Nanny Interviews and Trials during COVID-19
Date: June 5, 2020 - by Harmony at Home Head Office Team 
Can I interview a nanny in person at my home?
We suggest that all preliminary interviews take place over video call. Once established that you would like to move forwards, we can arrange a face to face interview which is compliant with the new ‘Stay Alert’ guidelines.
Under the current ‘stay alert’ guidelines, it is possible to conduct an interview in a private garden providing the social distancing requirements are complied with. The details are set out in the Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and cannot do;
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
Do keep in mind though that the emphasis is still to stay at home where possible, so video or other virtual interviewing should be considered in the first instance, and an in person interview should only be arranged with both parties agreement to abide to the social distancing rules.
If conducting the interview in a garden, do consider how the parties will travel to interview, e.g. whether it is possible to avoid public transport (if impossible a face mask/covering should be used) and whether the candidate or interviewer fall into the shielding categories. If either party has coronavirus symptoms, they should follow the then current self-isolation guidelines and not attend the interview.
Precautions must be taken regarding sharing a professional portfolio of evidence. If this can be done digitally it is advisable.
Upon entering the family home (some gardens are accessed through the home), shoes must be removed outside, and hands washed immediately.
Candidates ought to wear fresh, clean clothes, and ensure that they have washed their hands, and been to the toilet prior to making their way to an interview. They ought to go straight to the interview from their home, ideally in their own car, and should carry hand sanitiser suitable to eliminate the virus from their hands. Planning ahead is important.
Trials should ideally take place outside. When held inside social distancing rules ought to be abided to and should only take place after both households have self-isolated for 7 days, and 7 days should be left between different in-home trial days with different candidates / families.
These are our suggestions, based on the guidance set out by the government week commencing 1st June 2020.
We can help you with all aspects of the recruitment process during this pandemic, contact your local nanny agency branch today.
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