FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR NANNIES AND SITTERS?
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?
WHAT IS YOUR SCREENING PROCESS?
HOW LONG WILL A NANNY SEARCH TAKE?
HOW MUCH NOTICE DO WE NEED TO GIVE TO USE YOUR SITTING SERVICE?
IF I SIGN UP FOR THE BABYSITTING SRVICE, WILL I ALWAYS GET THE SAME SITTER?
HOW DO WE PAY THE AGENCY AND WHO PAYS THE SITTER?
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO RECOMMEND YOUR SERVICE TO A FRIEND OR RELATIVE?
WHAT ARE YOUR BUSINESS HOURS?
PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW NANNY TAXES WORK? WHAT AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING?
WHY CHOOSE COVENANT SITTERS, LLC TO FIND A NANNY/ SITTER INSTEAD OF DOING IT MYSELF?
HOW MUCH WILL A NANNY COST?
WHAT IS A NANNY CHILDCARE/WORK AGREEMENT?
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
1. HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR NANNIES AND SITTERS?
Applicants respond to ads they see from flyers, local parenting magazines, online school career services, career fairs, and brochures posted at places of worship. Quite frequently, nannies and sitters are recommended to our service through word of mouth and from referrals given to us by nannies and sitters already signed on with Covenant Sitters.
2. WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?
Covenant Sitters is a business located in Charleston, SC. We service all the surrounding areas which include: Summerville, Goose Creek, North Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan’s Island.
3. WHAT IS YOUR SCREENING PROCESS?
ALL OF OUR NANNIES/ SITTERS GO THROUGH A SIX-STEP SREENING PROCESS.
1. All sitters must be 18 years of age or older. They all must be high school graduates or have obtained a GED certificate however a college education is preferred, a valid driver’s license, must have reliable transportation, and non-smoker is preferred. All sitters must have prior childcare experience, reliable transportation, speak fluent English and have the legal right to work in the United States.
2. All sitters have completed an extensive, detailed employment application.
3. We conduct an in depth person to person interview with each candidate.
4. All sitters have provided three childcare references and one character reference. References have been contacted by the agency and detailed questions have been asked regarding each sitter. Comments are recorded and placed in each sitter’s file.
5. A Criminal Background check, Driving Record check, Sex Offender’s Check, and Social Security verification is completed on all sitters before they are able to become a member of our pool.
6. Covenant Sitters places follow up calls to all of our clients within a few days after a sit. The purpose of this call is to provide us with ongoing comments and feedback on all of our sitters and nannies.
4. HOW LONG WILL A NANNY SEARCH TAKE?
Most families spend between one to eight weeks interviewing qualified nanny candidates. As soon as Covenant Sitters receives your Nanny Search application along with your application fee, you will be able to start interviewing potential candidates.
Most families will interview on the average anywhere from 1-4 Nannies before making a decision. Some families will end up hiring the first Nanny they interview! We will continue to work with you until you find the right match for your family!
Part-time Nanny positions sometimes take longer to fill due to the majority of individuals seeking positions are looking for full time positions. Never the less, many desire to sit only on the evening and weekends to supplement a full time job.
If you need to return to work and have not yet hired a Nanny, Covenant Sitters will assist you by giving you the option of placing a temporary Nanny in your home until you have found a permanent full time Nanny.
5. HOW MUCH NOTICE DO WE NEED TO GIVE TO USE YOUR SITTING SERVICE?
You can give Covenant Sitters as much as a three-month notice or as little as a seven hour notice. Although, the latter is a more difficult sit to fill, Covenant Sitters has been there to help families with their childcare needs in an emergency. When a sit is called in with less than 24-hour notice, Covenant Sitters does not guarantee that the sit will be filled. We will guarantee that we will try our best and do everything in our power to try to accommodate you. Additional agency fees will apply to all sits called in with less than a 24-hour notice.
6. IF I SIGN UP FOR THE BABYSITTING SRVICE, WILL I ALWAYS GET THE SAME SITTER?
Covenant Sitters will always try to send the same Sitter to you, if possible but that is not guaranteed. We love consistency for your children as much as you do! However, your first Sitter choice may not always be available especially if the Sitter is called in with minimal notice, but we will always try. If you want a guarantee, a part time Nanny might be a better option. In order to have a better chance at always getting your favorite sitter, we ask that you try to book in advance as soon as possible. We also suggest that your family familiarize themselves with 4 or 6 of our Sitters so you have a small group of Sitters you know and feel comfortable with. However, if worst comes to worst and you have to try someone new, don't panic, remember our six step screening process and remember we will be there the next day with that follow up call to see how everything went.
7. HOW DO WE PAY THE AGENCY AND WHO PAYS THE SITTER?
Our sitters are independent contractors and are to be paid directly by the client at the end of each sitting shift by CASH or CHECK. Covenant Sitters never takes any type of commission or "cut" from a Nanny or Sitter's pay, so feel free to tip your Sitter for a job well done! Agency fees are paid directly to Covenant Sitters for our time locating and arranging the Nanny or Sitting services, as well as time, interviewing potential candidates and conducting reference and background screenings. Covenant Sitters accepts check or Debit/Credit for our agency fees.
8. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO RECOMMEND YOUR SERVICE TO A FRIEND OR RELATIVE?
The first step is to have your friend or relative call Covenant Sitters and sign on with our Nanny or Sitting service. Our Sitters are in a signed contract that clearly states for them to not sit for any of our client’s friends or relatives without our knowledge. Covenant Sitters is a local business and if we want to stay in business, this is a policy that must be strictly enforced. If your friend or relative would like to use a Sitter you have previously used and enjoyed, they may call and request that particular individual. This is to be done after Covenant Sitters has received the appropriate paper work and application/registration fees from that particular family.
9. WHAT ARE YOUR BUSINESS HOURS?
Covenant Sitters, LLC is always here to take your sitting requests, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, you may not always be able to speak with us in person when you call. Our clients ALWAYS have access to our voice mail system and our emergency after hours line, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If you leave your sitting request on our voice mail we PROMISE to give you a quick response. We have never let our clients down and we are no t about to start! So call us anytime, day or night and leave your request. We will be waiting for it!
10. PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW NANNY TAXES WORK? WHAT AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING?
Of course we are not a tax agency so you may want to check with your local tax preparer. Our sitters and nannies are independent contractors, so Federal and State taxes are generally their obligation.
11. WHY CHOOSE COVENANT SITTERS, LLC TO FIND A NANNY/ SITTER INSTEAD OF DOING IT MYSELF?
Covenant Sitters has an extremely large pool of qualified applicants. Covenant Sitters will save parents the time of placing ads, answering ad responses, and checking references. In this day and age, it is critical that a thorough reference and background check is completed on each applicant. Covenant Sitters performs criminal background investigations because we understand that parents may not have the resources available to perform this task. Also, do not forget our guarantees! After a match has been made, if the family or the Nanny feels that the relationship is not working out, Covenant Sitters will replace the Nanny free of charge, within the first 60 days.
Additionally, as a benefit of hiring one of our Nannies, Covenant Sitters will offer emergency back up if your Nanny is unable to make it to work for any reason.
12. HOW MUCH WILL A NANNY COST?
The average salary for a Nanny in the Charleston, SC area averages around $400-$900 a week. The average hourly wage for a part time Nanny in the Charleston, SC area averages around $11.00-$16.00 an hour. Please remember each individual situation is different and these are only average or suggested salaries.
Some Nannies may want to bring their own child with them. It will always be your choice whether you will employ a Nanny who will need to bring her own child along. Generally, a Nanny that brings her own child with her will accept a smaller weekly salary than a Nanny who does not bring a child along.
Nanny "finder's fees" or "placement fees" differ from one agency to the next. Covenant Sitters prides itself on being reasonably priced without compromising quality.
13. WHAT IS A NANNY CHILDCARE/WORK AGREEMENT?
Our Nanny Work Agreement is a time-tested tool that clarifies your job responsibilities. When Covenant Sitters, receives this completed agreement from the family you choose to work for, we review it with you and forward a copy for your records. We have found this Nanny Work Agreement solidifies the success of your placement.
14. HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Print out the Nanny or Sitter Application form and Request a Client Contract. Once you complete please fax or mail the forms and make application/ registration payment then we will begin searching for Nannies/Sitters to match criteria. You can also call us at (843) 554 – PURE or email us at info@covenantsitters.com.
