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Thursday, October 8, 2015

APNA CONVENTION THIS WEEK IN SCOTTSDALE!

Our Caring Nannies staff is excited about the 2015 APNA annual conference starting this week in Scottsdale at the FireSky Resort and Spa. We have motivating and insightful speakers. We're looking forward to meeting first-timers as well as old friends, and even more we're excited about learning how to hone our skill-sets so we can improve our nanny and domestic staffing service and better serve our families. APNA is a highly principled organization made up of hard-working, smart and creative industry leaders and we are proud to be a part of it. Caring Nannies is happy to be a sponsor this year.

Conference Speaker Spotlight: Rosalind Prather

Rosalind Prather is a Trusting Connections Co-Founder, a nanny placement agency and sitter service based in Tucson, Arizona. She helped grow Trusting Connections from a small 2-woman operation to a growing full-service agency of over 60 employees and oversaw the agency's expansion into the Southlake, Texas market. She currently serves as the Marketing and Client Relations Director and travels between Texas and Arizona to head the marketing and sales efforts of both locations.

Rosalind is above all, the proud mother of two girls and has a deep understanding of the joys and struggles of family life and parenting. As a successful "momtrepreneur," Rosalind is very passionate about sharing her insights with aspiring woman business owners to inspire them to believe that being a mom and a business owner is a beautiful possibility.

Rosalind will lead attendees in Anatomy of a Successful Sales Call on Saturday,
October 10.

About Association of Premier Nanny Agencies

The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies, established in 1993, promotes best business practices in all areas of the nanny placement and household staffing industries.

Media Contact

Ginger Swift, APNA President
400 South Colorado Blvd. Suite 310
Denver, CO 80246
303-321-3866

Beth

Sunday, February 8, 2015

WELCOME TO OUR NEW NANNY RECRUITER

Our beloved nanny recruiter, Ashley Thrall, has gotten married, and now Michael has taken a position at a law firm in Durango, Colorado. Congratulations, Ashley and Michael!!!! We miss you both!

We're excited to announce that Kristen Tourek has taken her place and is a quick learner!! Kristen has a wide background in childcare plus administrative assistant skills. She's worked in church nurseries, and assisted in the children’s department organizing curriculum. Additionally, she spent a year as teacher at a preschool working primarily with two-year-olds, and as a one-on-one tutor for grade school students. She brings a love of families and children, and has a passion to build successful connections between the two.

Born and raised in Arizona, Kristen is currently attending school at Arizona State University, working on a degree in Graphic Information Technology, and when she’s not working, she enjoys drawing, painting, scrapbooking, and spending time with family. Kristen is doing nanny recruiting, reference checking, filing and is learning to do Temp placements. We're especially happy that Kristen is very techie, and is helping us with our social media. Welcome aboard, Kristen!

Beth

Monday, December 29, 2014

NANNY ONLINE SITES VS NANNY AGENCIES

What are the pros and cons of using an online nanny site vs a nanny agency? Your greatest concerns in life revolve around your children and home. When you need some extra help at home, a nanny or babysitter, how should you go about finding the perfect one, the one just right for your family?

Should you go with a 'do-it-yourself' online site? Or hire a service to do the sleuthing for you. What are the pros and cons of using an online nanny agency versus a full service agency? We checked with some experts in the industry and have some pros and cons to help you decide which way is best for your family.

Complete control. An online company gives parents complete control over the process. Some parents feel that they know their needs and their family better than anyone, and want to do it all themselves.

Price. An online service is much less expensive initially than an agency. Some online companies charge only $45 per month and a Phoenix nanny agency can be anywhere from $800 to $3,500.

Candidates. There are lots of candidates to choose from. There are outstanding, experienced candidates mixed in with others. Experience levels vary greatly. For example, Care.com requires candidates to have worked in three different homes at least one time each. Most 'brick and mortar' agencies require a minimum of one to two years experience outside friends and family.

Convenience. Since it's all online, a parent can do a lot of the work after hours.

Cons of an online service

Time. Initially it may seem easy and some families find a great choice quickly and move forward, but others find it confusing because there are so many nanny candidates and it takes a lot of time to review resumes, interview candidates, call references, get quality background checks, get copies of Driver's Licenses, proof of auto insurance, First Aid, CPR certifications and validate the knowledge base of each candidate.

One family was successful, but recounts: "I found someone good but it wasn't easy. I spent a lot of hours interviewing and checking references...hours that I didn't have. I saved some money, but if I had it to do over, I would find an agency that does more of the work."

Another comment was, "I didn't realize all the stuff that ultimately fell on my plate."
And again, "I had no idea that they don't even meet the nannies. They have a lot of resumes but I gave up after a while. It was like finding a needle in a haystack."

Pros of a Full-Service Agency

Streamlined Hiring Process: An agency has the ability to determine your needs and send candidates for interviewing within a day or two. Judi Merlin of A Friend of the Family Staffing Corporation in Athens, Georgia, tells us that her vetting process for nannies takes 15-20 hours. "We have found that only 1 in 10 applicants successfully complete our process," she adds.

There for you during and after the placement. One of the most valuable benefits of going with a nanny agency is being able to work with one person who will guide you through the process. One family in the Breedlove survey stated: " I liked being able to do a lot of the work online to save time. But I thought most of their nannies were un-hireable and I didn't have anyone to call when I needed help." Mimi Brady of Westside Nannies in Los Angeles tells us: "Most agencies always provide ears to listen, even after a nanny has been placed, and this can be extremely helpful in working on glitches regarding training your new nanny and miscommunications."

Back-up help and support. If a family uses an agency, they can call for a last minute substitute sitter in case of an emergency. If a placement doesn't work out, most agencies guarantee the placement for three months.

Cons of a Brick and Mortar Agency

Price. It is definitely more expensive to hire a nanny or babysitter though an on-line service, but time and having a stress-free experience are more valuable to many families than the money they would save.

Loss of control. Some parents prefer to be in charge of the whole process themselves.

Pros of a Do it Yourself Website

Failure Rate. One out of three online hires results in a failed placement, according to a study by Breedlove, a nanny tax service. There is also the consideration of a failed placement and children who have grown to like a nanny or babysitter only to have them leave. There is also the fear factor of meeting a person in your home who may not be who they seem.

Each family's budget, time constraints and priorities are what will determine the best way to go about hiring a nanny or babysitter. The bottom line for every family is the safety and well-being of their children.

If you have any questions about the process of finding just the right nanny or babysitter for your family, we're glad to help. You can give us a call at 480-946-3423 or fill out a Family Application to start your personalized search today.

Beth

Sunday, December 14, 2014

NANNY OF THE MONTH, CAROL

Every month, Caring Nannies likes to share one of the nannies who have taken a job with one of our wonderful families. This month, we chose Carol, who has faithfully been a nanny for one of our families for the past two years two days a week. Her new job is another two day job....read on...Meet December Nanny of the month, Carol

Carol is a warm, vibrant and highly dedicated nanny with over six years of nanny experience with three families! She started babysitting at age 10. With a medical degree, she was working at a very busy medical clinic as well as setting up specialty clinics in Minnesota until her family relocated to Phoenix. “It was very stressful and when we moved to Arizona, I just wanted to get out of the healthcare field and be able to play and just have fun, caring for children. No stress, no drama. I just love nannying-it's just the best,” she confided. In the Fall of 2012, we placed Carol as a nanny with a 3 year old girl two days per week, and just this week, she took an additional part-time nanny job for two days with a two year old and a newborn.

Carol loves children, and it shows! “They’re so much fun!” she shared. ‘Kids need to feel special. It’s a lot of work, but its so much fun. It’s about building a relationship with the children and the parents. If the children are happy, the parents are happy, and then I’m happy. it’s a win-win”. She’s fun-loving and active with children in all her nanny positions, diving into the pool for toys, playing hide 'n go seek, tag, bike riding, reading, walks, exploring, and encouraging independence as much as possible. “One key is letting them win games. It makes them feel so special when the parents come home and they say, ‘Mom, I beat Carol at ‘Pig’!’”

Carol is flexible, and has done extensive travel with past families. Carol's own family works around their schedule. Her current family flies her to Chicago frequently and once they brought Carol's 10 year old daughter along so her six year old charge would have someone to play with and they had a blast: "We went to the park, the zoo, we walked miles. My nanny job works so well. My employer is the kindest lady ever! She’s been so kind to me. This nanny position has been a really good thing for me. I don't look at it so much as a job. I love it and do whatever they need me to do.”

With her young Kindergarten charge in tow, Carol can be found exploring on a Saturday with a backpack filled with water and snacks and no plans. “Its’ an adventure and we see where we end up. I like to come up with fun things, like: ‘Today we're going to see how many parks we can play at’". They call it park-hoping and found 6 parks in one day. “She’s so smart for her age,” remarks Carol about her charge. We're always cooking and baking, and doing tons of crafts. We go to Michaels, pick up craft items, do painting, or make cards. The parents went off for a weekend and we put paint on her hands and feet and prints all over a paper and we hung it up with the words: 'Happy Birthday, Dad.'”

Carol is compassionate, patient, adventurous, cheerful, and her medical background makes her extra safety-conscious. She loves teaching sports skills like hitting a ball with a bat or swimming. A favorite memory was a little fellow who loved basketball. Carol lowered the net so he could be successful. Carol is experienced with infants through school age, and is a pro at potty training. She’s happy to help with homework, do family laundry, straighten up the house, menu plan, grocery shop, run errands and is a gourmet cook!

Carols own daughters are 10, 15 and 18 year old and her husband travels a lot. “My kids are pretty self-sufficient, and normally I’m home by 4-5 in the afternoon. Her family loves to go camping and travel in their motor-home. This summer she took her paraplegic cousin on a month long motor-home trip, and cared for him 24/7 with her 10 year old. Her close-knit family loves any kind of outside activities, camping at Lake Pleasant, and other favorite places. Thanks for all your great work, Carol, and congratulations on your new position!

Beth

Sunday, March 23, 2014

NATIONAL NANNY TRAINING DAY PHOENIX--SPONSORED BY CARING NANNIES

We are very excited, as it's almost time

for National Nanny Training Day (NNTD) again!
Caring Nannies has put together an incredible line-up of speakers! Last year, our nannies were asking for more help with the Toddler stage, so we have a great speaker back to address that specifically. Last year, we had 42 attendees in Paradise Valley and enjoyed learning together, networking and sharing!

NNTD Registration is now open!

When: Saturday April 12 from 8:30 AM to 2:20 PM

Where: Abiding Savior Community Church
515 E Continental Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281

Cost: $25 per person (includes continental breakfast and lunch!!)

Have you considered having your employer ell you pay for NNTD? Here is a flyer from Nanny Biz Reviews that can help start the conversation.

**Stay tuned, as we will be raffling off a free ticket on ur Facebook Page**

Details: This training is designed to help nannies address the unique challenges of working in a private home, to improve and explained their childcare skills, to stay current on new trends and resources within the field, and to connect and share with colleagues. Our National Nanny Training Event offers a unique mix of education, resources and networking in an informal, welcoming atmosphere. Registration includes 5 "learn today, use tomorrow" workshops, continental breakfast, lunch, networking and of course, FUN. You will receive a certificate of participation.

Topics: Brain-based Strategies for Better Thinking, Mood Management and Better Behavior, Using Music to Accelerate Learning, Toddler Naps and Behavior, Cooking a Mediterranean Meal and Making Organic Baby Food, and How to Look and Feel Your Best.