Process / FAQ

Nanny Basics

• Why should I seek employment through a placement agency instead of finding instead of finding my own job through the newspaper?

  Following are just a few benefits of working with Nannies From The Heart:

  • We make it easy for you. After filling out our online application, and interviewing with Nannies from the Heart, all you have to do is watch the job opportunities come pouring into you email box!

  • Registering with an agency demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail.

  • We offer advice based on years of experience to guide you through the interviewing process until you land the perfect job!

  • We meet 98% of our clients, so we know what type of environment we are sending you to. There are no “bad surprises!”

  • Families who find nannies on their own generally have a tendency to pay less, offer fewer benefits, and rarely stick to work agreements if they provide one at all. We hear stories like: I worked for 3 years without a raise, I was promised vacation but was never allowed to take it, I became the housekeeper, they reduced my hours and I could not keep the position and pay my bills and when I had to leave they gave me a bad reference after working with them 2yrs, I cry going home almost every day because I am treated so badly and am verbally abused – I stay because I love the children!! Families that commit to go through an agency want and desire a professional open respectful relationship – and you deserve the same. Statistics show that families and nannies that hook up through an agency have better communication and last longer. A real win-win for all involved.

  • Answers to your questions about salary, benefits (including medical insurance) and taxes - you have a place to call.

  • We help answer questions about pay, benefits, gas money, health insurance, (perks, lunch, pedicures and manicures, car washes and much more.)

  • If you need to leave suddenly for an emergency, need maternity leave, or just need to take a vacation, you know that the agency will send in a qualified replacement for that family and ours does it with no agency fees.

  • If the family member loses their job or decides to stay at home with their children and needs to let you go, you can get another job quickly and with an agency reference.

  • You can earn supplemental income by accepting babysitting jobs that fit your schedule, in addition to your regular nanny position.

  • Access to our online resources.

  • Nannies From The Heart families like to have fun, they care about their children and most importantly, they value their caregivers. In fact, they often nominate their nannies for awards during our Annual Nanny Recognition Week events.

• What type of job can I find through Nannies From The Heart?
  Nannies From The Heart places part-time and full-time nannies, in both live-in and live-out positions. Many jobs are permanent (one year or longer), but others are temporary positions. In addition, Nannies From The Heart has numerous babysitting jobs on an as needed basis for our client families. As an approved nanny in our database, you will have access to all of these job postings.
• How much money does a nanny make?
  
  Temporary and babysitting positions pay $11 per hour. Permanent nanny position salaries vary greatly based on a family’s needs and the nanny’s qualifications. However, most nanny positions pay between $12-17 per hour. This amount may be less if you have an agreement to bring your own child to work, or if it is a live-in position.
• What if I am registered with another agency or looking in the paper as well?
  That's great and OK with us! We don't want to stop a nanny/caregiver from putting their name out there but what Nannies From The Heart is interested in is getting the family and nanny under the Nannies From The Heart umbrella. For instance, if a family finds you through the paper but you are registered with the agency and you want to stay with the agency, we want you too. Tell the family to register with us for the application fee and we will waive the PLACEMENT FEE!!!! What a deal. You can not beat that.

Application Process

• I’ve filled out the online application. What happens next?
  Rebecca D’Amico, owner and president of Nannies From The Heart, will personally review your application. If you meet her requirements for employment (experience, work history, etc.), she will contact you via email to schedule an interview.
• What should I bring to my Nannies From The Heart interview?
  You need to bring the following items:

  • Copy of your drivers license
  • Copy of your auto insurance
  • Copy of your Social Security card or passport
    (if you can not make copies, we can make them in the office during your interview)
  • A resume (optional)
  • A letter describing why you want to be someone's nanny (optional)

  It is also helpful if you have:

  • CPR and First Aid certification (you will need this to do ANY work with us and it would be a good idea to get this set up – www.cpr-resources.com)
    References / Reference letters (families love these)
    Resume (related to position you are looking for)
• What do I need to do after a successful interview with Nannies From The Heart?
  Before you are eligible to interview with any of our families or to take a job through Nannies From The Heart, you must do the following:

  • Obtain your fingerprints and your Travis county criminal background report from the Texas Department of Public Safety at 108 Denson Dr Austin, TX 78752. 512-424-2000. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5 PM. The cost is $25.00. You will need to mail the originals to the Nannies From The Heart office: PO Box 9600 Escarpment 745-266 Austin, Texas 78749 (Mailing Address Only)
  • Register for your CPR/1st AID class. Nannies From The Heart does not accept certifications done online. We recommend CPR Resources. The class is a 4-hour course. The cost is $25.00. Dates, times and locations can be obtained by visiting the web site: http://www.cpr-resources.com or by calling 292-3130. Please email Rebecca your class date, let us know how the class went and mail or fax over the copies of your cards.
  • Have your references fill out the online reference form. The more you have the better your chances to land a job.
• What kind of background checks are done before I can work through Nannies From The Heart?
  Andrea Burrell, director of candidate screening, will verify your previous employment and obtain references from both your personal and professional references listed on the application. Before you are placed in a permanent nanny position, Nannies From The Heart will request a complete background check on you from a private investigator. (You will sign a consent release at your initial interview.) Background checks may include: Identity / Social Security Verification, Sexual Offender / Violent Offender Search, County, State, and National Criminal Search (in one or more states), Driving Record Search, and references and degree verification.

Finding a Job

• How will I know when a new babysitting job is available?
  Sitter requests are made online by families on an as needed basis. Once a request has been received, Nannies From The Heart will send an email to all nannies with the job details. Jobs will also be posted to the Web site. By replying to it promptly with a contact phone number, you are more likely to get the job. If you are selected your contact information is forwarded to the family, who will call you to finalize the arrangements.
• How will I know when a new nanny position is available?
  All jobs are posted once a week via email to the email address you provided Nannies From The Heart in your application. The jobs also will be posted to the Web site to view at any time.
• How do I express interest in a particular position?
  To show interest in a job, email back to each posting individually. Let us know if you are interested and if you are a match we will forward your application to the family. Or let us know if if you need more information, have a question about the job, or would be interested if they paid more per hour, paid for mileage, etc.
• What happens once a family receives my application?
  We will forward your application to the family with some personal notes from the Nannies From The Heart interview within 48hrs. The family will call you directly to do a phone interview or set up an in-person interview. Let us know if they call or not.
• What can I do to prepare for my interview?
  We provided several tips in the packet provided at your interview with Nannies from the Heart. Please review them.
• How should I dress for my interview with a family?
  We provided several tips in the packet provided at your interview with Nannies from the Heart. Please review them.
• Do you have any hints for presenting myself well during the interview?
  We provided several tips in the packet provided at your interview with Nannies from the Heart. Please review them.
• The family wants to schedule a trial. What does that mean?
  A trial is a great way for both the family and the nanny to see if they would have a good working relationship. Following are the basic guidelines for a trial:

  • Nannies From The Heart must be notified if a family asks you to do a trial run with them. You will be required to report hours to us.
  • Trial runs are typically 1 day – 5 days at a rate of $11/hr paid by the family at the end of the trial assignment.
  • You can continue to interview and respond to job postings even though you are doing a trial, if you wish.
  • You need to provide feedback on your trial assignment to Nannies From The Heart (likes / dislikes).

Job Offers

• The family offered me a job! Now what?

  Please contact us right away!

• Who handles negotiations of salary and benefits?
  Always let the family bring up the subject of pay and benefits, but be prepared to discuss this subject in a forthright manner. Before your interview, you should know what an acceptable gross pay would be for you. For example: What do you need per hour/week/month? What kind of benefits do you have to have? Do not settle for the first offer if it does not meet your expectations or needs.
• As a nanny, am I under any contract with Nannies From The Heart?
  At your initial interview with Nannies From The Heart, you will sign an agreement that states the following:

  • You will not work for a family until you have submitted your CPR and First Aid certification, signed a work agreement with the family, and Nannies From The Heart has received full payment from the family.
  • You will inform Nannies From The Heart if you are seeking employment through other means.
  • You will report any family that makes an offer without going through Nannies From The Heart first.
  • You will not share any Nannies From The Heart materials with people other than Nannies From The Heart clients.
• What type of commitment must I make to the family?
  Your commitment lies with the family that has hired you. They have paid a fee to find you and have had Nannies From The Heart check your references and do background work. You are expected to fulfill your agreement whether that is a 3-month or a 2-year term. These terms are always specified in the initial job posting. Breaking an agreement leads to a bad reference and unhappy families and children.
• What if a problem comes up with the family?
  If a problem or concern arises, you should call Nannies From The Heart and let us know immediately. We are moms, dads, and former nannies with a wide range of experience and can help. Do not wait until it is a major problem. Call us immediately. Nannies From The Heart is here to help!
• The family I work for has referred me to another family. Is there anything I should do?
  If a family you met through Nannies From The Heart refers you to a friend of theirs, they are violating their contract with Nannies From The Heart. This is a big red flag for you as well as dishonest. We suggest that you tell the friend to contact Nannies From The Heart to hire you. In return, Nannies From The Heart will send you money for the referral. Nannies From The Heart knows that getting extra work is important and we do not want to keep you from new work, we just want to make sure that things are handled respectfully and when the new family joins Nannies From The Heart, they get all the great benefits!
• I really enjoy working with my family. How do I know if they are satisfied with my work?
  Ideally, you will have an honest rapport with the family you work for, but if you are uncomfortable asking directly about your quality of work, we have a solution. Nannies From The Heart requests from each of our client families nanny evaluation to be submitted online. We will forward each one to you via email, so that you can add them to your personal reference file.
• I have had a family emergency come up and will have to miss work. Should I contact the family I work for?
  Call Nannies From The Heart first, as soon as possible, then call the family. We are usually able to find a replacement within a few hours, and we do this at no agency charge to the family.
• What are my responsibilities as far as reporting income and withholding taxes for the IRS?
  Just like any job, you must pay federal and social security taxes on your income. Please refer to our Tax Questions page for details.

My Future with Nannies From the Heart

• My one year commitment has come to an end. What now?
  You and the family may decide to extend the work agreement if both parties are satisfied. We can help you at that point. If you do leave the position, you can immediately begin applying for a new position if you have a favorable reference. Furthermore, you will have the added benefit of a great new reference from your first family that we can share with new potential families.
• I’ve been with the agency for a while now, but have moved and would like to update my application. How do I do that?
  First of all, thank you! Our job is so much easier when nannies keep their applications updated with the most recent information. You can update your application here. You will need to know your email address and password that was emailed to you when you first were approved. If you have forgotten your password, or need help with the process, email Info at Nannies From The Heart at info@nanniesfromtheheart.com.