Nannies
Resources for Nannies
FAQ
DIAL-AN-ANGEL® most Frequently Asked Questions about nannies.
GENERAL
Q: How do I contact DIAL AN ANGEL?
A: You can call us on 1300 721 111 or just email us administration@dialanangel.com
Q: Why doesn’t DIAL-AN-ANGEL supply a generic list of rates for all offices?
A: DIAL-AN-ANGEL currently has eleven offices around Australia and more are planned. Each location has its own set of rates for over 200 different types of service. Market forces indicate the appropriate rates in each area for each service. It is better to call the office located closest to where you need the service for accurate rates for the service required.
Q: Can I change the method of payment at the completion of the booking?
A: No. This must be established at the time the booking is made with the Agency.
Q: Is there an additional fee payable to the Agency?
A: No. The rate you are quoted includes the Agency Service Fee and GST payable for the visit. The nanny acts as a courier for the fee and the GST.
Q: Can I check the nanny’s references myself?
A: Yes. You may request the nanny to provide any additional references you require. The Agency is bound by the National Privacy Principles established by the Privacy Act of 1988 and is unable to supply these details. However, before any applicant is registered as a nanny, DIAL-AN-ANGEL undertakes comprehensive security checks including verbal confirmation of all personal and work-related references. Where State Laws allow police checks and ‘working with children checks’ are undertaken.
Q: May I book a regular service? Weekly? Fortnightly? Monthly?
A: Yes. Simply inform the co-ordinator at your local office when you make the booking or contact the Agency after you have enjoyed the initial service/s.
Q. How much advance notice do i need to give in order to make a booking?
A: As much notice as possible however, DIAL-AN-ANGEL is noted for its prompt response to emergency or last minute requests and will endeavour to fill a booking on the same day.
Q: Can I request the same nanny again? Should I make a further booking with the nanny?
A: An approach can be made by the Agency on your behalf to the requested nanny. It is better for this to happen than for the nanny to feel obliged to accept a regular booking while in your home and decide later that she/he really does not want an ongoing commitment. The Agency will make every effort to comply with your request but is unable to guarantee that the same nanny will be available to accept the next booking.
Q: What happens if I do not like the nanny? Or I am not satisfied with his/her work?
A: A phone call to the co-ordinator at your local office will ensure that a notation is made on your file. The nanny will not be offered your booking again. The co-ordinator managing your booking will advise you about the procedures we employ to deal with complaints if you are unhappy with any aspect of the nanny’s performance, appearance or attitude. You can read our full complaints procedure here.
Q: If the nanny I have booked suddenly takes ill or has a personal problem that prevents his/her arrival, will I be notified?
A: A co-ordinator will contact the client as soon as possible to re-schedule the booking or send a replacement nanny.
Q: What insurance cover should I have in case the nanny has an accident in my home?
A: Clients must have Domestic Workers Compensation Insurance in those States where it is not automatically provided for casual domestic workers. This is for the client's protection as well as the Angel's. DIAL-AN-ANGEL recommends that Home & Contents Insurance is checked to ensure that the household is covered for any breakages
Q: If I hold a DIAL-AN-ANGEL Gift Voucher may I use it to pay the nanny?
A: Yes. Please advise the co-ordinator at the time of booking that you wish to pay using a gift voucher. It will be accepted and returned to the DIAL-AN-ANGEL office with a Bridging Facility Time Sheet, which you will be requested to countersign. The section co-ordinator will arrange for reimbursement directly into the nanny’s banking account.
Q: What is “Angelic News"?
A: Angelic News is our free electronic newsletter sent to Clients and Nanny’s with the compliments of DIAL-AN-ANGEL. It contains articles, tips, news, and information which is very helpful for anyone interested in home and family care – and really, that’s just about all of us. You can subscribe here.
Q: What qualifications do nannies possess?
A: All nannies caring for children are required to hold a First Aid Certificate. Other qualifications depend upon the client's requirements. If the Agency is requested to provide specialised carers (Mothercraft Nurses, Registered Nurses, carers with Tresillian, Karitane or Certificate of Critical Care) for children with special needs or premature infants this must be advised at the time the booking is made.
Q: What will the nanny do, during the time the baby and/or child/ren are asleep?
A: Nannies are selected carefully and are noted for their initiative. There primary responsibility is to care for your children and undertake regular checks of sleeping infants and children. Should you have light tasks that you would like them to undertake such as tidying up or ironing please feel free to ask them to do so once the children are soothed and settled.
NANNIES INTERNATIONAL
Q: I want to travel overseas and would like to work as a nanny. Can DIAL-AN-ANGEL arrange this for me?
A: Yes. If you meet the criteria we may be able to place you in England either as a Mothers’ Help or as a nanny through our company called Nannies International.
Q: What experience do I need to work overseas?
A: To work in England you need to be aged between 17 and 30 years, hold a current drivers licence and be a non-smoker. If you have not worked as a nanny before or do not have any formal childcare training you may be placed as a Mothers’ Help. This is where the mother normally does not work or works from home. There is no sole charge care of the children. If you have had experience and/or child care qualifications you could be placed as a sole charge nanny if your application is successful.
Q: Do I have to sign a contract?
A: To work in England there is no contract as you are an independent traveller, paying your own airfares to and from London.
Q: Do I need a Visa and how long can I stay overseas?
A: To work in England you must apply for a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) from the British Consulate. If you can show the Consulate funds of at least $4,500 in a bank account and you are a single person with no dependants you may be granted a 2-year WHV of which you are only allowed to work half of the time you are in the UK. Once your Visa has expired, you cannot apply for an extension.
These restrictions do not apply if you have access to a European or British Passport. If you can show proof that a grandparent (birth certificate if your grandparent is deceased) was born in UK you may receive a 4 year Ancestry Visa with no work restrictions.
Q: I don’t want to be away from home too long; can I go to either the UK for just a few months?
A: Most English families request a 12 month commitment from both nannies and Mothers’ Help. They do not like to employ staff for less than 12 months because change every few months can be disruptive to their children’s routines. A request can be placed for a 6 or 9 month position for you - but these are rare – most positions are for 12 months.
Q: What are the working conditions like overseas? Are they live-in positions?
A: Positions are live-in. You will be provided with your own bedroom with TV, video, telephone and often Internet access. You will either have your own bathroom en-suite or share a bathroom with the children. Occasionally a flat is supplied. Most positions will also provide the use of a car. England has a 45-hour working week. Normally you will enjoy four weeks’ paid leave at the end of your 12-month stay.
Q: Will I be expected to do all the housework?
A: No. You would be responsible for keeping the house tidy and clearing up after the children. You are expected to do everything for yourself and the children – washing and ironing included. Most families employ a cleaner to do the main household chores such as cleaning bathrooms, kitchen floors etc.
Q: Can you place me in a city or country area?
A: At your personal interview you will be asked whether you want to live in a city, town or country area. You will also be asked about your personal preferences eg. a household with no cats or birds or whether you would be happier with a horse loving family etc. We try to match you with a family with similar interests and lifestyle to your own.
GLOSSARY
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Angel
This means that an applicant has been accepted for registration with DIAL-AN-ANGEL® after having been personally interviewed and fully screened (with all references confirmed verbally). Police clearances and “Working with Children Checks” are undertaken where State Laws allow.
Au pair
An au pair generally lives-in and assists a host family with childcare and/or housework. The idea of having an au pair is to regard it as a cultural exchange. Although not intended as an employment situation, the au pair is provided with a small allowance (or pocket money). The au pair is usually a traveller from another country and intends to learn about the culture, traditions and language of the host family during her stay.
Corporate services
Corporate Services are provided where a third party such as a Trustee Company, a legal firm, an Insurance Company, The Office of the Protective Commissioner or large Corporations contract DIAL-AN-ANGEL to provide fully insured staff for their clients or employees who may be in need of assistance in the home. Only Staff Angels© are provided and an account is sent to the customer who is paying for the service to be provided to the recipient of the service.
Domestic workers compensation insurance
DIAL-AN-ANGEL strongly recommends that this cover be taken out by every householder in case of personal injury claims made by household staff for work-related injuries or accidents which occur while they are travelling to and from the client's home. All Staff Angels© are covered by the Agency for Domestic Workers Compensation Insurance.
In-home care
Care for children in their own homes, provided by an approved carer, particularly useful for families who don't have access to a child care service, or whose child care needs are not being met by an existing service
Manny
A male nanny, a man employed part-time or full-time to take care of one or more children in a family home. The term manny appears to date back to the 1980s.
Nanny
PERMANENT PART-TIME or FULL-TIME CARE (consistently more than 15 hours over 5 weekdays). A live-in or live-out in-home caregiver who undertakes all tasks related to the care of children. Our Nannies are qualified, trained and/or highly experienced child care professionals. By the time the nanny has completed a comprehensive course they are usually aged more than 21 years. Some are parents who have successfully raised their own children. They have well-developed childcare skills and have the time and patience to undertake this challenging and rewarding occupation.
Nanny-housekeeping
PERMANENT PART-TIME or FULL-TIME CARE of CHILDREN in addition to undertaking general housekeeping tasks for the whole family. The nanny-housekeeper sometimes lives in with the family and may be required to assume a parent-substitute role with long hours "at call". Where the nanny-housekeeper lives out, they may be obliged to work even longer hours than their employer does as they are on the premises prior to the parent leaving for work and to travel back to her own residence after the parent has returned. If infants and toddlers are to be cared for, the client should establish the priorities expected. Toddlers and infants can be extremely time-demanding and their care must be the primary focus of the nanny-housekeeping role.
Permanent placement fee
This is a fee paid by a client (after a trial period at casual rates) for the referral and placement of an employee who will work for them on a LONG-TERM basis for more than 15 hours a week.
Screening
A system of selecting qualified in-home caregivers through interviews, background checks, reference checks, education verification and other methods.
Shared care
A child care arrangement in which two or more families in need of part-time care share a full-time placement and divide the cost of full-time care.
Supervised contact visit
These assignments must not be confused with general child care and/or babysitting. They involve close supervision of the children who are visiting with a non-custodial parent. Only Staff Angels are provided.
Visiting angels™
Visiting Angels refers to those Angels who attend clients’ bookings but do not live in the clients’ homes. They, therefore require neither accommodation nor meals. They may be independent workers or Staff Angels.
Working with children background check
The process of gathering and assessing relevant information about a preferred applicant for child-related employment to assist employers make an informed decision on whether or not to employ an applicant for a position.
Working with children
A national criminal record check conducted under the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004. The Working With Children Check consists of two parts, the Working With Children background check and exclusion of prohibited persons.
TOP TIPS
Here are some of our favourite childcare tips:
Reserve babysitters well in advance for December's big days and nights out.
When buying a backpack for your child no matter what type of backpack you buy, children should carry no more than 20 percent of their own weight on their back.
When eating out with children don't let the waitperson serve meals to the kids first. If you do, the timing will be messed up: They'll lose patience before you've finished your main course.
When leaving your children in the care of a babysitter have the following information written down and readily accessible in the event of an emergency: family name, children's names, house address with nearest cross street, instructions on how to contact you, phone number(s) of close relatives and neighbours, doctor's name and phone number.
Speed up the morning dressing process for little ones by laying out their clothes in the shape of a person the night before - that way everything is accounted for and children learn quickly how to dress themselves in an orderly fashion.
For a child with tummy ache from party food or overexcitement use camomile tea and enjoy a cup yourself!
Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote or to make a general enquiry.
When you seek only the best, it has to be from DIAL-AN-ANGEL.
Our friendly and experienced co-ordinators are ready to help.
Simply call 1300 721 111.
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