Unfortunately for us, no nanny position can last forever.
Leaving is never an easy task. But we understand circumstances change.
Are you relocating to another area?
Have you outgrown your position?
Do you want to try another career path?
Whatever the reason, leaving your nanny family is emotional and exhausting. It’s common to feel an attachment towards your chosen family. Over the years, bonds have been built and understandably, it can be hard to let them go.
So, how do you end the relationship on good terms?
In this blog, we’re going to guide you through the steps of how to end a nanny relationship with your household. So you can prepare to leave your position with minimal stress. Ensuring your nanny family has the best experience possible.
This is the number 1 rule when it comes to leaving ANY position!
Finding a suitable candidate takes time. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll want the kids to have the best nanny possible.
Look at your contract to see if there’s a notice period. Normally 1 month is the general rule of thumb. But it’s known to be beneficial to give 6 weeks or more.
TOP TIP: Write a formal letter of resignation and hand it, in person, to both your family AND the agency you’re dealing with (if you have one).
Will it be hard? YES!
Will it be awkward? PROBABLY!
Will it be emotional? ABSOLUTELY!
But doing it in person shows respect, care, and kindness to everyone involved.
How about sitting your nanny family down for a chat?
Be thankful for the time you’ve spent with them, tell them why you’re leaving, and make sure to state your end date clearly.
Since it might get emotional when you end your nanny relationship, write down what you want to say, ahead of time. That way you won’t forget anything important during your face-to-face conversation.
NOTE: Even if you don’t have a strong relationship with your family, express gratitude for at least one thing. This is a time to place opinions aside and remain professional.
Leaving is hard enough without wondering how the kids will be without you!
Knowing how to end a nanny relationship smoothly and worry-free is key. And you can do it with this simple step:
Offer to find someone to fill the new position!
Be open to ‘train’ the new nanny and let them know how things go. You could even offer to lap over your end date and their start date, so they’re able to shadow you in the early stages.
You might even find, if you’re with a nanny agency, they do it for you. For example, if you hand in your notice to Lisa’s Staffing Solutions, we’ll go ahead and start the search for you.
How good is that?
This can be invaluable to the next person to take over your position.
Include things such as the kids’ likes and dislikes, meal plans, local activities, and emergency contact numbers. Basically everything you might want to know if you were a new starter!
We hope this information has made your question of how to end a nanny relationship a little easier to deal with. And if you’re a Melbourne-based nanny, feel free to take a look at our jobs page.
Don’t forget to register with us today to be the first to hear about new opportunities.
We can’t wait to meet you!
