A Househelp or Nanny is a specialist working in the family’s home, responsible for all tasks related to care of the children.
She will serve as a loving, nurturing and trustworthy companion to children. Full-time Nannies are expected to work at least 40-44 hours a week, with Saturday afternoon and Sunday off. They should receive a salary of at least minimum wage or more, as well as employment benefits. These benefits include a minimum of 21 working days leave per annum, annual bonus and public holidays off. Should the Househelp work on a Nationally recognized public holiday, she should be remunerated at twice her daily rate for that day. Alternatively her employer could compensate her by giving her two leave days for work done on that holiday.
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Major Responsibilities
- Create a stimulating, nurturing, and safe environment for the children
- Supervise the children’s activities at all times
- Plan and prepare meals and bottles for, and feed, the children
- Dress the children
- Place the children down for naps and bedtime
- Bathe the children
- Change diapers
- Potty train the children
- Perform housework including washing the laundry, cleaning up after meals, tidying play areas, and washing up.
- Teach the children good social manners
- Play with the children, both indoors and outdoors
- Discipline the children, when necessary as per the parents beliefs and instructions
- Administer medicine to the children according to instructions
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Job Qualifications and Requirements
- High school graduate preferred
- Experience caring for children
- Training in early childhood education preferred
- First aid training and child and infant CPR
- Communication proficiency
- Reliable, honest, and trustworthy
- Physical ability to care for a young child
- Ability to plan, organize, and multitask with minimal supervision
A Full-time Nanny should:
- Be prompt and reliable
- Arrive to work on time and working the agreed days
- Keep the family informed of events during their absence
- Make an effort to keep parents abreast of the child’s general well-being
- Ensure that both child and home are clean and well-looked after
- The child should generally be in good spirits, having clean diapers, and clean clothing
- The household should be well-ordered, showing that the nanny is picking up after the child
- Report on time for work.
- Notify your employer in a timely fashion if she is ill or will be late in arriving.
- Keep you up to date on any significant milestones, changes, and issues regarding the baby.
- Keep employer informed of the child’s activities, whereabouts, and eating habits during the day.
- The nanny should provide a positive environment for your child where all of her basic needs are attended to.
- They should respect employers privacy and behave in a professional manner with the family and children.
- The nanny should also respect security guidelines, not allowing any strangers or unauthorized personnel into the compound. She should also keep doors and gates locked at all times when the house is entrusted to her care.
- The nanny should be courteous and respectful to the employers AND to the children entrusted to her care at all times.
For a sample Nanny Contract, check out our Guides and Templates in our InfoCenter.