littleoneslondon.co.uk nanny agency

Just about to pay a hefty placement fee for a candidate for live in part time mothers help / nanny as I’m solo / only parent and struggling working remotely and from home with everything. Candidate came for trial few days and seemed great. She seemed the best from zoom calls had with others. Now it’s time to pay the heft agency fee to them for placing the candidate. There are, like with any industry, the odd tricky review on trustpilot from some disgruntled families saying they felt hard sold quickly into choosing the agency and the fit wasn’t right (similarly for the candidate or the family). It has concerned me. But feel I’ve done as much due diligence as I can by doing multiple zoom call / interviews. Clicked straight away with one lady. She came for trial to see if both her and I and how she is with my daughter went well. She is an older lady and will be moving / relocating to this area. Giving up her job in a nursery, as has prefered in past working with families than the nursery environment she is in. And is okay to do lesser hrs. Which is what I need. Do feel positive about her. Just the agency and this huge placement fee they charge (16% of the candidates yr salary, one off fee). And the few tricky negative reviews about them online. Has anyone at all used this agency? And got burnt? Or any feedback at all? Many thanks 🙏

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The fees! Horrible. I used a different agency and had a good experience. It does sound like you are happy with the nanny and ultimately there’s little contact with the agency unless something goes wrong. Does their contract require they replace this nanny if it doesn’t end up working out? Does the fee include handling payroll? It’s a pretty high fee it should have some perks. I would say if you feel rushed, slow down a bit. Definitely call references. Clearly you really need help quickly but live in is a very close dynamic and if that doesn’t feel good it’s important you have help to change it. ✨

@Camilla thanks so much for your reply. It did seem higher than others. But they were quick to act than others. Had a myriad of candidates straight away. She is great and such a good fit for us and knows our area we relocated to (we just moved from London here) from her working here in times gone past. She actually saw the role and called them for it. Rather than them suggesting candidates (that weren’t totally right for our household and lesser need of hrs). So it was perfect role for her she said also. Apparently comes with 6 months or so garauntee to replace candidate if they or we don’t feel it works out (I feel it will) and think around 3 months of them managing / handling payroll to start it off. She starts early Jan. They originally wanted their fee (4-5k😮‍💨) mid December. But now saying later this month. Have suggested they invoice me half later this week and they suggested second and final invoice of that agency fee a week into December.

@Camilla was a little miffed by that as in middle of buying a place and it messes up my schedule of finances. It’s a legally binding contract (when I click accept today). So they have that security. But had lined up scheduling the payment of their fee mid December like their agent originally voiced we would schedule it for. Glad you had a good experience. The fee’s are just so extautionate aren’t they

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