How can TB affect your family and your nanny?

By admin | Published: October 6, 2011

How can TB affect your family and your nanny?

South Africa, in the past 10 years, has seen a resurgence in cases of tuberculosis or TB. It may be worrying to think that an airborne disease is so prevalent in the country in which you are raising your children, but knowledge is one of the first steps to combating TB.

It is important that we as parents have an understanding of how TB can affect our family, our children, and our employees – our nannies. As parents we need to know what our risks are when hiring someone to care for our children, and how to help and support our nanny if she does become sick with tuberculosis.

Contrary to popular belief, anyone can get TB and it is not a disease that only affects the poor. Famous people like President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have had TB and now are cured.   

What is TB?

TB is a disease that mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. TB is transmitted when small drops of saliva or spit are coughed into the air by people who have TB, and are breathed in by people who do not have TB. However, breathing in the TB germ does not mean you will become sick. In most cases, when a person’s immune system is strong, the body will keep the TB germ in check and cause it to become inactive or ‘latent’. In this form, the TB germ can stay within the body without ever causing the person it has infected to become sick. Someone with a latent TB infection cannot infect anyone else. If, however, the person’s immune system becomes weak, which can happen for a variety of reasons including stress, hypertension, HIV infection, diabetes or poor nutrition, the TB bacterium will activate and start to multiply. At this point, the person will develop the signs and symptoms of TB and will be infectious to others.

Typical symptoms of TB include:

  • Appetite Loss
  • Chest pain
  • Tiredness
  • Night Sweats
  • Ongoing couch for more than 2 weeks, or coughing up blood
  • Weight loss

Hiring a nanny with TB and HIV in mind

As a parent and an employer, most of us will want to have a healthy nanny. However, forcing your employee to reveal his or her HIV status is illegal, and not employing someone because of their HIV status is considered discriminatory. Asking your nanny about her health during an interview can be a highly sensitive matter, and the answers you get will be subjective. Your best source will be past references as they will be able to indicate if she was unusually absent and if she does have the right constitution to handle your family’s workload and schedule in her role as a childcarer and cleaner.

 We recommend that the best approach is to discuss the precautionary health measures you expect your nanny to take with your children, and to make sure that both you and your nanny are well-informed about TB and HIV. In this way, both of you will know the symptoms of TB and be able to spot any potential problems early.

 A guideline for nannies and families regarding the symptom of coughing

If a nanny or anyone in the family is HIV positive, they need to be extra careful about looking after their own health. Even a day’s ongoing cough can be a cause for concern and they should visit a clinic for a TB test as soon as possible. It is important to remember, however, that this is the choice of the person concerned.  

If anyone, whether HIV positive or negative, has been coughing for more than two weeks, they should also consider having a TB test at a local clinic.  

 Besides coughing, there are other symptoms of TB that should also be investigated at a clinic – appetite loss, chest pain, tiredness, night sweats and fever, and weight loss.

 How do you or your nanny go about testing for TB?

A TB test can be performed at any clinic – whether near your home or work or your nanny’s. A nurse at the clinic may ask the person being tested questions about their symptoms and ask them to cough and spit into a bottle. It is best for the person being tested to spit from the chest as early as possible in the morning to achieve the most accurate results. The sputum sample is then sent to the laboratory for testing using smear microscopy. The smear microscopy test may take 2 days and the result will then be sent back to the clinic the person visited.   

 If TB bacteria are detected in the sputum, the smear microscopy test result will be positive. If none are detected the test result will be negative. However, TB can be difficult to diagnose, and if the symptoms persist despite a negative result from this test and no other obvious causes, further tests may be performed. These include a chest x-ray and the attempt to culture TB bacteria from a sputum sample.  The person being tested may be referred to a larger clinic where an x-ray machine is available. The culture tests can take from 6 to 8 weeks to get a result.

How does this affect my family’s schedule?

If you or your nanny suspect that she or someone else in your family may have TB, it is important to go for a test as soon as possible. If your nanny is having a TB test, you can discuss her taking sick leave during this period, which could be from 2 days up to a week in length depending on the clinic involved. While the person is waiting for their result, in case they do have TB, they should avoid children, especially those under five, practice good cough hygiene by covering their cough with their sleeve, and spend time outdoors in the sun and in well-ventilated areas.

 If your nanny or any other adult in your family tests positive for TB, they will be put off work by the doctor for two weeks to limit the potential of spreading the infection. This is as a precaution to avoid spreading infection and to give the person time to recover from their symptoms and the side effects of the medication. However, once someone has been on effective treatment for 2 days, they are no longer infectious to others. Within these two weeks, the person should follow the guidelines mentioned above at home to avoid infecting anyone else.

How does TB affect children?

TB affects children differently to adults. It is very difficult, for example, for a child to transmit TB to another child, and an adult is almost always the source of infection. TB can also be difficult to diagnose in a child because they find it difficult to cough up sputum. 

If your child is under five and has been in close contact with someone, whether this is your nanny or someone in the family, who is diagnosed as having TB, the child will probably be put onto isoniazid preventative therapy (IPT). IPT is a precaution taken to ensure that any latent TB that may have infected the child is eliminated.

Can TB be cured?


Yes. The good news is that unlike HIV, TB is curable. It is very important that anyone who has TB takes their TB medicine exactly as the doctor, nurse or counselor prescribes.  A TB patient will be given several drugs to kill the TB germs. The patient’s sputum will be tested during the course of the treatment period to make sure that the medication is working. The TB germ dies very slowly and it will take at least six months for the drugs to kill all the TB germs. This, and the side-effects of the medication, can make it a challenge to finish treatment, but doing so is critical. A TB patient must not stop taking their medication when they feel better as this will mean that they will become sick again, and it will take even longer and they will have to take even more medication to cure them.

What to do if someone in your family or your nanny is diagnosed with TB?

Don’t panic. Because of the high prevalence of TB in South Africa, many of us have already been exposed to the TB germ many times. It is estimated that around 60% of adults in the Western Cape have a latent TB infection; in other words they cannot transmit TB and are not sick, but already carry the TB germ in their bodies. If you are an adult who has had close contact with someone with TB, but do not have a compromised immune system and are not displaying any symptoms of TB, you do not need to have a TB test.

 Remember that anyone who is has been on effective TB treatment for 2 weeks is no longer infectious.

Try to find out as much as you can about TB so that you have something factual and concrete to work with. Learn the symptoms of TB so that you know when someone should go for a TB test. Consult your clinic, family doctor or TB/HIV Care Association on 021 425 0050 if you are unsure of anything.  

How can you the employer help your nanny if she is diagnosed with TB?


Your nanny can come back to work after being on effective treatment for 2 weeks. She would no longer be infectious. Your nanny will need your support and understanding. Firing her because you are afraid that your children could get infected is irrational and illegal. Many nannies are the breadwinners of their own family and you could devastate a whole family by rash actions.

There is a possibility that you could act as a treatment supporter for your nanny, but this is ultimately something both of you must choose. Being a treatment supporter would mean that you would learn about TB and the medication she will be taking, and that you will remind your nanny to take her medication daily, and support her through any issues that arise.

 In the first month of treatment, the person diagnosed may have to go to the clinic daily to get their medication. Thereafter they may have to go every two weeks, and finally monthly. Although people often start to feel better after the first few weeks, it is critical that the full course of treatment is completed or the disease will not be cured, and the TB germs will become more difficult to cure. It is also advisable for anyone diagnosed with TB to live a healthy lifestyle, to exercise and to eat healthy food.

It is important as an employer to be aware of how much time you may have to allocate for her to go and fetch or take her medication and how this may affect your family schedule so that you can plan effectively.

How should I deal with the fear of TB as a parent?

However as a parent myself, I understand the concern and fear when it comes to our offspring. 
Knowledge and education are the first steps to dealing with the anxiety and stigmas attached to the TB disease. Stigma is normally a negative attitude that people have about something they are scared of, but do not know very much about.

 Looking ahead in the face of TB in South Africa

While there are many new technological developments in the field of TB diagnostics, vaccines and drugs, these are unlikely to be widely available very soon. It is still best to prevent TB by covering our coughs, keeping small areas well-ventilated by opening windows, by being vigilant for the symptoms of TB, and by being supportive of those who are diagnosed with TB.

 The information for the above article is obtained from the TB/HIV Care Association and USAID’s TB programme. The article is co -authored by Super Nannies and the TB/Care Association.

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Is discipline part of your nannies role?

By admin | Published: May 31, 2011

Your nanny and discipline.

Not everyone is a natural at discipline. As parents, we quickly learn this with our children in their early years , when our sweet babies turn into wilful young toddlers.  Our super nannies experience this transition too and it does not help when their own cultural differences or fears interfere with their role as a disciplinarian.

Not all nannies take the initiative when it comes to discipline. Here are some reasons why:

  • It can be a personality trait. Some people are better at instilling discipline and commands. 
  • It can be cultural differences. Lizia Martinus, mother and nanny explains “It is more common in our Xhosa culture to shout, swear and smack the child.” Although she does not condone that practice herself.
  • Instilling discipline may be contrary with her job role as a caring loving nanny.
  • It may jeopardise her job.  Nannies fear that the employer may not like the nanny putting their child in its place which could affect her job.  Christine Rebe’s nanny, Zoleka Hlebo, “Some children like to run back to their parents and complain about the nanny and we are afraid that the parent will take the child’s side”

It is important as a parent to help our children navigate through learning and behavioural difficulties ranging from whining, tantruming, bad manners, sibling rivalry and other related problems, as they grow and learn. We want our children to grow up to be self confident and independant with a healthy self esteem so it is important that we as parents and our childminders are clear about what action to take when the child(ren) misbehave or act out.

Here are some guidelines to ensure that you and your nanny are working as a team when in comes to implementing discipline in the home.

Parental guidelines and practical tips to help your nanny discipline your children.

  1. It’s important that you and your nanny trust each other, respect each and communicate well in order to support each other when implementing discipline in the home. Good communication requires a lot of talking and listening by all family members and caregivers. 
  2. You need to discuss with your nanny your disciplinary style and be open to discuss cultural diversity and her disciplinary style with her own children.
  3. Don’t overload the child or nanny with too much information with the intention of trying to fix everything at once. You should select two or three target behaviours that you want to change and discuss this with your nanny. 
  4. Both you and the caregiver must be clear about what behaviour is acceptable and what is not.
  5. You need to offer practical advice to the nanny. The disciplinary actions may differ for the various misbehaviours and you will need to tell her step by step what to do for the different scenarios. E.g.  Hitting your sister means time out, whining needs to be ignored.
  6. You and your nanny’s disciplinary actions need to be consistent and credible so children understand clearly what the boundaries are and the consequences that occur as a result of misbehaviour. E.g.  It doesn’t help if you tell the nanny that the children must only eat at the table otherwise no food and on weekends the kids are running around dropping food everywhere.  It’s confusing for the child(ren).
  7. As a parent you need to be aware that children may try to play the parent off the nanny and vice versa to get their own way. Sometimes children have a tendency to act up as soon as parents come home and are often angels with their caregiver. As Jana Willems, nanny of two explains   “Children like to take advantage of their parents.  As soon as they walk in they completely change their behaviour and act up”
  8. Your nanny needs to understand that consistency is important and more effective when child carers and parents discipline the children in the same way in order to see the behaviour change.
  9. In her role as discipline enforcer the nanny needs to be calm, confident, firm and fair.  Children need to understand that the caregiver is not angry with them but does not like the way they are behaving. Explain this to her with examples so she does understand what those words really mean.
  10. As a parent you need to be aware of the different ages  and development stages and what disciplinary action is appropriate for that age.

Child caring is a complex role and the nannies need guidance from the parents. A child’s misbehaviour does become more challenging as the child(ren) grows up and the nanny needs to know she can come and talk to you about difficulties she may experience as they develop, grow and become more assertive and independent.

By providing clear instructions and advice on how to handle common childhood naughtiness, nannies are empowered and confident in handling almost any problems presented to them by the child(ren) in their care.

There are many books on the market but two I highly recommend is Kensway – Parenting 911 and SOS Help or Parents by Lynn Clark as they both provide practical advice and tools to use.

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A tribute to my nanny

By admin | Published: November 5, 2010

A Tribute to my nanny – Joyce (Zoleka)

Joyce came into my life one frosty Saturday morning amidst the chaos that took place in my home that particular day. I remember thrusting my colicky six week old daughter into her arms whilst dealing with the crisis that was happening with my twin sister. My sister had undertaken to become a single mother and was valiantly trying to breastfeed her three week old daughter who at the time was diagnosed with severe reflux and a condition called tongue tie – which made breastfeeding difficult.

I remember suddenly noticing Joyce on the couch calmly cooing to my daughter whilst at the same time engaging with my very busy and active two year old son. She patiently and confidently managed both baby and toddler amidst all the chaos ensuing around her. I was struck with the immediate sense that Joyce was the “one” for our family and four years down the line I have never looked back.

Joyce loves my children as if they were her own. She has the most playful nature and truth be told, is much better then I am at playing with my children, especially my son. There are times I have come home and she has been playing soccer or cricket in the garden with him and I hear his shouts of delight and peals of laughter. There are many times Jemma says or does something endearing and I see Joyce melt with pride and genuine love. If I cannot attend my son’s rugby match Joyce is often on the sidelines enthusiastically shouting out words of encouragement and praise when he scores a try.

It is ironic how I have therefore subsequently fallen into my line of work. I am part owner of the training and placement agency called Super Nannies where our core business is to train and also place domestic nannies into employment opportunities.

My experience to a large extent has been through my own personal circumstances, firstly as a stay at home mom to a toddler and expecting a newborn and then eventually working part time as a trainer and then working in my own business. I went through an agency (no names mentioned) where I chose the nanny, to be employed by us, in an office environment. We were not offered a trial period to determine whether the candidate was suitable or not. The candidate arrived on the agreed date and time. From the moment that she arrived that first day, I knew that this particular relationship was not going to last. It took me 10 weeks of accepting this knowledge, giving birth to my second child and thus putting the word out there that I was looking for a domestic nanny and that is when Joyce was referred to me and both of us have not looked back since.

My word of advice to all mothers undertaking to employ a nanny in helping to care for their children is to remember, that this special relationship is based on reciprocal respect, trust and open channels of communication with one another. Sure Joyce and I have had our ups and downs like any relationship but we have both managed to navigate and communicate our expectations, wants and needs especially as the years have brought their joys, difficulties and sadness that we have encountered along the way.

The predicaments, hardships, tragedies that these ladies encounter in their personal lives on a daily basis are a testament to their strength of character. We in this country are extremely fortunate to have an abundance of help that is not so readily available and affordable in other countries

My line of business has opened my eyes to remind me to be thankful for all that I have and that I have the ability to empower and provide work opportunities for these amazing women in our society that help to love, care and aid in the bringing up of our children.

So I would like to end off by saying that we should instate a public holiday and call it National Nannies Day in honour to all the special nannies in our lives past and present.
Joyce I consider you part of the family, you are like a second mother to my children as well as being my family when I have had no one else to rely on.
This is for you Joyce!

Christine Rebe is also a co founder and super mom of two energetic children. She comes with plenty of patience and an abundance of knowledge concerning babies and children. Having facilitated autistic kids, reared a colicky baby for 8 months and a proprioceptive sensory child, she understands the complexities when is comes to rearing difficult children and young babies. She believes in having a good support system and her nanny/domestic worker has filled that gap. Christine runs the placement side of the business. Christine’s natural skill  is her instinctive ability to suss out her candidates and match the good nannies to the right family.

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Getting the best out of your nanny

By admin | Published: November 5, 2010

Getting the best out of your nanny.

Finding and hiring a nanny can be a tedious and time consuming process. Once mothers have given birth, the first few months of maternity leave seem to fly by in a daze of feeding, burping, sleeping and getting to know your little baby. Before you know it, it is time to hand over the care of your little one as the demands of work and outside life take over.

How to ensure a smooth handover to your nanny

There are many reasons that can make the handover process to a nanny difficult. Mothers are left in a quarry of emotions ruled by adjusting hormones. Leaving your little one can go against a mother’s natural protective instinct. A mother’s own fears can also make the handover complicated.
Here are some points worth considering that will help build a positive and constructive relationship with your chosen nanny.
Give yourself at least two months to find a nanny. This includes a minimum of one month trial to build the relationship and trust between you and your nanny. As a mother you need to feel confident that your nanny knows what she is doing with your baby. Don’t leave it to the last minute. It causes unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Besides interviewing a nanny, ensure that you trial her in your home between one and three days to make sure that she fits into your family circle. At the end of the day, personality is ultimately the reason why you will choose your nanny. Experience, common sense and reliability are also important qualities – which you will take from their references – but you will only be able to check out these values in the probation period. If your nanny ultimately has the qualities like reliability, common sense etc but may fall short on the way she stimulates your young child – you can always train or up skill your nanny in the areas that she falls short in. “I have a wonderful nanny, she was my second choice when we interviewing the candidates, our first choice couldn’t make the drive between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. I wasn’t sure if she was the one, I decided to give it a try and it worked out better than I thought – I realised it’s hard to know upfront if the nanny is the one but I learnt you know when it’s not going to work?” says Kathleen Shaw a mother from Noordhoek.

Pay your nanny a market related fee.

Make sure that your nanny is being paid a market related salary as money sadly dictates their loyalty. Ultimately, they are trying to meet their basic needs and provide for their own family. They will leave your family for a higher income elsewhere if need be. It can be very unsettling for yourself, your family and your children when your nanny has to leave you with very short notice.

Once a nanny has completed her probation period, it’s important to hire them on a permanent basis with a contract. This in stills a feeling of goodwill. The nanny knows you are serious about her and she feels secure in her job. From an employer perspective, having a written contract also helps establish the responsibilities and boundaries associated with her role as a domestic nanny.

Be your nanny’s employer not her friend.

Until the nanny has proven herself, be firm with your boundaries, house rules and financial loans. Karin Thomsen, owner of Super Nannies explains”our relationship grew over time and we both compromised outside the 8 to 5 job role. Emergencies came up on both sides and I learnt she was willing to put her neck out for my family when I needed her. Likewise when her child was sick with pneumonia, I took her to a private doctor to be diagnosed”
If you are going to loan money ensure she can pay the amount or a percentage of the loan in a fixed period without getting into cycle of debt. “I made the mistake of lending my nanny over a R1000 in the first few months that she was with us. We eventually had to write the debt off as she was short changed every month, while trying to pay it back. When I asked her to pay it back in babysitting hours she wasn’t up for it. I am not sure if she is right for us. It has been a very one sided relationship – us giving, her taking.” expresses Joanne Lane regretfully.
It’s always important to sit down at the start of her job and outline certain rules. We often assume that certain rules are common sense but it’s important to clarify the rules upfront rather than face the consequences later down the line.
“I assumed my nanny would not use my phone. The end of the month came and she racked up a R1000 in calls – I wished I had outlined our house rules beforehand. I thought it was obvious that you don’t use the phone without asking first” says Wendy Hart.
Be constructive in your criticism. In an African culture they do not embrace the direct approach and tend to shy away from direct confrontation. You need to cultivate an environment that allows for a two way communication.

Two way communication with your nanny

Karin suggests that you make a habit of holding a meeting once a month. “During this time, offer positive feedback, say thank you for what you appreciated during the month and then offer direct guidance in areas she may have fallen short. You may have to write down your guidelines so she can refer to a document. This is a good time to get her feedback as well and accommodate her if she is asking for help. By creating this monthly meeting time, your nanny will come to understand there is a space that allows her to communicate with you as well.

Super Nannies word of advice to mothers undertaking to employ a nanny in helping to care for their children is to remember that this special relationship is based on one of reciprocal respect, empathy, trust and open channels of communication with one another. “My nanny Joyce and I have had our up’s and downs like any relationship but we have managed to navigate and communicate our expectations, wants and needs over the years despite the trials and tribulations we have encountered along the way, “ say Christine, co owner of Super Nannies.

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15 important nanny rules

By admin | Published: July 26, 2010

15 Rules all Nannies Should Know.

Here is a list of general ground rules we think all nannies should know. The golden rule is don’t assume they know this. As a parent, it is worth taking a few minutes and running through the ground rules that are important to you, your family and that fit into your value system.
 

  1. Nannies should never drink alcohol or smoke at the employer’s home or in the presence of children at any time.
  2. Nannies should never smack a child.
  3. Nannies should never help themselves to household goods without asking the employer first.
  4. Nannies should not use TV as a source of entertainment during any time of the day unless the parents stipulate otherwise.
  5. Nannies should never give the child any medicine without informing the parents first.
  6. If a nanny wakes up feeling sick and is unable to come to work, a nanny should call at least an hour before she would normally start work to inform her employer so the employer can make a backup plan for the day.
  7. If she is late for work she should inform her employer before or on the hour she should be starting work and not later.
  8. A nanny should never feed a weaning baby anything other than what the mother has prescribed.
  9. A nanny should always wash her hands as soon as she walks through the door and before she picks up the baby. 
  10.  A nanny must always wear gloves when blood is present –either a wound on her hand or blood on the child.
  11. A nanny should always inform the parents where she is, should she leave the house with the child i.e. in the form of a note or call if she is going for a walk, visiting a neighbour or going to a park.
  12. Should a child fall ill, have a fever, be vomiting or have diarreah, the nanny should inform the parents immediately.
  13. A nanny should never leave a child alone around water or alone in the house even for a few minutes i.e. to hang up the washing.
  14. A nanny should never alter a child’s appearance ie cut a child’s hair or a baby nails without asking the mom first.
  15. A nanny should never go outside with the child – i.e. garden or park without sunscreen, hat and liquids (juice, water, milk) especially in summer.

Give your nanny the confidence and knowledge to care for your child in a safe and loving environment. Send her on one of our wonderful nanny training courses and see the difference immediately. Enquire here!

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Ten useful questions to ask a domestic nanny agency

By admin | Published: May 31, 2010

Ten important questions to ask your domestic nanny agency?

  1. What is your registration fee? Is it a once off fee?
  2. What is your placement fee for a permanent placement?
  3. Do you offer a trial period?
  4. What is your fee for a temporary placement?
  5. Do you pay the domestic/nanny or do we pay her a daily wage.
  6. If you the domestic nanny agency is paying the domestic/worker what percentage does she earn off the rate the employer is charged.
  7. How does the domestic nanny agency check their references especially overseas references.
  8. Can you also personally speak to the references yourself ?
  9. Does the domestic nanny agency offer a guarantee period (3 months is the average guarantee period).
  10. Check the small print on the agency contract, under guarantee period – words like “endeavor.”
  11. What is the average salary for the area you live in?

If would like to know more here are some use links:

A table comparing domestic agency costs
HIV and your nanny
The short version of domestic labour law guidelines

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How do the domestic nanny agencies REALLY work

By admin | Published: May 31, 2010

How do domestic nanny agencies work:

As a working mother, my nanny is a crucial part of my household. Without her support, I would not be able to juggle, my children, my household and my job effectively. I value her role in our lives enormously. Therefore when looking for a nanny it is important that you research your options thoroughly.

There are three costs:

1. Registration fee
2. Placement fee (once off fee)
3. Nannies monthly/daily salary (ongoing)

Domestic nanny agency comparisons are based on:

  • A permanent monthly salary of R3000 (average going rate R2500 – 3000)
  • Placement fees are normally payable to agencies as a once off fee.
  • The nanny’s monthly salary is payable by the employer to the nanny directly.

A table comparing  domestic nanny agency fees:

Agency Placement fee – Permanant fee in Rands – 1 month
Super Nannies 10% of annual salary
R3600
Marvellous Maids 14% of annual salary
R5040
Village Nannies 10% of annual salary
R3600

 The information gathered is from moms who have dealt with the different agencies, prices listed on the website and calls made to the respective domestic nanny agencies.

Temporary nanny placements

The temporary placements are where the discrepancy lies between the domestic nanny agencies.
a) Some domestic nanny agencies charge a once of fee based on the time that the nanny worked. The employer pays the agency the placement fee and the employer still has to pay the nanny her daily wage directly.
b) Some domestic nanny agencies act as an agent; they charge the clients and then pay the nanny directly. The employer does not handle any payments towards the domestic worker

 

A table comparing market related salaries against minimum wage for 2010

Sector

Wage per hour

Wage per month
Minimum wage R7.40 R1442.86
Market related salary R12.91 – R15.50 R2500 – R3000

Transport costs

Salaries may or may not include transport costs. Bus and train tickets are approximately R80 – R100 a month. Taxis are R5 per trip depending on the suburb. If a nanny is using a bus and a taxi service to get to work, her transport costs can add up to about R300 per month.
Please read our Super Nanny Guide to get a better idea on working hours, wages etc for live in and live out nannies.

As a domestic nanny agency, we truly believe in looking after our candidates and we like them to receive a market related salary. A domestic/nanny can barely survive on R80 a day and then they still have to pay for their daily transport. Some domestic nanny agencies say they include transport costs. Yes they may drop the domestic nanny to your house from their agency but that char, domestic or nanny is still having to take public transport into town. A domestic worker will walk away with R50 in her hand once her transport expenses have been paid for a nine hour day. On this note, it is important as an employer to find out how much the domestic nanny is getting if the agency is charging you a fee and then paying the nanny directly.
When you are doing your research, make sure you ask all the right questions and make sure you are choosing a domestic agency that not only provides good service to you but also looks after their candidates. After all they are the stock of the business and without them there is no business.

Useful placement links:

Ten useful questions to ask your domestic nanny agency

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Ten Tips to finding your own Super Nanny

By admin | Published: April 21, 2010

How to find your own Super Nanny.

Many families in South Africa have the lucrative option of being able to hire a domestic nanny to look after their child because the salaries are a fraction of the cost of a middle to high class salary. Hiring a nanny is still relatively inexpensive compared to nanny rates overseas. With this wide range of choice of domestic workers, it is important to first priorities your family needs and choose a suitable personality type with the right skills to fit your family.

Ten tips:

  1. Use a reputable agency – make sure they do check written and verbal references and that they can give you the numbers yourself so that you can speak to the previous employer.
  2. Check if your nanny is in debt – ask her if she has any clothing accounts e.g. Edgars and how much does she owe? You don’t want to hire a nanny that starts asking for loans as soon as the contract is signed.
  3. Pick a nanny that has a stable family background and relationship.
  4. Check if the nanny is hygiene conscious – does she think of washing her hands before she holds the baby?
  5. Find out how her health is but do expect at least once a month one of you to be sick – nanny, you or baby, this is normal. Factor that into your work schedule and make sure you do have back up options if needed. Please note that it is illegal to ask her for her HIV status. Have a read through our HIV and TB FAQ’s.
  6. Test her reading and writing – ask her to take a message and get someone to call during the interview. This will also test how well she responds to instructions.
  7. Find out if she has young children – if they are under three years old, what type of support system does she have in place if they are sick?
  8. Don’t judge a nanny purely on age and training but rather on personality – at the end of the day you will probably hire someone based on their personality/character and how they relate to your family rather than their impressive skills on paper. You can always train someone to do it your way. You can’t train a bad attitude.
  9. Insist on a trial period – an agency cannot guarantee how a nanny interacts with your children. Yes they can check to make sure that they are reliable and trustworthy but every mother has different expectations and an agency can only try and match accordingly. The trial is the real interview.
  10.  Before hiring your nanny seal the deal by insisting that the nanny gets a police clearance from the police stations. Please pay for this as it is a big expense for the nanny if she is not working. Also ask them to go for a free TB test at their nearest government medical clinic.

There is no such thing as the perfect nanny. Qualities to look for are a good attitude, honesty, reliability, shows initiative and a willingness to communicate and do the tasks the mother’s way. Skills can always be taught. Remember to trust your gut instinct when making your choice. 

The right nanny will love your child and will have your child’s best interest at heart. They are looking after your most precious possession – your child, so it is worth looking after her, treating her with respect, showing or expressing your appreciation and remembering to say thank you even when they are just doing their job!

Useful links:

Insightful interview questions
HIV FAQ’s
Short version of Labour Law Guidelines

About the Author:

Karin Thomsen is co founder and trainer of Super Nannies. She started training nannies when she was a single mother. She hired and trained her nanny and realized the importance of trained help whilst having to work and support her family. Over the course of five years she has trained over 490 nannies. “I believe that we are privileged in this country to have the abundance of choice in domestic help at such a reasonable cost to the family” Karin is an avid trainer with a 15 year background in marketing, teaching and corporate facilitation as well as domestic training and placements. She has two young children and loves to write.

Posted in Parents | 1 Comment

SA motorists are failing their children.

By admin | Published: March 4, 2010

Buckle up! SA motorists are failing their children.

Netcare releases shocking accident statistics – “SA motorists are failing their children!”

Johannesburg, 25 November, 2008 – Shocking national statistics revealed by Netcare’s trauma division today indicate that 32.5% of children, under the age of 12, involved in motor vehicle accidents, were seriously injured simply because they were not properly restrained. Of these children almost 30% were under the age of two years.

According to Mande Toubkin, National Trauma Manager for the Netcare Group, the injuries sustained were all priority one injuries which makes them extremely serious and in most instances life altering. She added that sadly, as many as 4% of the children involved in these collisions died.”

“Gauteng accounted for 60% of these serious injuries while KwaZulu Natal, at 20,6%, was the region with the second most injuries. All injuries were caused because these little passengers were not wearing seatbelts or were not properly restrained,” said Toubkin.

Dr Sebastian van As, Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town recently said that if an accident happens and a child is thrown from the car, there is a 75% chance that the child will die. “Trauma kills more people under the age of 18 than any disease and children are most severely injured because of motor vehicle accidents,” he said.

The statistics, which were released as part of Netcare 911’s annual road safety campaign, were accumulated over a 22-month period throughout Netcare hospitals countrywide.

Released on behalf of Netcare Limited and Netcare 911 by Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA): 011 469 3016 or martina@mnapr.co.za

Posted in Safety with kids | Leave a comment

Basic Guide to Working Hours and Wages for Nannies and Domestic workers.

By admin | Published: October 23, 2009

Working hours and wages – a basic guide.

Since I have been placing nannies, we have learnt that many new mothers are unfamiliar with the basic guide to working hours and wages regarding a nanny. Generally moms especially first time mothers are either ignorant or either so taken up with the emotional estrangement of having to leave their child in the hands of a stranger – their new nanny – that  they are unable to recognize the value of the domestic work in society.

The mothers fail to realize that the nannies do sit at the bottom of the pay line and that they are the worst affected by the current economic crisis. Their basic needs – paying for transport,  obtaining food for their family, keeping warm are essentials that are instantly compromised. Unfortunately their loyalty to their employer’s family is also easy misplaced by having to meet their basic needs of survival, they will easily and quickly leave a current job for better money.

I have put together a basic guide to the working hours and wages concerning nannies and domestic workers. This is for mothers who have a nanny or who are looking for a nanny to look after their child. Surely it pays to look after the person who cares for your most precious being – your child.

This is a compilation of labour law guidelines and market related figures. I hope these guideline will improve the livelihoods of those who are worst off, help retain jobs; and help parents recognize the value and role of domestic workers and nannies in our society.

What we cover:

1.     What is the average wage in 2009

2.     What are the normal hours of WORK

3.     How do the meals work?

4.     Rest Periods

5.     Leave

6.     UIF

7.     HIV in the workplace

8.     Termination of employment

Please read our basic guide to working hours and wages for nannies.

Posted in Parents | 4 Comments

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