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Interviewing Nannies.

DixieNormous330DixieNormous330 member
in Special Needs

Our wonderful nanny is going back to school in the fall so we're starting the search for someone to replace her. I have interviews lined up every evening this week. I've got the basic questions but can you ladies think of any SN specific questions I should ask them?

In my pre-interview phone calls I got how much experience they have with SN, and glossed over DD's issues. They'll get the full run down when we meet in person. 

I really don't like this. I would love to keep our nanny.

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Re: Interviewing Nannies.

  • zoeyandsummersmomzoeyandsummersmom member

    I don't envy you at all. When I had in-person interviews, I tried to do it during DD's bolus feeds, that way if it intimidated or scared a potential nanny it was right there. 

    Some questions I would ask would be how do you handle tantrums, what would you do if DD becomes over-stimulated?

    What type of activities have they done in the past? Will you be providing a sample schedule? 

    Is the nanny going to be driving, taking DD to doctors or therapy sessions? Expectations for involvement in those sessions.

    I have run into candidates without cell phones (deal breaker), smokers (deal breaker), nannies that don't believe in  or practice western medicine.  

    Our current nanny participates with all of our EI therapies, practices the exercises, attends some if not most doctors appointments, conferences me in for the ones I cannot attend. Takes DD to aquatic therapy and then does outings of her own with her. She is a dream.  

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  • DixieNormous330DixieNormous330 member

    Those are great ones, DC. I'll add those to my list.

    The main thing is carry over for DD. She get's all of her therapies during her school time each morning. We'll also have our "finalists" shadow our current nanny for a day and then get her take on them. Her opinion is HIGHLY valued.

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  • zoeyandsummersmomzoeyandsummersmom member
    Good luck!
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  • lite-brightlite-bright member

    One of the questions I asked was whether candidates were willing to participate in therapy sessions -- we had our Floortime therapist come and do several sessions with our nanny and DD1, to give her ideas on what to how to deal with perseveration and pushing DD1 in terms of play, so they had to be open to that and reading any educational materials we provided. The reading part has pretty much been one or two short handouts that our therapists or Sophie's teachers sent home; we've used it more as an FYI than anything, but it was still something I asked about because I wanted someone who was willing to learn. 

    Our current nanny is just awesome. She has some prior experience with kids with SN, but not ASD in particular; but the specific experience wasn't as important to me as her patience, kindness, and willingness to learn more about autism & DD1's specific needs.

     

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    DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
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