Applicants' Frequently Asked Questions
What does an on-call or vacation nanny do?
The primary responsibility of an on-call or vacation nanny is the complete care of our client's children. No other duty, request, or responsibility should come first.
Typical duties of a vacation nanny include but are not limited to:
- Tending to each child's individual needs
- Diapering as needed
- Arts/Crafts
- Reading
- Pool Swimming - no beach swimming (When requested by client and approved by agency AND nanny)
- Walks on the beach, sand castle building, shell hunting, nature hunts and more outdoor play
- Bike Riding
- Resort Activities for the kids
- Movies (at night)
- When children go to bed, nanny can read, cruise Facebook on their phones, play games on their personal ipads, etc.
How much will I get paid as an on-call or vacation nanny?
Our nannies start out at $15.33/hour and go up to $30/hour. Tipping is customary.
What is a permanent nanny and what are the responsibilities?
A permanent nanny is a nanny that is placed with a family on an either part-time (up to 25 hours) or full-time basis. The work agreement with the family usually requires a year long commitment and is often extended if both parties are agreeable.
The primary responsibility of a permanent nanny is the complete care of the employer's children. No other duty, request, or responsibility should come first.
Typical duties of a nanny include but are not limited to:
Tending to each child's basic physical needs
Simple meal planning and preparation
Laundry and clothing care for children*
Organization of play activities and outings
Organization of educational activities and projects
Reading
Social activities (birthday parties, play groups)
Tidying up at the end of the appointment
Some permanent nannies are also willing to take on extra responsibilities around the house. These might include:
Parent's laundry*
Shopping and errands*
Loading/unloading the dishwasher*
Taking out the trash*
Every nanny's responsibilities are unique and should be negotiated prior to placement when entering a permanent employment position.
What qualifications do I need to become a nanny?
Our Nannies must:
Have a genuine love and respect for children
Be at least 22 years of age
Complete an in-depth application & interview process
Be CPR certified or have a willingness to obtain certification
Be First Aid certified or have a willingness to obtain certification
Have a high school diploma or GED
Be willing to make a minimum commitment of 2 appointments per month
Have an excellent reputation within the community
Have verifiable child care experience
Provide a minimum of three child care references
Provide a minimum of three personal references
Provide a minimum of three work/professional references
Be in good general health and, if asked, provide a statement from your doctor that you are healthy enough to have children in your care
Have reliable transportation
Be willing to submit to random drug testing and alcohol testing
Be willing to attend all required Hilton Head Nannies & Companions training
Can I bring my child with me to a nanny job?
Our policy is that we do not work with nannies who must bring their own children with them to work each day. Because our clients are paying for individualized attention for their children, we must require that nannies treat this as a professional position. In return, you will be provided with the courtesy, respect and compensation of a professional childcare provider.
What hours do nannies typically work?
This, too, is dependent on what kind of position you are seeking. Our on-call nannies & sitters have very flexible schedules which is perfect for college students, mothers, or those looking to pick up a side job. You take the jobs you want and therefore set your own schedule.
If you are seeking a permanent job, it will depend on the needs of the family. Nannies typically work Monday through Friday. While each work agreement for permanently placed nannies is unique, most work 40-60 hours per week.
What do permenantly placed nannies typically make?
A nanny's compensation is dependent on several factors:
Previous experience
Education in the field
The number of children
The nanny's responsibilities
The hours nanny is expected to work each week
The beginning wage for permanent nannies just entering the field ranges from $14-16/hour. Nannies with more experience and education make $18-30/hour.
Nannies in permanent jobs usually receive 1-2 weeks paid vacation, as well as 7 paid holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Sometimes New Year's Eve and the Friday after Thanksgiving are also offered. Most families offered sick days, bereavement days, educational days, a phone stipend (if you are expected to keep in touch with the parents while working) and insurance/health stipend.
Compensation packages are negoiated by the nanny directly with the family.
How do I apply with Hilton Head Nannies?
The first step in applying with Hilton Head Nannies is to fill out the initial phase of our Online Nanny Application (a printable version is unfortunately not available).
After your application is received, we will reach out to you with further instructions. The interview and screening process is very in depth and we look forward to walking you through that process toward a rewarding position on our registry.
How are on-call/vacation nannies scheduled?
Our on-call and vacation nannies are scheduled according to the nanny's preferences and availability.
