Frequently Asked Questions...

Is each sitter police checked?

Many of the sitters are school teachers/childminders who have already been CRB checked within the last 2 years prior to joining the agency, in these circumstances an original is seen and a copy is taken for our records.

If they have not got a current CRB check, the agency insists they obtain one before joining the agency.

We also take a copy of photo id (driver’s licence/passport) again to support their application.

What is meant by qualified/experienced in childcare?

Our sitters come from a wide range of back ground, some are school teachers, some childminders,  others are parents themselves, We do occasionally accept sitters who are studying at college or in a non childcare field but only if they can provide excellent references to support at least 2 years babysitting experience.

Can I meet the sitter beforehand?

Some of our new parents ask if this is possible before leaving their children especially for the first time. In these circumstances we would recommend that you request the sitter to arrive at your property 30 minutes earlier  to allow you to meet them (which will need to be paid for), run through any routine and meet the children. Please remember each sitter has been carefully selected and interviewed before joining the agency.

How much notice is needed to book a sitter?

Whatever notice you are able to give us, some parent’s book well in advance. Others with a couple of days, we also get requests with sometimes only a couple of hours notice and will always try and organise a sitter for you.

Can I have the same babysitter when I book?

We will always attempt to contact the same sitters for you, however due to sitters personal commitments they may not always be available so families tend to get familiar with a few sitters. The more notice you can give us for bookings the easier it is to secure a requested sitter for you.

Do I need to drive the sitter home or pay extra for travelling?

No, each sitter has their own transport and can make their way to and from your property.

What is the earliest and latest I can have a sitter?

As a rule the earliest for a sitter to start is 7pm, this is due to either the sitter having day time jobs or having their own family commitments. However if you do need a sitter earlier sometimes with enough notice we are able to deal with.

With regards to a finish time we do appreciate an approx finish time for 2 main reasons, one is that security reasons the sitter can tell their own family what time they are due home, also some sitters with young children themselves are only happy to sit up until mid night, however other sitters are quite happy to stay out as late as you wish.

How do I pay the agency and the babysitter?

To become a member of the agency please download and complete the Word document registration form and email it back to us, or download, print and complete the PDF registration form and post back to us. Booking fees are invoiced monthly via email and paid by PayPal or cheque.

You would then pay the sitter cash at the end of the evening. It is 3 hour minimum booking and after that rounded up per half hour. (ie 7pm till 11.15pm would be rounded up to 4.5 hours).

Is there a cancellation fee?

There is no cancellation fee if a sitter has to be cancelled within office hours .(Mon to Fri 9 to 5pm). Any cancellations made out side these hours will incur a cancellation fee of £10.00 which will be paid to the sitter.

Please note that the booking fee is non refundable once a sitter has been allocated to you and you have been advised that this has been done.

When is the office open?

The office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (closed Bank Holidays) however if I am out of the office during these times there is an answer machine which is checked regularly.

How do I make a booking through the agency?

You can call, email or text us, whichever is best for you.

When you make a booking it is helpful for you to advise us to the date required, start time and approx finish time. I will then allocate a sitter and advise you who it will be.  One or two days before the booking the sitter will call you direct to introduce themselves and confirm the start time etc.

Can I make a one off booking with you?

For people visiting the area and only needing a one off sitter then this can be arranged without needing to fully register with us, generally at a hotel. Please contact us for current rates.

What happens when I am on holiday?

When I am on holiday a lady named Maria Hawkins runs the agency for me, Maria is a valued sitter who has been with the agency since 2004. The agency will continue in exactly the same way without any inconvenience to sitters or parents.

We only deal in written references where a letter is sent to two referees. We will wait to obtain satisfactory replies back before we will allow a sitter to undertake any work through the agency. The referees must have known them a minimum of 2 years, not be an immediate family member and be able to comment on the babysitter’s skills and abilities with children.