He joined forces with Sally Britton, an NNEB-trained nanny with a degree in psychology, who had looked after Camilla when she was a three-year-old.
They began Snap! Childcare last June.
Andrew, who runs a coffee roasting business, says, 'My own experience told me that there was no matching up of special needs experience and the demands of looking after a child with severe disabilities. Camilla is now 15 and cannot be left for a moment. There are many parents in a similar situation.'
Sally says the demand for the agency's nannies has grown rapidly since its launch, and the quality and experience of many of those wanting to take up nannying posts has been exceptional.
The agency began by circulating its services to more than 300 special needs organisations, but Sally says that since then its reputation has grown largely through word of mouth.
She says that a staggering 50 per cent of the families seeking nannies have a child with autism, while others have a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy or Down's syndrome. 'We cater for children with mild dyslexia right through to children with multiple and profound mental and physical disabilities,' she says.
The first requirement for a nanny wanting to enter this field is 'a genuine desire to work with children with special needs'. If they have no qualifications or experience, Sally advises them to work as a volunteer on playschemes, such as those run by Kith and Kids (see below).
They can also undertake additional skills training courses, to learn British Sign Language or Makaton - a simplified sign language - and become acquainted with the work of Portage, a service that gives educational help to children with special needs.
Snap! Childcare also maintains a comprehensive library of information from special needs support groups and services, with up-to-date information that both families and nannies can consult.
