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Yes — we will take the headache out of finding a live-in or live-out nanny, head nanny, or governess for your family. Register on our parents form or contact us directly and a consultant will be in touch within 2–3 working days.
Yes, we will help you find a manny (male nanny). Register on our client registration form or contact us by email at ourfamily@nichenannies.co.uk and we will be happy to help.
Yes. We place skilled maternity nurses and doulas to support families post-birth. They help with recovery, establishing feeding and sleep routines for you and your baby, and generally make the transition into parenthood as smooth as possible. Learn more about our maternity placements.
Sole Charge: The nanny has full responsibility for the children while the parents are away or out of the home. This is the most common arrangement.

Shared Charge: The nanny works alongside a parent who is present in the home, primarily assisting with nursery duties and care.

Split Charge: Typically used when children are in different age groups or where there are a large number of children. Responsibilities are divided between the nanny and another carer or parent.
We do not offer babysitting to the general public. However, temporary babysitting cover is available for registered families — please give us a minimum of 72 hours notice if you require ad hoc cover.
We prefer a minimum of 3–4 years of relevant, full-time childcare experience in the UK. Originals of all qualifications and certificates must be produced at the time of interview. Nannies with strong references and formal qualifications (CACHE, Norland, NNEB, etc.) are particularly sought after by our client families.
To register as a candidate with Niche Nannies you will need: two strong professional references (we verify these directly), a valid passport or proof of identity, a driving licence if applicable, a current enhanced DBS certificate, a valid visa or right-to-work documentation if relevant, and original copies of all childcare qualifications and first aid certificates.
EU / EEA citizens working in Europe: work permits are generally not required within the EEA, though this varies post-Brexit for UK nationals.

Non-EU workers: a work permit will typically be required and must be arranged before departure.

Middle East placements (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait): the employer (sponsoring family) is responsible for arranging a work and residency visa on your behalf. We advise all candidates to confirm documentation requirements with the relevant consulate before accepting a position.
Yes — all candidates working with children in the UK require an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. This replaced the old CRB check in 2012. We will guide you through the process if you do not already hold a current enhanced certificate. For overseas roles, a police check or equivalent from your country of residence is usually required.
Yes — we can provide temporary and travel nannies for families going abroad or needing short-term cover. Please give us a minimum of 6 weeks notice for travel nanny bookings. Travel nannies are paid on an hourly basis, calculated per 24-hour period when on duty.
A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is an official background check carried out by the UK government. It verifies that a childcare professional has no criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. There are two levels: Standard and Enhanced. All our candidates hold or will obtain an Enhanced DBS check, which is the most thorough level.
There is a £75 registration fee payable before we begin filtering and presenting candidates to your family. This fee is fully deductible from the final placement fee once a successful placement is made.
Our placement fees are as follows:

UK nanny placement: 17.5% of the agreed annual gross salary.
Overseas placement: 23% of the agreed annual gross salary.

Payment is accepted by bank transfer (BACS), cash (a 3.5% surcharge applies), or PayPal (a 4% surcharge applies).
There are occasions when we are unable to accept new client registrations — for example, if we feel a family's requirements fall outside our area of specialism, or if our books are currently at capacity in a particular area. We always comply fully with anti-discrimination legislation and will never refuse a registration on the basis of race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
Yes — when you are employed as a nanny in the UK, your employer is legally responsible for operating a PAYE (Pay As You Earn) scheme. They deduct Income Tax and your employee National Insurance contributions from your gross salary before paying you. You do not pay these directly to HMRC yourself. Your employer also pays employer's NI on top of your gross salary. For more detail, see our Nanny Tax & Pensions guide.
If you work in the UK, are aged between 22 and State Pension age, and earn more than £10,000 per year, your employer is legally required to automatically enrol you in a qualifying workplace pension. The minimum total contribution is 8% — at least 3% from your employer and 5% from you. If you are employed overseas, pension arrangements will depend on the terms of your specific contract and the laws of the country of employment.
We recognise the following childcare qualifications: NNEB, CACHE Level 3, GNVQ, ADCE, BTEC Nursery Nursing, NAMWC, Montessori Diploma, Norland College Diploma, Princess Christian College, and Chiltern College. We also value teaching qualifications (QTS, PGCE), nursing (RGN, RCN), midwifery, and any relevant Level 3 or above qualifications in childcare and education. First aid certification (paediatric) is considered essential.
Yes — we place nannies, governesses, and maternity nurses in the UK, across EU and EEA countries, and throughout the Middle East (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait). Overseas placements require candidates who are experienced, have an excellent reference profile, and are comfortable working within an international household environment. Learn more about our overseas placements.
Candidates are normally required to attend an in-person interview with one of our consultants before being added to our register. Exceptions may be considered for candidates who have previously held a position with a Niche Nannies client family, or for whom robust remote vetting — including video interview and direct reference verification — can be completed. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances.
Yes — we have a strong register of experienced, professional candidates who are available for UAE-based placements and are familiar with working in the region. We place nannies, governesses, and maternity nurses in the UAE. Please note that we do not supply household staff such as maids, private chefs, drivers, or general ground staff in the Middle East — our focus is exclusively on professional childcare and education roles. Register your family to begin the process.
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