Need help using Findababysitter.com? Got a child care question? FAQs for candidates and parents

Essential childcare advice and everything you need to know about using Findababysitter.com.

You can find the same helpful advice in our FAQs for Childcarers and FAQ's for Parents and Agencies.

I’m a child carer or housekeeper and I have a question:

I’m a parent or agency and I have a question:

Q: How does findababysitter.com work for child carers and housekeepers?

A: It’s simple: you advertise your services by registering and creating a profile or applying directly for childcare or housekeeping jobs advertised by families or agencies. Then families and/or agencies will contact you. Create a profile here, or search jobs here.

Findababysitter.com is a community site. It is your space to use to find child care or housekeeping positions. We can not guarantee you will be contacted by families or agencies. You need to make sure your profile or application is of a standard that employers will want to respond to. Ensuring your contact details are correct and up-to-date is essential.

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Q: How much does FAB cost?

A: Nothing! It's FREE for job seekers to sign up and create a profile on Findababysitter.com.

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Q: How do I stop receiving emails from Findababysitter.com about jobs?

A: Simply login with your username and password and disable your job alerts.

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Q: How do I remove my details from Findababysitter.com?

A: You can hide your public details by updating and saving your account settings anytime. You can delete your details if you contacts us and ask us to completely delete your account. This means employers will not be able to contact you. If you are looking for a child care or housekeeping job again in the future you can simply log back in to Findababysitter.com and make your details visible again. This way you don’t need to go through the hassle of creating another profile or advertising your services on another website. Findababysitter.com makes it so simple!

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Q: How do I report a dodgy ad posting, profile or email?

A: Findababysitter.com is a child care community site that connects thousands of parents and childcarers every week. We rely on community members (that's you) to let us know if anything dodgy is going on that we may have missed!

So if you suspect a job advert posting, profile or email from another user is a nasty scammer in action let us know through our contact us form straight away. Please provide as many details as possible about the job advert posting, profile or email and we will do our best to remove the user from our little site.

Remember, 99% of the people using the internet are genuine, it’s the nasty 1% we need to watch out for!

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Q: An employer I have been emailing with has sent me a cheque.

A: A common scam over the internet is to post a job seeker a cheque for more than the amount agreed often through email contact. Scammers target job seekers so please remember.

Remember, Findababysitter.com is a local community site. Exercise caution if potential employer says they are abroad. Never accept payment from persons abroad who you have never met and have not yet begun working for.

Never give out your personal address prior to interviewing in person with an employer and commencing employment.

Never accept a cheque for employment prior to interviewing in person and commencing employment.

Never give out your bank account details over the internet.

Never give out your bank account details to an employer prior to interviewing in person and commencing employment.

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Q: How often should I update my profile?

A: The more often you update your profile the more likely your profile will be seen by an employer.

The most recently updated profiles appear at the top of the results pages that are seen by employers.

FAB tip: Full and well written profiles with good quality photos and excellent descriptions are eye catching. Parents are interested in your experience and your passion for your job. Make sure you tell them how great you are, how much you love your job and what kind of childcare or domestic work you've done in the past.

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Q: How will I know if an employer is going to contact me?

A: Although you will not be alerted to an employer viewing your profile or reading your job application, you can expect phone calls or emails any time from the moment you register as a child carer. Remember, employers will only contact you if you have the experience necessary for the position they are offering. See our tips on creating a childcare candidate CV here.

If you are not contacted by employers be sure to update your profile. Ensure your profile is well written, in good English, with convincing reasons why you would like to work as a child carer or housekeeper. Adding a photo helps your profile to stand out from the crowd.

Importantly, tell us where you can work - this will help families find your FAB profile and will help us connect you with potential employers.

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Q: What should I say when an employer calls?

A: An employer will most likely want to discuss your experience and whether the position they have to offer will suit you.

Be prepared. Know your experience well. Make sure you answer with consistent answers. Offer to email the employer your CV. Make sure you do this promptly.

If you are in an awkward situation – on the bus or in a noisy shop – ask if you could call them back at their convenience.

Be sure to ask lots of questions about the position, family, or the children and their needs. If you are a child carer show a keen interest in the children; after all, this is what you will be there for.

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Q: How can I feel safe posting my contact details on Findababysitter.com and the internet in general?

A: Findababysitter.com is a community site. Fortunately 99% of internet users are genuine, it is the 1% you need to watch out for. Make sure you read our tips on staying safe from internet scammers.

If you are contacted by phone or email by a user who you suspect to be a scammer do not disclose any further details. Email Findababysitter.com asap with details about the suspected scammer through our contact us form. 

Our advice to our users is: do not to disclose your address or bank account details to anyone over the internet.

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Q: How does Findababysitter.com work?

A: www.findababysitter.com is a community site designed specifically for parents and Agencies to find child carers and housekeepers. We are not an agency which is why we do not charge agency fees.

Findababysitter.com connects you with candidates in your local area, or close by, or who wish to live in the area.

You can advertise your jobs, search for nannies, sitters, childminders, au pairs and housekeepers.

We wanted to bring you a tool where you are able to vet & screen candidates yourself.

For information on interviewing, screening, police checks & other helpful information on hiring a child carer or housekeeper try this article: How to hire a nanny or sitter. Lots of users have found this little page very helpful.

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Q: How do I find a child carer or housekeeper with Findababysitter.com?

A: Two ways: You can advertise your vacancy and candidates will contact you, or you can search candidate profiles local to you and contact them yourself… You can also do both!

But first you need to register. Or, if you're already registered, log in to Findababysitter.com with your email address and password.

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Q: How many candidates should I contact?

A: We recommend contacting AT LEAST 10 candidates.

A candidate may find another position before you even interview them! Or you may find they are unsuitable at interview.

While you may find the right person the first time you contact a candidate. It may take up to five interviews before you find someone you are comfortable having care for your children.

Our database of UK wide local childcare givers grows daily so you should log in regularly.

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Q: What is the best way to contact and approach a candidate whose profile I am interested in?

A: The best thing to do is message, email, text or telephone the candidate explaining you have found their details on www.findababysitter.com.

Explain what the position is that you have to offer and ask if they are interested! They may not be interested... your position may not be what they are looking for.

If you still feel comfortable with the candidate arrange to have an interview in person. Many employers interview candidates in their own home although this is entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable with.

You can also advertise your childcare job vacancy and candidates will contact you.

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Q: What if I don’t like any of the candidates I have spoken with or interviewed?

A: The best thing to do is search www.findababysitter.com again or advertise your job again.

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Q: How long does it take to find the right candidate?

A: It is important never to feel pressured or uncomfortable when hiring someone care for your home or children.

You need to feel confident leaving your home or child's safety in the hands of another person.

The length of time it takes to find the right candidate depends entirely on your situation.

Read our advice article about the things you need to known when interviewing nannies and babysitters.

Some employers find the right person the first candidate they interview. Others may search for months.

Take your time when making this decision and be sure to check references thoroughly and verbally.

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Q: How many candidates can I contact through the Findababysitter.com website?

A: It's simple, as many as you wish.

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Q: How do I contact a candidate?

A: Once you are registered, logged in and have purchased Premium 30 Day, Ultra 60 Day or 1 Year Best Price access to the site you will have full, unlimited access to post up to 2 jobs, and contact candidates willing to work for you in your local area. You can contact and respond to unlimited candidates with Basic 5 Day access, but you will need to upgrade to one of the options above to read the replies that you receive to trial jobs.

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Q: How can I feel safe finding a candidate through findababysitter.com?

A: Searching for childcare or a housekeeper is never an easy task.

Findababysitter.com provides you with tools to interview and vet candidates yourself.

Three things YOU MUST DO before hiring a candidate:

1. Check photo identification.

2. Request a police check or CRB disclosure.

3. Verbally check 2 or 3 references - these may be personal - ask for LANDLINE telephone numbers.

Make sure you read our tips on staying safe from internet scammers.

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Q: How do I report a dodgy ad posting, profile or email?

A: Findababysitter.com is a community site, we rely on you the community to let us know if anything dodgy is going on!

If you suspect a job advert posting, profile or email is a nasty scammer in action let us know through our contact us form straight away. Please provide as many details as possible about the job advert posting or email and we will do our best to remove the user from our little site.

Remember, 99% of the people using the internet are genuine, it’s the nasty 1% we need to watch out for!

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