Overseas nannies

Nannies can come from all over the world. Just like in London, nannies who work internationally come from a huge range of different countries. While candidates may come from a variety of places, most families require they have a fluent level of English if it is not their mother tongue.

International nannies are particularly popular in the Middle East, notably the UAE and Saudi Arabia. They are also in demand in places like (but not limited to) China, Singapore and Switzerland.

Salaries for nannies placed abroad are generally higher than for those in the UK and will vary hugely depending on the nanny’s experience and the parameters of the job

Nannies who work internationally will often have some form of qualification, although this is not always the case. Some may come with many years of experience and the best nannies aren’t always those who hold qualifications.

If a family does require the nanny to have some formal training, the most common qualifications are:

• CACHE Level 3, Diploma in Childcare and Education (DCE) (Previously known as NNEB)
• BTEC Higher National Diploma
• NVQ in Childcare and Education – Level 3
• Montessori
• Early years degree or diploma
• Bachelor of Education or Teaching qualification

At a minimum they will need their own room, and a private bathroom is desirable although they may sometimes share with the children. Sometimes families offer the nanny their own floor in the house, a studio within the home or completely separate accommodation, close to the family’s home.

Live in nannies work between 5 and 6 days per week, 10 to 12 hours a day depending on the role. In the Middle East it is common for nannies to work 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. When travelling with a family they may be required to work on call 24 hours a day.

As candidates are often in different countries to potential employers, most will arrange an initial telephone or video interview. This may be with the parents or with another member of staff who is assisting with the recruitment process. After the first interview a further 1 or 2 interviews are normally conducted before making a decision.

Unless the nanny is already in the same country as you, trials aren’t as common as when recruiting for a position locally. However, the first 1-3 months of the employment contract is usually a probationary period and this is often seen as the trial.

There are parents who will want to do a separate trial and of course that is ok too. If these do go ahead, they are usually for 1-2 weeks and all travel expenses are covered by the employer.

Employers of international nannies will also cover the cost of a flight back to their home country once a year, as well as the initial flight over. In addition to this, all visa costs are usually covered by the employer as well as medical insurance.