Nanny Agencies Form New Association
Following a successful meeting at the offices of PANN in Derby on Monday 29th March, the 30 UK wide nanny agencies present took the decision to form the Association of Nanny Agencies.
The purpose of the meeting was to learn about the new ‘Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003’. Steve keeler, Investigations Manager, Employment Agency Inspectorate, DTI gave an impressive presentation on the new regulations. However, the agencies present (from all over the UK) were alarmed to discover that the regulations failed to recognise the very many differences between nanny agencies and other employment agencies. The minimum standards required under the new regulations did not go far enough to satisfy the agencies present. Dismay was expressed that, even after consultation with bodies purporting to represent the nanny agency industry, there is still no legal requirement in the regulations to carry out face-to-face interviews with prospective nannies. Numerous other areas of concerns were raised.
Tricia Pritchard:
“It is hoped that by forming a new Association, agencies will be able to share knowledge and expertise and offer support to each other on a non-competitive basis.
It was agreed that there is a need for an Association that reflects the specific needs and understands nanny agency practices.
The initiative was proposed by the agencies themselves and will give agencies the opportunity to access information, exchange and influence strategies and to access resources currently either not available to them or not yet known to them. Sharing information is critical in the promotion of childcare quality standards.
The feeling was very much that what is already out there by way of support to the industry is not representative of the industry. Reasons stated for not joining other bodies were: too costly, no local input encouraged, low minimum standards, faceless, and a clear lack of understanding when representing the industry to organisations such as the DTI”.
The new Association will be run on a purely voluntary basis to begin with. It will be administered initially by PANN. It will be free to join and membership is available to all nanny agencies – large and small.
Agencies who join will be free to fully participate. They will be encouraged to contact each other on a regular basis, keeping up to date with regulation and matters of interest. Sharing ideas of best practice, gaining access via PANN to accurate information, and will hopefully develop good working partnerships.
Hasi-Peto Dias, Eden Childcare:
“This is a challenging and exciting venture which will raise the profile of the nanny agency industry. It is formed out of frustration that currently nanny agencies are represented by organisations that represent only a very small number of nanny agencies yet speak on our behalf. Being non-representative of the industry has put us at a disadvantage particularly under the new regulations.
We want an Association we can be proud of, take ownership of. One, which allows us to build trust and relationships with our competitors in a non-competitive way, and one that offers us personnel development improving our own knowledge and skills”.
For more information, contact Tricia Pritchard, Professional Officer, PANN, 2 St James’ Court, Friar Gate, Derby DE1 1BT. Tel: 01332 372337 or email: triciapritchard@pat.org.uk |