Finding a nanny: it's an unregulated industry and they're dealing with your children, so it pays to do your research before you choose one.(REPORT: Nanny agencies)(Product/service evaluation)

Publication: Choice (Chippendale, Australia)

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Australian Consumers' Association

We're probably all aware of the much publicised overseas trials of nannies charged with harming babies in their care. For many parents it's already a difficult decision to leave a child to be cared for by someone else, and hearing these kinds of horror stories can make it even tougher.

In Australia, the impact of these cases, if anything, was to make nanny agencies even busier. "People stopped trusting their own judgment in hiring a nanny and felt they needed support from an agency," said Susan Rogan of Susan Rogan Family Care, previously director of the now defunct Australian Association of Nanny Agencies.

What's worrying is that the nanny agency industry isn't regulated and media stories in Australia have exposed some agencies that send nannies out to work with children without a police or reference check first.

An additional concern we've heard voiced is that the 'professional nannies' on an agency's books may in fact be inexperienced and unqualified--far removed from what you'd expect from someone with that job title. However, research we conducted didn't support this concern--see A 'nanny's' experience, far right, for details.

In this article you'll find an outline of the different services nanny agencies can provide, the costs involved and how to make sure the agency you choose is reputable. We also look at what you need to consider if you want to cut out the middleman and employ a nanny directly.

NANNY AGENCY SERVICES

Finding a nanny privately can be time-consuming, stressful and hard work, which is why many people turn to an agency for help. A good nanny agency can make the process faster and easier, as well as provide peace of mind. These are the types of services it's reasonable to expect from an agency:

* Screening. The agency should meet the nanny face-to-face and check their identity. It should also check the nanny's references and qualifications, as well as ensure that police checks or 'working with children' checks are done (which type depends on the state you live in). See Suitably screened, page 15, for how it can work.

* Matching a nanny to the family. Agencies should put forward candidates based on your requirements, so in theory you'll need to interview fewer people in order to find the right one for the job. And you should be provided with a copy of each candidate's CV prior to the interview. It's important that you make sure your requirements (such as non-smoker, must like pets, current driver's licence, prepared to do some housework) are very clear so that the agency can prescreen and you don't waste time interviewing nannies who don't meet your basic selection criteria. Placement problems, page 16, highlights how critical this is.

* Support through the interview process. Some agencies provide guidance for conducting interviews--the types of questions to ask and subjects to cover--so that you get good information to base your decision on.

* Assistance drawing up an employment contract. It's useful to negotiate and agree on arrangements like...

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