Nursery World - Agencies 'fail to vet nannies' (1)

Fewer than two in five nanny agencies in the UK bother to vet nannies properly before putting them forward to parents as potential employees, according to a survey by the independent company Best Bear Childcare.

The company said that out of 849 agencies nationwide it had surveyed over the past 12 months, only 213 passed its test, while 338 failed outright.

Best Bear assessed the agencies with its 'Helen Test' - having an experienced, qualified nanny pretend to be a girl who is both inexperienced and unqualified and whose only childcare experience is with her sister, but who wants a position involving the sole charge of children. Best Bear found that some agencies were willing to send her out on interviews, having only spoken to her on the telephone and without verifying essential references.

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