FireSky Resort and Spa. We have motivating and insightful speakers. We’re looking forward to meeting first-timers as well as old friends, and even more we’re excited about learning how to hone our skill-sets so we can improve our nanny and domestic staffing service and better serve our families.  APNA is a highly principled organization made up of hard-working, smart and creative industry leaders and we are proud to be a part of it. Caring Nannies is happy to be a sponsor this year.

Conference Speaker Spotlight: Rosalind Prather

Rosalind Prather is a Trusting Connections Co-Founder, a nanny placement agency and sitter service based in Tucson, Arizona. She helped grow Trusting Connections from a small 2-woman operation to a growing full-service agency of over 60 employees and oversaw the agency’s expansion into the Southlake, Texas market. She currently serves as the Marketing and Client Relations Director and travels between Texas and Arizona to head the marketing and sales efforts of both locations.

Rosalind is above all, the proud mother of two girls and has a deep understanding of the joys and struggles of family life and parenting. As a successful “momtrepreneur,” Rosalind is very passionate about sharing her insights with aspiring woman business owners to inspire them to believe that being a mom and a business owner is a beautiful possibility.

Rosalind will lead attendees in Anatomy of a Successful Sales Call on Saturday,
October 10.

About Association of Premier Nanny Agencies
The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies, established in 1993, promotes best business practices in all areas of the nanny placement and household staffing industries.
Media Contact

Ginger Swift, APNA President

400 South Colorado Blvd. Suite 310

Denver, CO 80246

303-321-3866

Beth

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We were incredibly disappointed to hear the story of the nanny in Georgia that is alleged to have committed identity theft. It was no surprise to find out that the family in this case did not use an agency approved by the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies.  No matter how you do it, hiring a nanny can be tricky and often very complicated. But hiring on your own (without an agency that can provide deep industry knowledge) dramatically increases the odds of a negative outcome.  It’s like going to Las Vegas and playing the roulette wheel: it is 100% predictable that the outcome is unpredictable.
We all know that life is fraught with risk.  There is always a degree of risk in any hiring effort.  But, the vast majority of nanny candidates are safe and honest.  And, finding a great nanny for your children is like winning the lottery.  Everybody wins if we do this right.  The key questions here are twofold.  One, how much risk tolerance should I have in hiring a nanny?  Second, how best to minimize and manage the risk?
The answer to the first question is obvious to most.  You should have less tolerance for risk when it comes to your children’s welfare.  So, how do you minimize/manage the risk in the hiring process?  There are many fantastic Agencies out there that specialize in this very thing.
The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies advocates working with a professional agency that carries the APNA stamp of approval.  These agencies specialize in reading between the lines and expertly identifying those caregivers who are safe and those who are not. The most secure route is to let the Agency direct your hiring process from top to bottom and facilitate the most intense series of background checks available. One critical factor that sets agencies apart from online listing sites is that APNA agencies meet their candidates in person.  Placement fees for this type of service are not small.  But try to make it happen, understanding that you are investing in a fantastic caregiver for the most important people in your life.  The dividends will be huge.  To lead the life you want, can you afford not to do it this way?  But if you can’t do this, you can usually still work with your Agency of choice to vet a caregiver after you have done a search on your own.  Bottom line:  Have an APNA approved agency involved in this process.  You won’t regret it.

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About Association of Premier Nanny Agencies
The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies, established in 1993, promotes best business practices in all areas of the nanny placement and household staffing industries.
Media Contact

Ginger Swift, APNA President

400 South Colorado Blvd. Suite 310

Denver, CO 80246

303-321-3866

Beth

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The INA has just released the results of their 2014 Nanny Salary and Benefits Survey. Are you paying your nanny enough?

Am I paying my nanny appropriately? To answer this question, the International Nanny Association has released the results of their 2014 Nanny Salary and Benefits survey, done in conjunction with Survey Design & Analysis, a professional research firm.

The purpose of this annual survey is to collect data on the state of the nanny industry, to see if the profession is keeping up with the economic gains in the US. A new twist is that for the first time, the survey included international data, especially from Australia. Australian salaries are a bit higher than the US. One online source,  quoted $15-$25 per hour or an average of $20 for an Australian nanny. Some of the new questions this year were designed to determine how additional training and experience affects salaries.

Comparisons were made back to the 2012 INA Nanny Salary and Benefits survey to highlight trends.

General trends

Only 8% of responders were live-in nannies, a trend we have definitely seen in Arizona, where live-in nanny placements have become increasingly rare. Also not surprisingly, 85% of respondents have some college education, and three fourths work full-time. The percent of full-time nannies is up 7% since 2012. Happily, 67% have a written work agreement in place, but this number goes up to 80% if they were placed by a ‘brick and mortar’ agency like Caring Nannies. Caring Nannies sees a written working agreement essential for long term satisfaction and longevity in the nanny/family relationship. However, only half of the respondents reported that what they’re actually doing on a daily basis matches their written list of duties.

Reporters included 38% who described themselves as nanny/house managers. 72% have more than 5 years of experience in the profession.

Additional salary findings-

  • The average salary families are paying the nanny is $18.66, which is up $1 from 2012
  • Salary increases are up – 49% got increases in the past 12 months, compared to only 38% in a more cautious 2012.
  • The more experienced and educated nannies tend to get the higher salaries. No surprise there.
  • Annual bonuses hit 60%, up from 53% in 2011.
  • Families paying their nannies legally topped out at 64%.

Nanny benefits-

  • In 2012, 66% of nannies received paid holidays, now down to 57%, and 62% get a paid vacation.
  • “Guaranteed pay”, when the family is paying the nanny while on an extended trip, or when Grandma comes to town, is at 71%.
  • Health Insurance is still an unusual benefit for the nanny profession, staying at 10% for full health insurance and 12% for partial. This is an area for employers to consider, as it gives the family and the nanny healthy tax breaks ,initiated in 2012 for employer provided health insurance.

Where are nannies finding their jobs?

39% got their current job through brick and mortar nanny referral agencies, and 34% online, a 10% increase from 2012.

The INA tells us that “Survey Design and Analysis’ concluded that improved economic conditions are evident in the nanny industry; with higher hourly rate, more bonuses, more full time work.” So, most families are paying their nanny appropriately, according to the survey.

They see technology changing the industry via greater use of online classes, online job postings, and more families paying their nanny via payroll services. Education level and experience of nannies and most aspects of the nanny job have stayed constant since 2011.
See the complete survey at  2014_INA_Salary and Benefits Survey.

Beth

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What are the pros and cons of using an online nanny site vs a nanny agency? Your greatest concerns in life revolve around your children and home. When you need some extra help at home, a nanny or babysitter, how should you  go about finding the perfect one, the one just right for your family? 

Should you go with a ‘do-it-yourself’ online site? Or hire a service to do the sleuthing for you. What are the pros and cons of using an online nanny agency versus a full service agency? We checked with some experts in the industry and have some pros and cons to help you decide which way is best for your family.

Complete control. An online company gives parents complete control over the process. Some parents feel that they know their needs and their family better than anyone, and want to do it all themselves.

Price. An online service is much less expensive initially than an agency. Some online companies charge only $45 per month and a Phoenix nanny agency can be anywhere from $800 to $3,500.

Candidates. There are lots of candidates to choose from. There are outstanding, experienced candidates mixed in with others. Experience levels vary greatly. For example, Care.com requires candidates to have worked in three different homes at least one time each. Most ‘brick and mortar’ agencies require a minimum of one to two years experience outside friends and family.

Convenience. Since it’s all online, a parent can do a lot of the work after hours.

Cons of an online service

Time. Initially it may seem easy and some families find a great choice quickly and move forward, but others find it confusing because there are so many nanny candidates and it takes a lot of time to review resumes, interview candidates, call references, get quality background checks, get copies of Driver’s Licenses, proof of auto insurance, First Aid, CPR certifications and validate the knowledge base of each candidate.

 

One family was successful, but recounts: “I found someone good but it wasn’t easy. I spent a lot of hours interviewing and checking references…hours that I didn’t have. I saved some money, but if I had it to do over, I would find an agency that does more of the work.”

Another comment was, “I didn’t realize all the stuff that ultimately fell on my plate.” And again, “I had no idea that they don’t even meet the nannies. They have a lot of resumes but I gave up after a while. It was like finding a needle in a haystack.”

Pros of a Full-Service Agency

Streamlined Hiring Process: An agency has the ability to determine your needs and send candidates for interviewing within a day or two. Judi Merlin of A Friend of the Family Staffing Corporation in Athens, Georgia, tells us that her vetting process for nannies takes 15-20 hours.

“We have found that only 1 in 10 applicants successfully complete our process,” she adds.

There for you during and after the placement. One of the most valuable benefits of going with a nanny agency is being able to work with one person who will guide you through the process. One family in the Breedlove survey stated: ” I liked being able to do a lot of the work online to save time. But I thought most of their nannies were un-hireable and I didn’t have anyone to call when I needed help.” Mimi Brady of Westside Nannies in Los Angeles tells us: “Most agencies always provide ears to listen, even after a nanny has been placed, and this can be extremely helpful in working on glitches regarding training your new nanny and miscommunications.”

Back-up help and support. If a family uses an agency, they can call for a last minute substitute sitter in case of an emergency. If a placement doesn’t work out, most agencies guarantee the placement for three months.

If you  have any questions about the process of finding just the right nanny or babysitter for your family, we’re glad to help. You can give us a call at 480-946-3423 or fill out a Family Application to start your personalized search today.

Cons of a Brick and Mortar Agency

Price. It is definitely more expensive to hire a nanny or babysitter though an on-line service, but time and having a stress-free experience are more valuable to many families than the money they would save.

Loss of control. Some parents prefer to be in charge of the whole process themselves.

Pros of a Do it Yourself Website

Failure Rate. One out of three online hires results in a failed placement, according to a study by Breedlove, a nanny tax service. There is also the consideration of a failed placement and children who have grown to like a nanny or babysitter only to have them leave. There is also the fear factor of meeting a person in your home who may not be who they seem.

Each family’s budget, time constraints and priorities are what will determine the best way to go about hiring a nanny or babysitter. The bottom line for every family is the safety and well-being of their children.

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Carol is a warm, vibrant and highly dedicated nanny with over six years of nanny experience with three families! She started babysitting at age 10. With a medical degree, she was working at a very busy medical clinic as well as setting up specialty clinics in Minnesota until her family relocated to Phoenix. “It was very stressful and when we moved to Arizona, I just wanted to get out of the healthcare field and be able to play and just have fun, caring for children. No stress, no drama. I just love nannying-it’s just the best,” she confided. In the Fall of 2012, we placed Carol as a nanny with a 3 year old girl two days per week, and just this week, she took an additional part-time nanny job for two days with a two year old and a newborn.

Carol loves children, and it shows! “They’re so much fun!” she shared. ‘Kids need to feel special. It’s a lot of work, but its so much fun. It’s about building a relationship with the children and the parents. If the children are happy, the parents are happy, and then I’m happy. it’s a win-win”. She’s fun-loving and active with children in all her nanny positions, diving into the pool for toys, playing hide ‘n go seek, tag, bike riding, reading, walks, exploring, and encouraging independence as much as possible. “One key is letting them win games. It makes them feel so special when the parents come home and they say, ‘Mom, I beat Carol at ‘Pig’!’”

Carol is flexible, and has done extensive travel with past families. Carol’s own family works around their schedule. Her current family flies her to Chicago frequently and once they brought Carol’s 10 year old daughter along so her six year old charge would have someone to play with and they had a blast: “We went to the park, the zoo, we walked miles. My nanny job works so well. My employer is the kindest lady ever! She’s been so kind to me. This nanny position has been a really good thing for me. I don’t look at it so much as a job. I love it and do whatever they need me to do.”

With her young Kindergarten charge in tow, Carol can be found exploring on a Saturday with a backpack filled with water and snacks and no plans. “Its’ an adventure and we see where we end up. I like to come up with fun things, like: ‘Today we’re going to see how many parks we can play at’”.  They call it park-hoping and found 6 parks in one day. “She’s so smart for her age,” remarks Carol about her charge. We’re always cooking and baking, and doing tons of crafts. We go to Michaels, pick up craft items, do painting, or make cards. The parents went off for a weekend and we put paint on her hands and feet and prints all over a paper and we hung it up with the words: ‘Happy Birthday, Dad.’”

Carol is compassionate, patient, adventurous, cheerful, and her medical background makes her extra safety-conscious. She loves teaching sports skills like hitting a ball with a bat or swimming. A favorite memory was a little fellow who loved basketball. Carol lowered the net so he could be successful. Carol is experienced with infants through school age, and is a pro at potty training. She’s happy to help with homework, do family laundry, straighten up the house, menu plan, grocery shop, run errands and is a gourmet cook!

Carols own daughters are 10, 15 and 18 years old and her husband travels a lot. “My kids are pretty self-sufficient, and normally I’m home by 4-5 in the afternoon. Her family loves to go camping and travel in their motor-home. This summer she took her paraplegic cousin on a month long motor-home trip, and cared for him 24/7 with her 10 year old. Her close-knit family loves any kind of outside activities, camping at Lake Pleasant, and other favorite places. Thanks for all your great work, Carol, and congratulations on your new position!

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