QUALITIES OF A GOOD NANNY

Hiring a nanny is a major decision. The individual you choose for the role will be spending quality time with the most important people in your life, your children, so it's absolutely key to select someone you can trust, and who will have a positive impact on your little ones' lives. While varying personalities are of course to be expected – no one person is the same – there are some basic attributes that all successful nannies will have. .

So what makes for a successful nanny? What key qualities are needed to upstage the likes of Mary Poppins? Let's find out:

1. Punctuality
A key attribute required of employees across virtually all industries is punctuality, and nannying is no exception. After all, it's likely that you are hiring a nanny to handle vital chores that need to be completed at a certain time, whether that's waking the children up in the morning, getting them dressed, making their lunch and so on. In this role, perhaps more so than in others, there's simply no room for tardiness. The Smooth Parenting Blog advised that a fair period of notice should be provided by the nanny if he or she is ever going to take time off. While some things cannot be avoided – the occasional sick day, a flat tire, for example – the nanny you choose should have a pretty spotless record as far as attendance goes.

2. Kindness
Children won't respond well to a nanny who is stern, detached and an overt disciplinarian. While all nannies should be able to command a certain level of respect from your children, it is crucial that they are able to do this while still displaying bucket loads of kindness. As detailed by the Houston Chronicle, the best nannies will be able to forge close bonds with your kids, built on kindness and mutual respect. He or she will enjoy spending time with them and will be willing to play games with them, for example, or watch their favorite cartoons or help them with their homework. This doesn't mean that discipline should be sacrificed in favor of friendship. The very best nannies will be able to reprimand your children in a way that is effective, while still displaying fairness and compassion.

3. Personal happiness
You're going to rely on your nanny to support your children and help ensure that they lead as happy lives as possible. It's imperative, therefore, to select a candidate who is stable and in a place of personal happiness themselves, an article from the LA Baby Show advised. This can help ensure that he or she gives the job 100 percent effort, and doesn't simply show up and go through the motions. Being in a place of happiness also means that your nanny's influence on your children will be a much more positive one.

4. Patience
Let's face it, caring for children can be a challenge, even at the best of times! Temper tantrums, disputes over toys, fussy eating – it can all be very stressful! That's why patience is a crucial attribute that all nannies should display. To borrow a popular cliche – your new nanny should have the patience of a saint! If an individual is quick to lose his or her temper, or is able to become overwhelmed easily by multiple responsibilities, he or she is not cut out for the role. As maintained by the Houston Chronicle, the best nannies are cool under pressure and able to tackle challenging situations head on.

The best nannies display bucket loads of kindness!The best nannies display bucket loads of kindness!!

5. Communication skills
As explained by childcare recruitment specialist Dee Modric, writing in an article published by LinkedIn, the best nannies are able to communicate well, both with you as a parent and to your children. When it comes to communication with you, an ideal nanny won't hide any secrets. He or she will provide comprehensive updates to you at the end of the day, with regards to things such as your childrens' behavior, what they got up to and so on – 100 percent transparency is a must. As far as communicating with your children, the best person for the role will be able to connect with your kids on an emotional and personal level, demonstrating clear interest in their lives, by asking questions and engaging in conversations. If you notice your nanny can't wait to get away from your kids and tackle other chores, he or she probably isn't the best fit for the position.

6. Proactive nature
At the end of the day you're hiring a nanny to help make your life easier in terms of child care, and likely around the house too. Things, however, won't be that much better if you find you have to constantly assign tasks to your nanny, delegate chores or take frantic phone calls asking for help. Indeed, as noted in an article from The Funny Nanny, the best professionals will take the initiative to complete tasks without much direction – they'll be able to anticipate your family's needs and will be able to handle a majority of problems without any guidance.

7. Responsibility
The nanny you choose will be looking after the most precious people in your life, so he or she must be incredibly responsible, the Houston Chronicle explained. This means being able to prioritize your childrens' safety at all times, as well as ensuring that important meetings are attended and set schedules are adhered to. Put another way, your nanny needs to be organized, in control and thoughtful – nothing should be missed and risks should never be taken.

An article from Care.com suggested that, although maybe not essential, it can be enormously beneficial and offer peace of mind if the nanny you select is trained in first aid.

Consider Nitha Helpers Domestic Staffing Agency
Need help selecting the best candidate? Consider enlisting the talented services provided by the staff at Nitha Helpers Domestic Staffing Agency. WhatsApp/call us on 09093576242.

Ext: Colonial Domestic Agency

Using A Domestic Staffing & Recruitment Agency to Find Help or Get Hired


Protect your family and protect yourself

You’ve decided you want to use an agent to help you find your next domestic member of staff or find your next job – great! But now the daunting steps of where to even begin.

With multiple agencies in Lagos and around the nation how does using a domestic staffing agency help you find help? Does it help you get your dream job or is it all a waste of time? At times it can feel like a minefield, and you ultimately want to protect yourself, your family and ensure that if you apply for a job you don’t end up in a sticky or dangerous situation. That’s where using an agency can help cut through the potential risks and give you peace of mind.


Standards of Operation



1. Vetting

Hiring: The most important aspect that an agency can provide you, be it for looking for domestic help or finding you a job is that extra level of care and protection. A good agent will ensure that all their candidates are vetted, background checked and qualified for the position before they even step foot inside your door, and this can be very important. By using a staffing agency you can save yourself a great deal of time having to do reference and background checks (although its always wise to do them for the final selection of candidates to double check).

Getting Hired: When you are looking for a job a good agent will meet with you (either in person or on Skype) and get to know what you are looking for. Check in from time to time with your agent to update them on any changes and remind them you’re still available for hire. Beware of sending an agent multiple emails a day or calling them weekly as you don’t want to annoy them! Try to reach a good balance between professional contact and too much contact!

2. Find Quality (rather than quantity)

Hiring: Trust us, if you are looking for a new member of staff for your home and you don’t use an agent, you’ll be trawling through hundreds of applications of non suitable candidates, and your inbox will be very unhappy. Of course when you use an agent you’ll have to pay an agency fee (more on that below), but this fee is allowing you the peace of mind of vetted candidates who are suitable for the role. That way instead of getting 100 CVs into your inbox, you’ll get 4 or 5 of the best.

One of our recent agency adverts looking for Chef’s had over 500 applications, many of whom had not worked as professional chefs and were therefore not suitable. One applicant wrote to us ‘I’m a terrible cook but I make a mean toastie.’ Point made. I’m sure you don’t have time to wade through applications like this! A good agency will give you quality candidates to pick from and save you having to go through the detailed process on your own.

Getting Hired: A good staffing agency will understand your abilities and goals, and will only place you in a position that matches both. We know your time is valuable and you do not want to spend it looking over irrelevant positions. You should only be placed in a position you qualify for, but if you don’t qualify, understanding what criteria needs to be met for you to reach your desired position is very important. Often times a staffing agency will give you feedback on your CV so you can make the necessary improvements/qualifications for future work in your desired position.

3. Agency fee

Hiring: An agency will generally charge a fee to help you find your ideal domestic staff. All agencies have different fees and they should be open and honest about them. It takes a great deal of work to find staff for an individual, so the fee will take into account the location of the agent (their office costs), the staff that works for them and the way their company operates.

But beware, in this industry you do often get what you pay for! A word of caution – avoid agencies who charge registration fees. This tends to be a technique employed by agents trying to make a quick bit of money before they start the work. NEVER pay for a search upfront, no matter how good the deal sounds and ALWAYS read the agency contract or terms and conditions and understand them clearly before you sign them. Once you enter into the legally binding contract it will be difficult to debate this later if you are not happy with the service.

Getting Hired: If you are joining an agency looking for work never pay to join.

4. Get expert advice

A good agent will always have the time to talk. They might be busy when you call, but they should always call you back. Whether you are looking to hire or get hired, speaking with an agent can save you a tremendous amount of time.

This way you can have a chat about their process, how they work and how they can help you. Agents should give honest and open advice about their services and how they can help you find staff or find a job. You can also use the internet, social media and connect with other domestic staff or like-minded clients. Speak to your friends and see who they have used as an agent and ask for recommendations and warnings – both are equally important.


5. Going the extra mile

Every good agency will go that extra mile for their client and the candidate. They should always be available on the phone or email. Transparency and good communication is key! So look for an agent who values both their clients and candidates, as without one or the other you cannot have a successful agency.

See what other services the agent offers and sign up to networking and social events as this is a great way to connect with other clients and candidates. Perhaps you want to get your staff additional training, or perhaps you want to have additional training, a good agent will be able to offer advice and guidance of how to continue your education.



No matter what you are looking to do, either find help or get hired, our friendly team at NITHA HELPERS can help you if you need us to. We always love to hear from clients and candidates alike, no matter what the case may be. Get connected to the leading domestic worker agency in Lagos via call/whatsapp on 09093576242



Ref: Using A Domestic Staffing & Recruitment Agency to Find Help or Get Hired. March 16, 2016 by Polo and Tweed