Process / FAQ

Our Company

• When and how was the company founded?
  Nannies From The Heart was established in 1998, and our team brings 18 years of experience to our clients. Our clients benefit from a staff carrying a multitude of real life experiences, such as investigative research, communications, human resources and most importantly, experience as mothers, fathers and professional nannies. We understand the need for caring and professional help.
• Who is your team/staff?
  Click here to view our About Us page
• What are some of the benefits of working with Nannies From The Heart?
  The ultimate benefit we offer families is PEACE OF MIND. We are Austin’s trusted experts. You get a real live person who was a nanny and is a mom to find the perfect nanny for you. We offer:

  • Austin’s best guarantee on replacements. We believe in our candidates!
  • In-home consultations
  • Provide materials and templates for the development of contracts/agreements
  • Short-term, temporary and emergency care help for permanent nanny registered clients at no additional cost, limited to 5 days per year
  • Resources for tax and benefit information for domestic employees, including health insurance
  • Continuing education for candidates, including seminars and conferences developed in part through the International Nannies Association
  • Discounts with area vendors and service providers
  • A discount for repeat clients
  • The Austin National Nanny Recognition Week events
• Is all of the information I provide confidential?
  Yes. Your name and personal data will not be shared with anyone unless you give us permission.
• I have special circumstances and none of the descriptions or fees seem to fit our situation. What do I do?
  No problem! Give us a call and we will help you to determine what your needs are and create a customized plan that fits you and your family.
• How does Nannies From The Heart compare to Other Agencies?

  Nannies From The Heart differs from other agencies because...

  • We have the best guarantee on placements hands down.
  • We are local, not franchised, so we are committed to our community and the families and children in Austin.
  • Your placement specialist conducts your entire search from start to finish!
  • GUARANTEED - The placement coordinator working with you is a mom, business owner and was a professional nanny, so we know and understand the needs of professional's, busy families and nannies. No one in Austin can offer this expertise! We listen, understand and get it!
• Why do people use agencies?
  It's been our experience that finding a nanny "on your own" can be risky, time-consuming and frustrating. Placing an ad for a nanny likely will result in dozens of responses, most of which will not meet the quality you are looking for. Thus, you'll be forced to wade through countless applications and possibly interviews before even getting candidates that match your needs.

  Once you find someone you like, you'll need to contract with a background check service to ensure they are trustworthy and don't carry a criminal record, and you would also need to check employment history and references. Finally, once you've spent all the time and money advertising for, screening, interviewing and background checking nannies, there's no guarantee the nanny won't leave or be deemed unsuitable for your needs...thus, leaving you out in the cold to start the cumbersome process again. Yuck!

  Also ask yourself, "Why would a nanny not go through an agency?" Are you qualified to run personality tests, do background work or spot the "red flags" for problem nannies? What happens if a nanny falls ill...who do you call?

  Nannies From The Heart takes care of all the details for you. And most importantly, replacement nannies are provided in cases where a nanny leaves, or if your nanny is sick or temporarily away from work. Finally, using our agency allows you to benefit from sitting services, discounts, and a variety of resources and referrals for improving the quality of your family life.

  If you are lucky enough to be referred to a reputable nanny or find a nanny on your own, contact us for background check services.

• Why do people choose Nannies From The Heart?
  We like to let our real customers answer this one! Here is what a few of our customers have said about working with us:

  "The process from beginning to end was clearly outlined and explained. Your vetting process narrowed the nanny candidate down to precisely the nanny we were looking for. We're extremely pleased with the results.” — Chris

  "Our nanny Wendy is my new best friend. Michael absolutely loves her and she helps Amanda with her French homework. She keeps my house manageable and I actually have time to sit down with the kids when I get home. This is by far the smartest thing I've ever done! Hope things are well with you and I'd love to give a reference.” — Elizabeth

  "I believe Rebecca's personal experience as a nanny and a parent, along with her special talent for interpersonal communication, gives her a unique advantage to successfully "match-make" families with caregivers. After interviewing our family, Rebecca sent us five highly qualified applicants.” — Barbara

  "Dear Rebecca, We want to thank you for helping us find such an incredible nanny. We don’t know what would have gotten us through the 2months of bed rest without your help. Thank you for all of the great personal attention you gave — it meant so much.” — Rhonda

  Click here to read more real people talk about why they chose us!

• Does Nannies From The Heart follow any industry standards?
  Yes - Nannies From The Heart has been a member of the International Nanny Association for 5 years.

Process and Fees

• What are Nannies From The Heart’s fees?
  Nannies From The Heart strives to take the red tape and complexity out of nanny placement fees. We have a simple fee structure and an outstanding guarantee, because we think you should be able to understand exactly what you are getting for your money, and that you should be fully satisfied with the services you pay for.

  Click here to view our Services & Fees FAQ

Our Company

• What makes Rebecca (president of Nannies From The Heart) so special, and what is all of the talk about?
  Again, we prefer to let our family clients speak for themselves:

  “We were very impressed that Rebecca came and met with us in our home, got to know us and checked in with us regularly. Rebecca D'Amico is your strongest point ;-)” — Catherine

  “Rebecca did an incredible job trying to find candidates within our constraints. She did a great job pre-screening candidates and was always very responsive. The customer service and professionalism was second to none!” — Vanita B.

  “Rebecca is great! The ability to look at resumes online was nice. All of the candidates were very responsive when we contacted them.” — Anna

  "We contacted you when I began my job search at the beginning of the year. When I was offered a job I had just over a week to find a nanny. Rebecca met me at our home and found us the perfect nanny in three days. We have had a wonderful experience working with you and would recommend you to anyone!” — Laura A.

Process and Fees

• What does the fee pay for?
  Our expertise and time! And in return you get an amazing caregiver and ongoing support. Your fee also is a "membership" to Nannies From The Heart, which means that you are covered by the guarantee for a replacement and can take advantage of sitting services, special discounts, and temporary nannies when your nanny is sick or temporarily away from work (limit of 5 per year).
• How do I get started?
  If you would like to explore the possibility of hiring a nanny, please just give us a call at 512-302-1998 or fill out a Family Info card online to request a "starter packet."
• What happens after I submit my family profile/contract and pay the registration fee?
  For Full Service Nanny Positions, your placement coordinator will review the profile and call you to prepare the next steps

  1. For permanent positions, a placement coordinator meets with you in your home.
  2. We post your position to interested nannies.
  3. We help you develop a detailed job description.
  4. We send you candidate applications to consider and rate.
  5. You schedule interviews with candidates and if necessary, trial days.
  6. We work with you to prepare a job offer.
  7. We follow up with you 1 month after your placement.

  You will have a primary point of contact at Nannies From The Heart throughout the entire placement process, and your name will not be revealed to any potential candidates.

  For Candidate Recruitment and Screening Positions, a coordinator will contact you with specifics on how to proceed.
  

  1. You develop a job description to post.
     
  2. We post your position to interested nannies.
  3. We send you candidate applications to consider.
  4. You schedule interviews with candidates and if necessary, trial days.
  5. You prepare a job offer and final agreement with nanny.
     
• Do you have any materials to help us interview, hire, and communicate with our nanny?
  Of course! Our materials are personalized...not copied out of a book. And our templates are top of the line. Why? They were created and designed with input from our nannies and families, with real-life experience as a foundation.
• What kind of guarantee do you have?
  For Full Service placements, if your nanny is not working out, we will find you another nanny, according to our replacement policy. We have the best replacement policy in Austin. Why? Because peace of mind is important to families, which means it's important to us.

  How can Nannies From The Heart do this and no one else can? Because your placement coordinator meets with you personally and conducts your search from A-Z. Therefore we're confident that most placements will be the perfect fit and won't need a replacement.

• What payment methods are accepted?
  We accept checks and credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. (Sitting fee payments must be made by credit card.)

Nannies

• How do you find qualified nannies?
  Generally, our candidates find us! We have a reputation for being Austin’s most experienced nanny agency and we attract the type of childcare professionals that enjoy working with loving, genuine families and who want to really help the entire family maintain a nice balance.

  Where do they come from? Many of our referrals come to us through other individuals placed by Nannies From The Heart. It seems as though one great placement leads to many more. In addition, we maintain excellent professional relationships with local schools and universities that have a resource of experienced childcare providers in their population, and we regularly interview and screen candidates from these schools, as well as from the community at large. Our screening process is rigorous and nannies must be exemplary to be considered. Methods of procuring candidates for consideration include word of mouth, nanny networking groups, professional organizations, newspaper editorials and advertisements, and online resources. An agency will attract the type of nanny that matches their expertise and personality -- so it is no wonder that we have the most personal, warm, and dedicated nannies in Austin looking for the most personal, warm, and dedicated families.

• How long does it take to find a nanny – either full time or part time?
  Generally speaking it takes several weeks – two to six weeks. However, since this is a totally customized personal matching business, the time period completely depends on the individual circumstances of the family and the nannies that are available. We have had placements that take place in a matter of days, and those that take a month or more. You will know when you meet the right nanny. What is important to us is that you are 100% delighted with your childcare provider and that she is a perfect match for your family. We prefer to have two weeks so that we can provide you with as many candidates to interview as you like, but no matter what the time frame is, we will dedicate ourselves to finding you the right person.
• What are the nannies from Nannies From The Heart like?
  Number one – they are competent, trustworthy, loving and completely dedicated to children and families. Our nannies come from many walks of life, those that we represent are diverse in their education, ethnic background, and age. This allows Nannies From The Heart to offer more selection to the client. We offer real candidates, genuine people who have a natural ability with children and families in addition to meeting our strict requirements for employment. We do not train our nannies to be nannies, or make them wear a uniform or badge--they either have that spark or they don’t. And moms, you know what I am talking about. They have a natural yearning to love cuddle, teach and play. They are the cream of the crop...They are the naturals. And that is all we place in your home.
• What are the requirements for a nanny to be hired by Nannies From The Heart?
  It’s not easy to get a job as a nanny for Nannies From The Heart. We really only want the cream of the crop and we screen heavily and require a superb attitude to go along with all the requirements. We pride ourselves on placing nannies that are professional, experienced, and dedicated to helping children and families thrive. To be considered for a position a nanny has to meet the following criteria:

  • She must be at least 20 years old
  • Have at least one year experience in the field
  • Must be physically able to perform the duties of the job
  • Must have proper legal documentation
  • Must speak fluent English
  • Have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED
  • Provide three childcare references that are not relatives and three personal references
  • Must complete a criminal background check and have a clear criminal history (we keep fingerprints on file)
  • Have current identification and social security card
  • Have current CPR and first aid certification
  • Have full coverage auto insurance (if driving children)
  • A Motor Vehicle Report free of alcohol-related violations and moving violations
  • Have reliable transportation to and from work

  We use the following screening methods:

  • Previous employment verification: We verify the candidate’s past employment and work history.
  • Previous employer reference checks: We also verify that the candidate has performed in their previous positions. We ask about their punctuality, their quality of work, as well as, their attitude and many other important issues that would determine if the candidate meets our standards.
  • Character reference checks: We develop a clear picture by checking into the candidate’s character references with people who have known them for many years.
  • Criminal history investigation: Our candidates will be screened for any reported felony and misdemeanor convictions on record within the past seven years, which is the maximum allowed by federal law.
  • Motor Vehicle Report: We obtain motor vehicle records for reported alcohol-related violations and moving violations.
  • An exclusive Nannies From The Heart Personality/Behavioral evaluations that we developed ourselves.
  • Also very important – the nanny must be an excellent match to your requirements. Our agency feels that if someone will be working in your home, it is imperative that they be screened and personally met by your own placement coordinator.
  • "Nanny Evaluation Tests" completed by each nanny.

  Click here to read more about how we conduct our background checks.

  The following additional screening services may be ordered upon request:

  • Physical examination
  • Pre-employment credit screening
  • Drug screening
  • Blood testing for diseases (HIV, Hepatitis A&B, and Tuberculosis)
  • Others – at your request

  Clients will be charged for additional tests ordered at their request.

• What is the average age of a nanny?
  We don’t discriminate based on age, gender, race, etc. Our nannies come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many of our nannies are college educated women in their 20’s and 30’s, while some of them are experienced moms whose children have grown, and who want to spend time helping other children grow up and thrive.

  Don't be fooled by cliches such as "older nannies have more experience," or "that younger nannies have more energy." Often it's quite the contrary. We will find the perfect match for you and your family based on the traits you are looking for, not the age.

• How do you screen your nannies?
  Once we determine that a nanny candidate has met our minimum requirements, they must fill out a very detailed and comprehensive application on line (even if they have a resume). We review the application, and if it meats our requirements the nanny is brought in for a personal interview at our office and to fill out our exclusive personality evaluation. The references are contacted and verified. Nannies will be finger printed and photographed. We do a criminal history check on them -- including county and state and national checks (in counties lived in), which will report on any criminal activity including sex offender, violent offender, and other criminal records. We also run a driving record. Other checks are done per the family request such as credit checks and HIV screens.

  A family will only meet a prospective candidate once she has completed and passed specific stages of our screening process, and you have reviewed her application and have expressed an interest in interviewing her. The candidates we represent are screened with a combination of the following services:

  • Previous employment verification: We verify the candidate’s past employment and work history.
  • Previous employer reference checks: We also verify that the candidate has performed in their previous positions. We ask about their punctuality, their quality of work, as well as, their attitude and many other important issues that would determine if the candidate meets our standards.
  • Character reference checks: We develop a clear picture by checking into the candidate’s character references with people who have known them for five years or longer.
  • Criminal history investigation: Our candidates will be screened for any reported felony and misdemeanor convictions on record within the past seven years, which is the maximum allowed by federal law.
  • Motor Vehicle Report: We obtain motor vehicle records for reported alcohol-related violations and moving violations.
  • An exclusive Nannies From The Heart Personality/Behavioral evaluations that we developed ourselves.
• Are Nannies From The Heart nannies bonded?
  We believe that bonding tends to give people a false sense of security. Our sitters and nannies being bonded would only be a benefit to a family in the event that the sitter stole something from their home, and was convicted of the crime in a court of law. In the case of a conviction, a family would have legal options regarding restitution. We prefer to instead funnel our money into doing thorough background checks on all of our candidates. Please take the time to read the information on our website about our background checks.
• Can I videotape the nanny?
  If you are interested in setting up a “nanny cam” to watch your nanny’s interactions with your child, we can put you in contact with a reputable company to do just that. Our private investigation company has acknowledged that it is legal to videotape in your own home, and you do not have to inform the nanny. They have often set up video in homes and offices using wireless cameras that can be hidden in smoke detectors, vents, VCRs and other places. The videos are in color and of excellent quality.
• How much do nannies make?
  Nannies can be paid by the hour or with a weekly salary. Pay is based on the nanny’s prior experience, qualifications, training, education, previous salary, and the specific position requirements. We can give you general guidelines, but we will work with each family to establish an appropriate payment amount and method.

  General payment guidelines: Nannies and Mother’s Helpers - $12-$17/hr – or - $400-700 per week for full time, Sitters $11/hr, Overnights $100-125 per 24-hour period

• Do I pay the nanny myself or does Nannies From The Heart pay her?
  You pay your nanny directly. You can set up with her what works best for you both – weekly, bi-weekly, etc. It’s between you and the nanny. (Breedlove and Associates of Austin also provides a payroll service, in addition to tax services.)
• Is the nanny an employee and how do I pay them and handle taxes?
  Yes, in most circumstances the IRS code considers a nanny a household employee, subject to employment taxes. The nanny is your household employee and is not an employee of Nannie from the Heart. Click here for information about taxes.
• What if my nanny doesn’t work out?
  If your nanny is not working out, we will find you another nanny. (Please review replacement policies at our Services & Fees FAQ for exact terms.) We have the best replacement policy in Austin. Why? Because peace of mind is important to families, which means it's important to us.

  How can Nannies From The Heart do this and no one else can? Because your placement coordinator meets with you personally and conducts your search from A-Z. Therefore we're confident that most placements will be the perfect fit and won't need a replacement.

• Do I have to supply health benefits for the nanny?
  Often times, nannies have health coverage through their husband’s employer, or they remain on their parents’ policy. However, some nannies do not have these options available to them. With the rising costs of health care, it is beneficial for all parties involved when a nanny has her own health care insurance policy. If you can't provide coverage through your employers or personal insurance, consider contributing a monthly stipend to personal coverage obtained by the nanny. (The stipend often can be tax deductable.)