The job of a nanny and housekeeper requires juggling multiple roles within the same family. Responsibilities involve childcare while ensuring a clean and organized domestic environment. The nanny may even take on the role of a governess. This is sought after by affluent or VIP families to manage both their household and children. This position is a significant pillar on which everything relies in the daily life of a family.
In summary
- Main missions :
- Combining childcare with light housekeeping
- Cleaning
- Laundry
- Meal preparation
- Average salary : $25,000 – $50,000 per year
- Type of job : Private Childcare
- Similar job : Nanny, Babysitter, Housekeeper
What are the tasks and responsibilities of a nanny-housekeeper?
Nanny-housekeepers are primarily responsible for household chores and taking care of children when they are at home. They typically follow a well-established schedule and must have a good understanding of the protocols and habits of the entire family. A housekeeper/nanny should also have strong organizational and management skills. Depending on the employer’s property and specifications, a housekeeper may be required to perform additional household tasks such as meal preparation, picking up children from school, assisting with their academic learning, and taking care of their daily hygiene and comfort.
A full-time housekeeper is generally responsible for all cleaning and laundry tasks. Depending on the size of the property and the employer’s requirements, housekeepers may have one or more assistants to help with daily tasks. The main responsibilities of a housekeeper include:
- Planning schedules and cleaning tasks in different parts of the property
- Performing periodic deep cleaning as well as daily cleaning of the property
- Vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and washing hardwood floors, carpets, and rugs
- Dusting and polishing
- Laundry and ironing
- Regular cleaning and changing of bed linens
- Writing regular cleaning reports
- Maintaining porcelain, crystal, silverware, and silverware (especially in the absence of a butler)
- Keeping an inventory of cleaning products and materials
- Floral arrangement
- Supervising stock and supply operations for cleaning products and supplies
- Potential table service tasks during major events
Additional responsibilities:
- Organizing wardrobes and maintaining organization
- Assisting in decorating the house for special occasions, such as Christmas
- Changing the seasonal layout of bedding and wardrobe
- Preparing rooms and bathrooms for guests
- Supervising and training new service providers
Qualities of a nanny-housekeeper:
Versatility
The job requires juggling between fun and educational activities for children while maintaining the domestic interior. Being present daily and having the ability to quickly adapt to the changing needs of the household are essential skills.
Discretion and trust
Confidentiality and trust are highly demanded by families looking to employ this type of profession. Being at the heart of the home, discretion is crucial, and the circle of trust between you and the employers relies on transparent communication to keep the parents informed and ensure harmonious collaboration between parties.
Children’s well-being
Another primary mission within the home is to ensure the well-being and safety of the children. This includes supervising homework, ensuring each child’s hygiene, and preparing balanced meals.
Impeccable home
Management In parallel, domestic management is your responsibility. Coordinating household chores, laundry, and are integral parts of your daily routine.
What are the skills, education, and qualifications required to become a nanny-housekeeper?
A degree in early childhood education or social services provides a solid foundation in terms of qualification. However, the combination of degrees and significant experience is the best way to secure good opportunities for employment. Practical experience can often compensate for the lack of formal degrees in this skill-focused profession.
- Flexibility
- Empathy
- Communication
- Organization
- Adaptability
- Ability to work under pressure
- Good teamwork To complement these skills, having a first aid certificate is an additional asset for taking on this major role within the households of affluent families.
How to become a nanny-housekeeper?
By starting in either of the two roles, either as a nanny or a housekeeper, you establish the foundations of your professional journey. The beginning of your career can involve specializing in either childcare or household maintenance. Over time and with the accumulation of experience, as well as gaining the trust of employers, you could take on a hybrid role as a nanny-housekeeper.
Remuneration of a nanny-housekeeper:
For this versatile profession, average salaries can vary based on several factors, such as geographical location, the extent of responsibilities, and your experience. In general, the price ranges for a position can fluctuate between 1800€ and 4500€ per month. As your expertise in assuming expanded responsibilities grows, your remuneration can significantly increase. Salaries for experienced individuals can reach and exceed the range of 3500€ to 4500€ per month, recognizing your qualities in this field.
Working conditions of the nanny-housekeeper
The working conditions are similar to those of a traditional housekeeper but with much more extended hours than a childcare role. It is a full-time position that often requires significant availability throughout the day and may extend to evenings and weekends based on the families’ demands.
Depending on the families’ requirements, you may be provided with a vehicle for all job-related travel. Accommodation is generally offered with this position, often within the main property. It is very rare for housing not to be provided in close proximity to the main house if internal housing is not possible.
Flexibility in scheduling and availability remains a crucial working condition in the role of a nanny-housekeeper.
Where to work as a nanny-housekeeper?
The profession of nanny-housekeeper finds its place within affluent families, where the versatility of skills is appreciated. Whether within primary residences, on luxury yachts, or even in vacation properties, your position is not sedentary.
Industries that are hiring
In addition to private homes, the profession also extends to sectors such as luxury hospitality, high-end concierge services, and agencies specializing in the placement of domestic staff. These sectors seek professionals capable of combining childcare and housekeeping skills to meet the high demands of their upscale clientele.
Cities where the profession is most practiced
Cosmopolitan metropolises are often the epicenters of employment for nannies and housekeepers. Dynamic urban centers such as Paris, London, New York, and Dubai offer a growing demand for qualified professionals in the field. These bustling urban hubs attract affluent families seeking high-end services.
Evolution of the nanny-housekeeper profession in recent years
Nannies and housekeepers have become essential members of households, playing a central role in the daily lives of affluent families. The increasing demand for qualified professionals has expanded multitasking skills, providing diverse employment opportunities.
How to hire a nanny-housekeeper with Morgan & Mallet?
At Morgan and Mallet International, our consultants have interviewed numerous housekeepers worldwide, and certain points about their experiences and skills stand out, allowing us to identify a good housekeeper.
Professional experience
Many affluent and UHNW clients seek housekeepers with previous professional experience with other private families. We can identify the type of household they have worked for from their work experience with different clients, understanding the property’s size, their tasks and responsibilities, and whether the household was informal or formal. Clients may also request a housekeeper with experience in a luxury and 5-star hotel, as they prefer their home to be well-maintained, similar to a luxury hotel.
Skills
Housekeepers are frequently asked situational-based questions. It’s essential to understand how a housekeeper would react to different situations, allowing us to identify if they are experienced and possess the skills sought by the client. We can assess the strength of their cleaning skills and expertise with certain cleaning products and equipment.
Commonly asked questions include:
- How do you clean and what types of products do you use for surfaces such as marble, hardwood, glass, etc.?
- What are your daily tasks in the property?
- Tell me about a challenging situation in your experience and how did you handle it?
- Do you cook for your clients? What kind of meals do you prepare?
- And many more
Duties and responsibilities
Every household is different, but common duties and responsibilities of a good housekeeper include cleaning the entire property, managing the wardrobe, doing laundry, ironing, taking clothes to the dry cleaner, dusting and polishing antiques and silverware, floral arrangements, reporting to the client, PA, household manager, or head of household, grocery shopping, and, if requested, cooking.
Character/personality
During the interview, our consultants can determine the housekeeper’s character based on their responses. Whether they are adaptable, active, flexible, work long hours, have good time management skills, good listening abilities, an ability to work under pressure, and have a team-oriented mindset. These are all important aspects to discover if they fit well with the client and their family.
These are the main points to consider and how to identify a good housekeeper. It’s important to keep in mind that every household is different, but at Morgan and Mallet International, our consultants will ask the right questions to find the ideal housekeeper.
