1. What can your agency do that I cannot do myself?
2. Is there any ongoing support offered by The Shorland Agency?
3. How long will it take to find a nanny?
4. What locations do you offer services to?
5. How much do your services cost?
6. Where do your nannies come from?
7. What is the average salary for a nanny?
8. How will I know when I’ve found the right nanny?
9. What if I or my nanny wishes to terminate the employment contract?
10. How about taxes? How does it work with a nanny?
11. What is a nanny’s job description?

1. What can your agency do that I cannot do myself?

Finding the right nanny for you and your family can be a time consuming and stressful process. An independent search will require you to network friends, family, co-workers or neighbours, design and post advertisements, interview every applicant and invite people with unknown backgrounds into your own home.

As an experienced agency working with only exceptional candidates, we eliminate hours of footwork and ensure that any nannies you interview have been thoroughly screened to ensure that the job criteria they are seeking matches the position you are offering. This means that you simply have to interview a few nannies to find the one whose personality best suits your family.

When it comes to the actual hiring process, families working independently are forced to negotiate a contract, wages, benefits, and raises; a process which requires careful thought and handling. Once you hire your nanny, should there be any questions or concerns that arise, you will have no support system to guide you. Ultimately, you may find yourself replacing the nanny and beginning the above process over again.

Given how valuable your time is, hiring a nanny on your own may not necessarily save you money. By completing an application with our agency, you instantly have access to all our candidates we feel would best suit your requirements. Rather than inundate you with hundreds of pages of unnecessary information, brief profiles of potentially suitable nannies, along with photographs, are forwarded for your review. You can then request to see the complete files of only those candidates you feel would be suitable, saving you further time and effort.

2. Is there any ongoing support offered by The Shorland Agency?

As most parents understand, finding and hiring a suitable nanny is only the beginning. Over the following months, you and your nanny must adjust to your employment situation, develop a working relationship and create effective and open lines of communication. Many parents find this process somewhat daunting, especially those who have had no prior experience in employing a nanny. The relationship with a live-in nanny can be even more complicated as the boundaries between personal and professional are very often difficult to define.

The Shorland Agency will remain available through this transition period and will resolve any conflicts or difficulties arising between you and your nanny.

3. How long will it take to find a nanny?

The nanny search process can take anywhere from 24 hours to 3 months, depending on your specific criteria. While we often have screened and processed candidates available for hire who may meet your specific requirements, nannies possessing particular or unique skill sets are usually sourced and screened after your family profile has been compiled.

You will also need to allow time to interview potential nannies and negotiate an employment offer. The exact number of candidates you can expect to see will be dependent on a variety of factors including your geographical location and your schedule.

We understand that your time is valuable and ensure that you are not consumed by sorting through a number of unsuitable candidates. We work with you in an efficient manner to locate the most suitable nanny for your family within the least amount of time possible.

4. What locations do you offer services to?

We offer services to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Locations outside of these areas may be considered on an individual basis.

5. How much do your services cost?

There is an application fee of $100 in order to retain our services. Nanny placement fees begin at $1,500 for full-time placements and $1,000 for part time placements.

6. Where do your nannies come from?

Many of our nannies are Early Childhood Education trained Canadian citizens. We also have affiliations with various nanny and childcare training facilities in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Nannies from these countries are usually subject to a one year work visa but can remain in Canada for a longer period of time through sponsorship by their employer.

7. What is the average salary for a nanny?

Nanny salaries vary depending on the age and number of children being cared for, the level of responsibility required, the nanny’s age and experience, and whether the nanny is expected to possess an additional and exceptional skill sets.

In general, live-out nanny salaries start at approximately $12 - $18 per hour or $2,000 - $2,800 per month. Live-in salaries are slightly lower than this to reflect the cost of room and board and typically start at $1,500 per month.

8. How will I know when I’ve found the right nanny?

The relationship between a family and their nanny is very unique and special. Its success depends largely on whether the nanny’s and the parents’ personalities are compatible. The best nanny in the world may still not be the right match for your family if this connection is not there.

When you personally interview a nanny, consider whether your personality meshes with theirs and if you will feel comfortable working closely with this person. The nanny being interviewed will also be considering whether your family is the right match for them in terms of personalities, life-style and child-rearing philosophies.

When you have found the right nanny, the employer/employee relationship will be effortless and flow smoothly. If there are constant issues needing to be discussed, it may become apparent that the relationship is not working. If this is the case, The Shorland Agency will work with you to find a suitable replacement as quickly as possible and, if necessary, a temporary nanny will be placed while the search is conducted.

9. What if I or my nanny wishes to terminate the employment contract?

All placements are guaranteed for three months. If at any time during the first three months you or your nanny decides that the placement is not working out, we will conduct the necessary searches and interviews and place another nanny with your family at no extra cost. The replacement guarantee is available for up to two nannies, within reason. Please note that this guarantee is not applicable should your nanny resign due to unfair or unethical job requirements.

10. How about taxes? How does it work with a nanny?

As an employer, you will be responsible for deducting income taxes from your nanny’s salary and making the necessary remittances to the government. We understand this can be a daunting task for new employers and provide you with assistance, advice and resources throughout the process.

11. What is a nanny’s job description?

Our nannies provide full childcare, either sole charge or working along side the parents. Typical duties include the following:

1. Planning age appropriate outings and activities.
2. Arranging and supervising playdates.
3. Preparation of healthy meals and snacks.
4. Taking children to doctor or dentist when necessary.
5. School runs.
6. Homework assistance.
7. Tidying children’s rooms and playrooms and making their beds.
8. Maintaining general tidiness of house such as loading and emptying dishwasher, wiping kitchen countertops, sweeping/vacuuming kitchen/eating area floors, tidying up pool/outdoor areas after use.
9. Daily grocery shopping such as milk, bread, fresh produce etc.

Duties which are not as common, but certainly negotiable, include family laundry, family meal preparation, pet care, household related-errands and light cleaning. See our Resources area for more information on this.

Email Us
For further information, please email us at info@shorlandagency.com or call 604-376-2819.