Nanny Agency JobsIn a nanny job, “live-in” describes accommodation associated with the role. To understand the offer, you still need to read the schedule, duties and housing details separately. Where you stay does not, by itself, tell you when your working day starts or ends.
Start with the representing agency’s full posting. An NAJ card summarizes that posting, so a detail missing from the card may already be available at the original source. NAJ’s guide to reading an agency posting explains what to check before deciding on your next step.
Separate the address from the working day
Read the posting twice: once for where you would live, then for what you would do and when. Keep the answers in separate notes, even if the advertisement combines them in one sentence.
For accommodation, look for a description of the space and when it is available. For the working day, look for start and finish times, working days, breaks and any overnight responsibilities. If the wording does not answer your question, mark it as unclear rather than filling the gap with an assumption.
“Live-in” is not a complete description of daily coverage. Equally, “ROTA” needs its own explanation: a rotation arrangement still requires separate checks on daily coverage and housing. See NAJ’s ROTA guide for that distinction.
Find out what accommodation includes
A room description can help you picture the arrangement, but it may leave practical questions unanswered. Prepare questions about privacy and shared spaces that would affect your decision:
- Is the bedroom private? Which bathroom would you use?
- Which kitchen, laundry and living areas are shared?
- What expectations apply to use of those spaces during off-duty time?
- Is accommodation available on days off and between working periods?
- If the family travels, where would you stay, and which housing details change?
Be specific about what you need to understand. “Is the bathroom shared?” is easier to answer than “Is the housing good?” Keep personal preferences separate from details the posting actually promises.
For ROTA roles, British American Household Staffing describes both live-in and live-out arrangements. Its examples include accommodation in the home, a guest house or nearby staff housing, and it distinguishes lodging during a rotation from accommodation available between rotations. These are BAHS examples; check the terms of the particular role you are considering.
Use a housing-versus-hours worksheet
Copy the exact wording from the original posting into the middle column. A blank space means you still need an answer, not that a particular arrangement applies.
| Separate check | What the posting says | Question to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Record the space described. | “Which facilities are private and which are shared?” |
| Daily hours | Record stated start and finish times. | “When does responsibility begin and end each day?” |
| Off-duty time | Record any stated arrangements. | “What expectations apply when I am off duty?” |
| Housing between working periods | Record when accommodation is available. | “Can I stay here during my days off or between rotations?” |
| Duties | Copy the actual task list. | “Which tasks does this phrase include?” |
| Travel | Record the travel wording. | “What schedule and accommodation would apply while traveling?” |
Use the agency’s instructions to decide when and through which channel to raise your questions. You can prepare the worksheet now even if the answers belong in an interview later.
Try it with a sample brief
Invented sample brief, for practice only: “Live-in nanny. Private bedroom. Tuesday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Children’s meals and laundry. Some travel.” This is not a current vacancy or a typical schedule.
You can record the bedroom, stated hours, days and listed duties. You still cannot tell whether the bathroom is shared, whether the room remains available on days off or what accommodation applies during travel.
A focused question would be: “The brief mentions a private bedroom. Could you clarify which facilities are shared and whether the room is available during days off?” Keep the separate travel question in your notes so it does not disappear into a general conversation about housing.
Before you take the next step
Check that you have:
- Read the original agency posting and application instructions.
- Separated accommodation from hours, off-duty expectations and duties.
- Identified questions about privacy, shared spaces and travel.
- Checked accommodation during and between rotations, if relevant.
- Described your experience accurately; live-in experience alone does not establish ROTA experience.
Next action: Complete one worksheet for a role you are considering and circle the missing answer that would most affect your decision. Follow the representing agency’s process from there; NAJ does not accept applications.