The Harmony at Home Nanny Vetting Process

At Harmony at Home child safeguarding is paramount. That’s why we’ve developed our ‘gold standard’ Nanny vetting process.
As well as ensuring the safety of our client’s children it also means when we match a Nanny to a family it really is because we believe them to be the PERFECT FIT.
Our vetting process goes beyond the robust examination and audit of a Nanny’s paperwork. We will match a Nanny to a family based on a parenting styles, personalities, and core values.
The wellbeing of our families and Nannies is at the heart of everything we do at Harmony at Home. Read more about how our screening carried out by recruitment industry experts supports this:

1. Application received

At Harmony at Home we receive applications to our vacant positions every single day. The applications are reviewed by our highly experienced team of recruitment professionals. We check every application individually in person and if our training and experience criteria are met, we will advance the applicant to the next stages.

2. Telephone evaluation

The Harmony at Home recruitment team are experts at interviewing Nannies, and collectively have decades of experience in childcare themselves. In the first telephone screening information is taken and recorded for cross checking later. But this is also an opportunity for our team to begin to understand the Nanny’s style, core values and what encouraged them to apply to a particular position. We will use this telephone conversation to review information on the applicants Curriculum Vitae (CV), and gather more detail on their experience, professionalism, and the families they have worked with previously.

3. CV Evaluation

Our team go through each CV with a fine-toothed comb. This is when we begin to cross reference the references given with the families listed on the CV – checking the ages of the children, the dates worked for etc.

4. Screening

This is when we begin to delve deep with the Nanny, asking some very in-depth questions which are always cross referenced with the initial application. Many of our recruitment team have Nanny experience themselves meaning they establish what a Nanny is REALLY looking for, so can assess whether the vacancy applied to is really the best fit for that applicant. We do this early in the process, and thoroughly, to avoid any delays for the client OR the Nanny in finding their ideal match.
We will ask questions to assess technical knowledge (such as paediatric first aid) but also scenario-based ones to understand the Nanny’s empathy, expertise, and experience.

5. References

We will ask to speak to at least two previous employers and a character or alternative reference, recognising some flexibility might be needed for newly qualified Nannies. We will ask referees questions regarding the applicant’s attitude to work, reliability, style, skills, any star qualities, or concerns. These reference checks are also another opportunity for us to further validate the information provided on the applicants CV.

We are always open and honest with our clients and if it is not possible to provide a reference from a Nanny’s current employer (as s/he has not informed them of intent to move on yet). We will explain the situation transparently and suggest an alternative additional referee.

6. Right to work check

Original documents must be produced for the Harmony at Home identity check to confirm eligibility to work in the UK. We verify the applicant’s current address, and further validated documents such as photo driving licence, or passport which displays the applicant’s date of birth. We inform clients of a Nannies right to work status.

7. DBS

We encourage every Nanny that registers with Harmony at Home to join the DBS Update Service System. The Update Service is an online subscription service that allows a Nanny to keep their enhanced DBS certificate up to date. The annual subscription enables a Nanny to move a DBS certificate from role-to-role, and also allows an employer and recruiter to access a status check on a DBS certificate easily.

8. Driving license check

We will check an applicant’s driving licence information, to confirm which vehicles they can drive, and whether they have any penalty points or disqualifications. If there are penalty points or disqualifications the client will be notified.

When all is said and done, our expertise and experience allow us to match Nannies to families based on connection and fit. These robust processes further support that intuitive ability to forge great relationships. We understand the importance of that ‘click’ between an employer and their Nanny.

Harmony at Home Limited assumes no responsibility on how this information is used.

Written by Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2022