You aren’t expected to be Mary Poppins
Being a Little Britches Nanny is a special honor. You are the best of the best! We only represent approximately 30% of the nannies who apply to our agency. Therefore, we expect a lot from our nannies. A Little Britches Nanny is proactive, attentive, timely, honest, energetic, responsible, and reliable. We presume a Little Britches Nanny to be their best in every situation; a permanent placement, temp service, and at Little Britches events.
Let me start by explaining our definition of proactive. Being proactive means you are always looking for ways to be a better nanny. Researching ideas and milestones for the children you care for, is an example of being proactive. Looking for ways to help the families you work for is another great example of being proactive. Let me give you an example. We recently had a nanny working for a family that had gone through a lot of transitions, a move, new school, and a new nanny. The nanny we placed saw the oldest child struggling with the transitions. Rather than becoming frustrated with the situation, she was proactive. The nanny brought a tote bag everyday with a new activity. Simple activities, such as painting with water, bubbles, and books from the library. While the family certainly has these activities in their home, the nanny knew it would be special and give her and the child something to bond over. This particular nanny proved to be proactive, attentive, and energetic.
Being attentive and responsible means focusing on the child or children. The time you are working is expected to be used wisely. Obviously, as a nanny you know, nannies don’t always get 10 minute breaks, or a lunch hour; heck, nannies can’t even go to the bathroom by themselves! We understand giving 100% every minute can sometimes be challenging, however that is exactly what makes a nanny so special! Being a Little Britches Nanny, it is not ok to use the work day to deal with personal matters or spend time on a cell phone. Many of our families come to us after having a negative nanny experience. I have heard awful stories of nannies sleeping on the job, watching TV while the kids were awake, and running errands without permission from the family. These families come to us knowing they will get a better nanny.
Being timely means just that! We assume a Little Britches Nanny will always be on time. We have high standards for our nannies; being early is on time, being on time is late, and being late is well… forget about it! It’s important to give yourself enough time to find the home or allow extra time for traffic here and there. We understand things come up; they happen to everyone! Please provide at least 12 hours notice if you are unable to fulfill your commitment. If you are feeling under the weather or having any issues, give us a shout, let us know! We are happy to find a back up nanny, for the “just in case.” Little Britches makes every effort to offer as much temp work as we can because we know many of you rely on the extra work.
Most important, Little Britches nannies are honest and reliable. Talking with a family about your concerns can be difficult. Call us! That is exactly what we are here for! Let us help if you are feeling unhappy or discouraged. We would love to help find a solution! We can talk to your employer or offer resources to overcome the obstacle.
For the nannies looking for permanent placements, please read through the job description thoroughly and feel free to ask questions. We want to make sure we don’t waste our clients’ time with a possibility that won’t happen. The job market is hard out there, it’s ok to pursue other jobs, just let us know! Honesty is obviously very important for all parties; to us as the agency, to yourself, and to the families.
As I wrap this up, I confidently sit back and appreciate every single nanny Little Britches represents. Give yourself a pat on the back; you are amazing, and the reason we are the agency we are. We are proud to know each one of you. Thank you for all you do and keep up the good work!
