How do nanny agencies work?
Whether you're a parent looking to hire a nanny or a nanny seeking employment, you may be considering whether a nanny agency is the right route for you. To better help you understand your options, here’s some more information on how nanny agencies work and the benefits they can offer.
1) How do nanny agencies work?
A nanny agency is a professional organization that provides a nanny matching service to families looking to hire a new nanny. It also recruits nannies seeking employment, often on a need-to-have basis.
Agencies carry out all the relevant background checks and screen nannies before matching them with potential families.
A nanny agency can also ensure that employers (families) are set up to be compliant with employment and tax law and assist with mediation and resolving employment issues.
Not all nanny agencies are created equal - some provide a very basic service, and their fees reflect this. In contrast, high-caliber nanny agencies such as Sommet Nannies offer a comprehensive package, assisting with all aspects of hiring a nanny from recruitment onwards.
2) Nanny agency vs nanny website
In contrast to nanny agencies that offer a comprehensive recruitment package, nanny-matching websites provide a list of potential candidates for parents to look through.
In some cases, these candidates may have undergone some basic pre-screening, but the responsibility for ensuring the candidate is right for the family lies with the parents rather than the nanny website.
Many parents successfully find a suitable nanny via nanny websites, and the lower fees can make them seem attractive. However, the quality of the candidates is often poor, so this route can be very time-consuming, and particularly if you are in a hurry to secure the perfect nanny for your home, it can create a considerable burden of work in the short term, especially as finding the right nanny is such a high priority task.
3) Benefits of using a nanny agency
Unsure of whether to use a nanny agency or not? Let's look at the benefits of using a nanny agency for families and potential nannies:
a) For parents
Parents who utilize the services of a nanny agency benefit from a stress-free and streamlined recruitment process. The agency will gather all the relevant information to enable them to find the most suitable candidate for your needs and ensure all the necessary checks and screening have been carried out. They will also help you create a personalized employment agreement and be on hand to mediate should any employment issues arise.
b) For nannies
Nannies recruited through an agency benefit from knowing that they will be working with a family who appreciates and values the services that they provide.
A reputable nanny agency will provide placement support both during and after recruitment and be on hand to assist should any issues occur. Nanny agencies can also help negotiate highly competitive pay and benefits and ensure all tax obligations are handled appropriately.
Welcome to Sommet Nannies, a nanny agency with presence in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, New York and nationwide. We help busy families find dedicated and caring college-educated nannies.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like ‘Finding your perfect nanny’.
If you’re a family interested in learning more about our nanny services, head over here.
If you’re a nanny looking for a new family to work with, you can apply to become a Sommet Nanny.