Review our nanny application process, terms & conditions, and frequently asked questions.

 

#1 Application

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Complete the Family Intake Application
Fill out our family intake form, available on our website. 

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Submit the Deposit
Pay the 50% non-refundable deposit to initiate the process.
Once we receive both your application and deposit, we will:

 

After submitting your application and payment, we will schedule a phone intake consultation to understand your family and needs better. We will also send you our placement contract to sign prior to the consultation.

 

These must be complete prior to the consultation

 

#2 Consultation 

During the intake consultation we will discuss:

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• Your children and family 

• Your in-depth care needs

• Ideal nanny

• Nanny industry standards

• Tax laws

• Answer any questions you may have

 

The call takes typically between 45 minutes to an hour. 

 

#3 Placement Process Begins

 

Once the consultation is complete, we will begin the placement process. 

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• Source and screen qualified candidates for the position.

• Conduct thorough interviews of potential candidates to find the best fits for your family. 

• Send you the profiles for qualified candidates for you to read over as they become available. 

• Facilitate in person or video conference interviews between the candidates and family.

• Facilitate a paid trial day with the candidate of your choosing. (optional)  

#4 Placement Process Finishing Touches 

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Once you have the candidate you would like to hire we will continue with the next steps: 

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• Customize the nanny-family employment contract and any edits that need to be made with the family to fit the specific position. 

• Create and send a customized offer letter to the candidate you choose.

• Facilitate any contract negotiations between the candidate and family. 

• Facilitate signing of the nanny employment contract between family and nanny.

• Conduct an exit interview with the family to review their experience with Motor City Sitters.   

         

Please Note :

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• We require families to use the contract provided by the agency. 

• The contract is editable to your family and the position

• Some areas of the contract are agency required and non-changeable 

• A nanny may not start a position until a contract has been signed by all parties. 

   

Services and Fees

 

Placement Fee Include:

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• Family consultation

• Customized family profile and job postings

• Family information packet

• Family-nanny contract

• Payroll and tax resources

• FAQ on industry-standard nanny-family procedures

• Interview prompt (optional) 

• Employment verification

• Background check, including driving record*

• Reference reports *

• CPR & First Aid certified candidates*

• Copy of candidate's application, certifications and interview questionnaire

• At least three qualified candidates for family consideration

• Backup care placement fee waived for the first six months of nanny's employment

Please note - these documents are provided after placement is complete for your records. 

 

Caregiver Screening and Qualifications

 

Screening Process:

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• Thorough background check (criminal records, driving records)

• Verification of references

• In-depth interview to assess experience and suitability for agency

• Further questionnaires to assess suitability for specific position if requested by family. 

Caregiver Qualifications:

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• Relevant childcare experience (Nanny, daycare, Preschool/Teachers, Behavioral tech etc are all backgrounds our candidates may have) 

• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to become certified by start date)

• At least two references

• Over the age of 18  

• Legal to work in the United States

• Proficient in English

• Reliable transportation  

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is considered a nanny?

A: Nannies are typically hired for long-term, regular, and consistent schedules, often working full-time or part-time on a daily basis. Nanny employment is formalized with a contract outlining duties, salary, benefits, and employment terms. Motor City Sitters considers all consistent recurring childcare as a nanny placement.

Q: What is the difference in a part and full time nanny

A: A full time nanny is anyone you need to be available to your family for a minimum of 35 hours per week. Part time nannies work less than that  per week and can have schedules ranging from a few hours one day a week to longer hours five days a week. 

Q: What is the process for finding a nanny through Motor City Sitters?

A: Our process involves an initial consultation to understand your needs, go over our placement process, and discuss the legal and standard practices for employing a nanny, followed by a thorough search and screening of candidates and  interviews to ensure the perfect fit for your family.

Q: How long does it take to place a nanny?

A: The time frame can vary depending on your specific requirements, but on average, the process takes between 4 to 6 weeks. It can of course take less or more time depending on the timeline for the start date, the amount of candidates a family chooses to seek out, and other factors on a case by case basis. We can work within any timeframe you need. We have placed a nanny in as little as 4 days and some palcements have taken close to 8 weeks. It really varies family to family and their specific needs and timelines. 

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Q: How many candidates do I get to choose from? 

A: The number of candidates you receive will depend on how quickly individuals express interest and apply to your position. We send candidates to you as they become available, ensuring you have access to potential nannies as soon as possible. While we guarantee at least three candidates to start, the total number can vary. Some families find the perfect fit within one or two interviews, while others may need to meet five or more candidates before making a decision. Our goal is to provide quality matches rather than a set quantity, helping you find the right caregiver for your family’s needs.

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Q: How quickly do I need to make a decision on a candidate?

A: We recommend making a decision as soon as you find the right fit, as great nannies get hired quickly. While some families decide after one or two interviews, others take more time. To keep the process moving, we require a response within 48 hours on whether you'd like to move forward with a candidate or not. 

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Q: Are your nannies experienced and qualified? 

A: Yes, all our nannies undergo a rigorous screening process, including background checks, reference checks, and verification of qualifications and experience. We require all of our nannies to have professional childcare experience to be placed.

Q: What kind of background checks do you perform on your nannies?

A: We perform comprehensive background checks including criminal records, driving records, and child abuse registry checks.

Q: Can I interview the nannies before making a decision? 

A: Absolutely. We arrange a virtual interview between families and nanny candidates to ensure compatibility and mutual comfort. After the virtual interview many families choose to have a nanny come for a paid trial day or meet and greet. The agency will help schedule and facilitate these. We also will only connect you with nannies that are pre screened and interviewed by the agency to ensure they are compatible with the position. 

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Q: What if I don't like a candidate? Will it count against my alloted candidate total?

A: Yes, if we send you a candidate, it means they meet enough of your basic requirements for us to consider them a viable match. If you decline a candidate for any reason, it will count against your allotted number. The only exception is if the candidate backs out at any point after you’ve agreed to meeting them and an interview has been scheduled.

Q: How do you match nannies with families?

A: We consider various factors including the family’s specific needs, nanny’s experience, skills, personality, and availability to ensure a good match. We send you candidates based off of who expresses interest or applies to the position, their relevant experience and backgrounds, and the families prefrences on their application and family consult. 

Q: What are the costs involved in hiring a nanny through Motor City Sitters?

A: Our fees vary based on the level of placement required. Our placement fee is a one time per placement fee that covers your family no matter the number of children. You can find our fees within this packet or on our website at www.motorcitysitters.com/nanny-placement.

Q: How is the nanny’s salary determined? 

A: Nanny salaries are determined based on their experience, qualifications, and the specific requirements of the family. We will help to negotiate a fair compensation package. Motor City Sitters advocates for an above minimum of the average going rate for the area. Part of the consultation process is assisting families in putting together a fair and competitive compensation package to offer candidates. We do not place nanny jobs that pay under a minimum starting rate of $24/hr for one child.

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• The average nanny with 2-3 years of childcare experience in Metro Detroit makes an average starting rate of $24-26/hr for one child with minimal duties.

• For two children we have found $27-30/hr to be the average range for a position with traditional hours and minimal duties. 

• For three children we have found $28-32/hr be the average rate for a position with traditional hours and minimal duties. 

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We will let you know what a fair market rate is for your position. Nannies qualifications and experience, number of children, job duties, location, special needs, and other factors will affect the hourly rate. 

Q: Are there any additional costs I should be aware of? 

A: Besides the placement fee and nanny’s salary, additional costs may include employment taxes, insurance, payroll service fees, and any benefits you choose to offer to your nanny. We require that families offer nannies sick leave based off the Michigan sick leave laws, as well as PTO of the nannies choice. 

Q: What kind of support do you provide after placement?

A: We offer ongoing support, including follow-up check-ins, contract edits and revisions/yearly renewals, conflict resolution assistance, and replacement services if necessary. 
 

Q: What happens if we are not satisfied with our nanny?

A: We provide a guarantee period during which we will work with you to address any issues or find a replacement nanny if needed. 

If the nanny leaves the position within 30 days of the start date under a signed contract, the Agency will provide a replacement search at no additional cost for up to three additional candidates or offer a partial refund of the second 50% of the placement fee according to the following schedule:

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• Within 90 days: 50% refund

• Within 60 days: 75% refund

• Within 30 days: 100% refund

 

If the family terminates the nanny within 90 days of the start date under a signed contract, the Agency will offer a replacement search of up to 3 candidates at a discounted rate according to the following schedule or a flat 25% refund of the total placement fee:

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Within 90 days: Full placement fee applies

Within 60 days: 75% of placement fee

Within 30 days: 50% of placement fee

Within 14 days: 25% of placement fee 

Within 7 days: 0% of placement fee

Q: Do you provide temporary or emergency nanny services? 

A: Yes, we offer temporary and emergency nanny placements for families in need of short-term or immediate assistance.

Backup Care Fee:

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• In the event the family or nanny terminates the position within 30 days of the start date with a signed contract, the Agency will waive the per-day fee of backup placement for the first 7 days. 

• The backup per-day fee is $30/day for up to 14 days of care, which will be waived if the contract is terminated with the nanny. 

• The backup care placement fee of $30/day is waived for the first six months if your nanny calls off on a standard work day. 

• The Family understands that this fee does not cover weekend care, date nights, or days of care outside the nannies contracted work days and hours. 

• These fees are for placement only, you are still required to pay the backup caregiver an hourly rate at the same rate you pay your current nanny. 

Q: Do you assist with contracts and legal paperwork? 

A: Yes, we include and require families to use a detailed and well laid out employment contract for all of our placements and provide guidance on legal requirements, taxes, and employment laws.

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Q: How do you handle confidentiality and privacy concerns? 

A: We take privacy very seriously and ensure that all information shared during the placement process is kept confidential and used solely for the purpose of finding the right nanny for your family. We also require all caregivers placed by the agency to sign an NDA for every family they work with. 

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Q: We want to pay our nanny cash “off the books”, is that allowed? 

A: At Motor City Sitters, we respect nannying as a profession and expect our caregivers to be treated as professionals. We require all families and nannies to comply with federal and state laws, including those regarding household employee taxes. Paying a nanny "off the books" is not allowed, as it bypasses these important legal protections. If you need help setting up proper payroll, we're here to assist. 

This applies to all families employing a nanny where the nanny makes more than $2800 gross per calendar year or more than $1000 per fisical quarter. 

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Q: What if we end our search with the agency before hiring someone? 

A: If you decide to end your search with Motor City Sitters before hiring a nanny (meaning before an offer is sent to a candidate), you would owe 25% of the total placement fee. This amount represents half of the remaining 50% balance, since the initial 50% deposit is non-refundable. However, if you choose to hire a nanny on your own, we are happy to handle the contract negotiations and contract still for you as part of that additional 25%. 

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Q: Why should we use an agency instead of doing a search ourselves? 

A: Choosing Motor City Sitters to find a nanny instead of doing it yourself offers several key benefits. First and foremost, we save you an average of 20+ hours by taking on the time-consuming tasks of sourcing, vetting, and checking references for qualified candidates.

Our team ensures that every nanny meets our agency standards, so you don’t have to worry about sifting through countless resumes or conducting background checks. Additionally, we provide you with peace of mind, knowing that we are experts in the nanny industry, fully aware of the latest standards, regulations, and best practices. Our background means you can trust us to find the perfect match for your job, allowing you to focus on what matters most—your family. 

 

For any additional questions or to start the nanny placement process, please contact us at info@motorcitysitters.com

 

We are here to help you find the perfect caregiver for your family.