For families in the Lehigh Valley area, hiring nanny care often comes with a whole host of questions for parents. How does employment work? What are our responsibilities as an employer? How can we ensure the nanny we choose is trained in nanny care safety?
These are just a few of the most common concerns we hear from parents as an experienced nanny care agency.
Nanny Care Safety: Why use an Agency?
Opting to obtain childcare via a nanny care agency is an effective method to alleviate concerns and eliminate the complexities of managing childcare on your own. Importantly, a nanny care agency offers the essential assurance that your children will be safe, secure, healthy, and content in their new childcare setup.
3 Vital Ways Oliver’s Nannies of Lehigh Valley Offers Nanny Care Safety and Security
1. Ensuring nannies are fully vetted.
For every family, ensuring the safety and security of their child is a top priority when hiring a nanny. However, conducting thorough background checks can be challenging when employing a nanny independently. A nanny care agency can manage this process, handling criminal background checks, reference checks, drug screenings, personality assessments, and driving record checks for you.
At Oliver’s Nannies, every nanny is required to complete rigorous background and reference checks, along with a comprehensive multi-step interview process to assess their suitability for the position. They must also pass a physical examination and present an up-to-date vaccination record. This thorough process ensures parents can have confidence that their children are in the safest hands right from the start.
2. Providing detailed, secure care plans and ongoing nanny training.
A nanny care agency can assist in establishing a comprehensive care plan for your child or children. This plan should encompass clear guidelines on safeguarding, including aspects like sleep safety at home, medical conditions, medications and allergies, and approved visitors. Implementing a well-structured care plan for your nanny ensures they can deliver the safe and secure care your child needs.
Nanny care agencies often mandate that their nannies undergo regular training. This requirement can reassure families that their nanny is current on the latest developments in childcare, health, and safety. For instance, nannies should regularly receive training in first aid and CPR, as well as in car seat, playground, and sleep safety.
3. Providing employment, insurance, payroll, and tax support.
Just like any other kind of worker, nannies in the USA have several employment rights.2
For example:
- Nannies must be accurately paid for all hours worked, and receive correctly calculated overtime pay where required.
- The employer must make the correct tax deductions from the nanny’s paycheck (e.g., social security and Medicare, income tax).
- Workers’ Compensation means an employer is legally responsible for paying any medical bills and lost wages incurred due to a work-related injury.
When you hire a nanny directly, you are responsible for ensuring they receive fair compensation and workplace protections. You will also be accountable for any associated costs if issues arise. Setting up the necessary provisions will not only require extra time but also incur additional expenses. For instance, household employers in Pennsylvania must obtain a Workers’ Compensation insurance policy, the cost of which can vary.
Certain nanny care agencies hire their nannies directly, alleviating parents of the complexities associated with being an employer. In our agency, for instance, every nanny is employed and fully insured by us, which removes the pressure and responsibility from the parents. While some nanny care agencies do not employ their nannies directly, they are knowledgeable in employment law, payroll, and relevant insurances, and can provide strong support and guidance to parents.
Why Choose Oliver’s Nannies of Lehigh Valley for Nanny Care Safety?
Oliver’s Nannies is a seasoned nanny care agency catering to families in Lehigh Valley, PA, and surrounding areas. Our nannies are fully employed, managed, and insured by the agency, and each undergoes thorough background checks and frequent training updates. This ensures families have the peace of mind that their child is in the care of a qualified and experienced local childcare professional.