Carrying Out a Background Check on Your Prospective Nanny

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Conducting a background check before you extend an official offer to your prospective nanny ensures that you are bringing a trustworthy caretaker into your home. Here are some things you should check:

1. Request for a certificate of good conduct that is provided by the Kenya Police.

2. Do a critical interview, the way someone answers questions will show you if they are being truthful or evasive.  Some of the questions you can ask include.

  • Ask about family background – parents, brothers and sisters
  • How their own childhood was like, most of our attitudes are influenced by our early years’ experiences
  • Why she wants to be a nanny
  • Find out her age and ask for proof of the same- ID, Passport etc
  • Why she left her previous employment
  • Ask her to talk about her previous jobs
  • What are her expectations if you offer the job, work hours, salary/wages, food etc
  • Why she enjoys looking after children
  • How she would play, entertain and occupy the children the whole day
  • Find out if she knows how to cook and prepare food and fluids for the children
  • Is she trained in First Aid? e.g Burns
  • Find out her views on disciplining the children and give different scenarios on this topic just to gauge her reactions
  • How she would handle an emergency situation?
  •  What does she like to do in her free time?

3. Ask for recommendations and actually call for more information of your prospective nanny

Get a nanny from a reputable nanny hiring company