Choosing and Having an In-Home Care Provider: a 6 step process
Step 5: The contract and business side of things
When eliciting the services of an in-home care provider it is always advisable to have a contract regardless of your relation to them, how many or few hours they may be providing you service, or how smoothly your previous interactions have been. Some families I have worked with in the past have voiced the opinion that a contract takes a comfortable friendly relationship to a cold and professional level and have felt uncomfortable with the idea of having a contract. Others have felt that it suggests an atmosphere of distrust. To these concerns I state the following: paying someone to take care of your children IS a professional relationship, even if it is a family member, close friend, or a long known neighbor, they are providing a service and you are compensating them for it. As to the notion of creating an atmosphere of distrust, it has been my experience that by taking the time to discuss the what-ifs and voice expectations and concerns and together composing a contract that trust is in fact built, rather than destroyed.
A very basic in-home care provider contract will include the following:
- Job description: use this space to discuss specifically what you expect your care provider to do and what limitations you prefer. Your care provider may communicate that they prefer not to be responsible for laundry or housecleaning which is not directly related to the care of your child or perhaps you prefer that the care provider refrain from household chores so as not to distract from the care of your child. Make time to openly discuss with your care provider what your expectations are and what responsibilities they are accustomed to handling.
- Compensation agreement: clearly communicate your agreed upon rate, your payment plan (daily, every two weeks, on a specific date each month, etc.), and how payment will be made (cash, direct deposit, check, etc.). Also take this time to communicate your plan in the event of missed care days by either party. Will you provide compensation for time when you are taking a family holiday? Are you providing compensated sick or holiday time? Take this time also to discuss how taxes will be handled; some in-home care providers are registered as self employed and handle their own taxes and will be able to provide you with a service receipt, for others you will take on the same responsibilities as any other employer.
- Duration of service: if, in the case of a long term nanny, babysitter, or mother’s helper, you do not know when you will be discontinuing services, have a contract renegotiation date set for 3, 6, or 12 months following the start date. It may be that your needs will change or your service provider may wish to make a change or two to your arrangement, this predetermined time will create a time and space for these topics to be discussed. If you wish to continue services it is simply a matter of reprinting your previous contract with a new date range. Be sure to include a clause and plan of action if either party should need or desire to discontinue care.
When composing a contract be prepared to go through a few drafts before all topics have been clearly stated and agreed upon. Many basic nanny contracts can be found on the internet. I would suggest looking over several examples and composing your own based on the examples rather than downloading a standard which may not be tailored well to your particular needs. If you are hiring a nanny from an agency or a postpartum doula they will typically have a basic service contract which specifics can then be added to. Once a contract has been composed and agreed upon by all parties, print enough copies so that each party can retain a signed hard copy for their personal records.
A clear and well composed contract can be the starting point for a long and healthy family/care provider relationship so do some research, perhaps seek the advice of other parents who have composed contracts, and take your time.
The following are links to a few examples which can be found on the internet:
http://www.childcarebackground.com/documents/NannySampleWorkAgreement-CBRC_000.pdf
http://www.sittersservice.com/providers/_docs/sample_nanny_contract.pdf
http://newmomnetwork.com/index_files/Resources.htm
Next week’s article will be the sixth and final in this six part series on choosing and having an in-home care provider.
Return next week for Step 6: The Relationship and Saying Goodbye.
About the author
Celina Wigle is a Postpartum Doula and Infant Multiples Relief Nanny. Since 2000 she has provided care for over 60 families as a nanny, babysitter, mother’s helper, teacher, and doula. She received a degree in writing from PSU in 2006. More about her background and services can be viewed at www.celinawigle.com