I found a great service; actually, it is a great concept that turned into a great services. It's very simple - nannies on call. 

Parents always need help. If you don't have your family living with you or close by and at your becon call to provide childcare, there is a chance you can take advantage of this service. The Nannies On Call offers short-term and long-term child care solutions. 

When I saw their website I contacted the owner through the information page. I was curious to learn more. Consequently, I am not being paid to write this, but I think it is such a great idea that more people should know about it.

The site was launch in 2001. It was a simple, local nanny referral service. It offered ' 5 nannies and a lot of determination'. Since then in has blossomed in to a nationwide service, that is continuously expanding, with more than 400 qualified child care givers across Canada. The founder, Michelle Kelsey states, " The reality is we never have enough nannies to service the clients we have. We always need more nannies in every city." The service is available in Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, and Whistler. They are constantly expanding. 

The qualified nannies are chosen based on strict criteria and qualifications that are pre-screened. Each nanny is  personally interviewed and has an in-depth reference checks conducted. This part is where parents may breathe a sign of relief. It is very hard to find reliable childcare and screening at the parent level can be difficult. Nannies On Call takes care of this for you. The nannies range in age from 19 to in their 60s. Families are matched with nannies with the appropriate experience and perferrably within close proximity. Parents do have the options to request the same nannie over again if they were happy with the service (if the child was happy with the service). 

The service offers three types of service. Full-time - meaning you need someone for more than 25 hrs a week. There is Part-time - meaning you need someone for a maximum of 25 hrs a week. Then there is Short-term - a set period of time. 

For short-term calls, the service asks for 24-48 hours notice. There are instances where a nannie can be booked within a few hours of arrival but for the sake of organization and fairness it is requested that parents do their best to book within the 24-48 hour window. There is also a much better chance someone will be available to take care of your child if you give them advanced notice. 

The service has a customer service manager who follows up with families for performance management. This is done immediately after a job is complete (during business hours). They are always looking for honest feedback to guarantee satisfaction and help build the quality of service. 

This service is available in your home, but it is also available in hotels, at tradeshows, and other events that may require child care. This is what I think is so great. 

I urge anyone to check them out. I think it is a very promising service because it addresses accountability and reliability, two things that are hard to come by. Their rates are reasonable. I know often parents are looking for a lower rate, and I remember while I was a teenager and I babysat, I did it for ridiculously low amounts. However, now that I am a parent, my most precious posession is my daughter. While I am not independantly wealthy, I am willing to pay for someone to care for her that is safe, screened, reliable, and someone she is comfortable with and likes. I think that sounds reasonable. The Nannies On Call rates are available on their website. 

Next time you're in a bind for child care, pay their site a visit.