Although traditionally a nanny is thought of as a child care professional, these days you see nannies doing everything from assisted care to light housekeeping. A nannies term of service can be from 3 months to many years so the selection process you not be rushed. If you are considering hiring a nanny to care for your child or elderly relative there are a number of important points to consider and tough questions to ask. Here are some pointers on smart nanny selection.

• Work with a reputable nanny agency. They will be able to provide you with employment records, background checks and references.
• Decide if you are looking for a live-in or live-out nanny. Each has benefits such as constant access and no late arrival due to traffic (in the case of live-in) or no invasion of you privacy (in the case of a live-out).
• If you are trying to hire a nanny outside an agency, be certain the person is able to work in the country where you live to avoid messy tax implications.
• Always make certain the person you are considering has passed a background check and has no criminal record.
• Most of all, personally contact all references. It is time consuming, but it is important to get another employers impression of the nanny you are considering. Ask questions about character, honesty, integrity and most of all interaction with the person for whose care they were responsible.