Childminder​/Nanny​/Babysitter

Back-Up Nanny / Childminder / Babysitter

Job Breakdown

• Employer: British Carers (Specialist Emergency & Back-Up Childcare Provider)

• Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

• Salary: Up to £16.81 per hour (Based on experience and qualifications)

• Job Type: Full-time (Salaried 20+ or 30+ hours) or Ad-hoc/Contractor options

• Pay Frequency: Weekly (Paid the same week you work)

• Estimated Average Salary: A 30-hour weekly salaried position at the top rate earns approximately £26,223 per annum before bonuses.

Key Responsibilities

• Emergency Intervention: Step in to provide high-quality childcare when a family’s regular arrangements (nannies, nurseries, or schools) fall through at short notice.

• Adaptable Caregiving: Quickly build rapport with children in new environments, moving between different households and adapting to diverse family routines.

• Safety & Wellbeing: Maintain the highest standards of physical and emotional safety for children of varying ages.

• Mobile Childcare: Commute to various locations within Newcastle and the surrounding areas to meet urgent family needs.

• Reporting: Communicate effectively with the British Carers support team and parents regarding the day’s activities and any incidents.

Requirements

• Experience: A minimum of 3 years of paid childcare experience (OR 2 years of experience plus a formal childcare qualification).

• Certifications: A valid Paediatric First Aid certificate (or a commitment to obtaining one immediately).

• Compliance: An Enhanced DBS check issued within the last 12 months or registered on the Update Service.

• Personal Traits: Extreme reliability, a caring nature, and the professional “flex” required to handle changing schedules and new environments.

Benefits

• Financial Perks: Bonus pay (up to 4 additional hours on qualifying shifts), performance bonuses, and an auto-enrollment pension scheme.

• Commuter Support: Hourly travel pay provided for longer commutes to ensure you are fairly compensated for transit time.

• Flexibility: “Nationwide Opportunities” allow you to take your role with you if you relocate within the UK.

• Inclusive Employer: British Carers is a Living Wage and Disability Confident Employer, ensuring a fair and supportive workplace.

• Rapid Onboarding: Potential to start accepting shifts in as little as two days after a successful application.

Job Description

The Role British Carers is seeking adaptable and passionate childcare professionals to join our Newcastle team as Back-Up Nannies. This is a unique, high-impact role designed for those who thrive on variety and want the security of a salaried position without the monotony of a single-household routine. As an emergency childminder, you are the “first responder” for families in crisis—stepping in when a nursery closes unexpectedly or a regular nanny falls ill. You are the stabilizing force that allows parents to continue their workdays with total peace of mind.

Variety and Professional Growth Unlike traditional nannying, where you might stay with one family for years, this role offers a diverse “portfolio” of experience. One day you might be supporting a toddler in a city-center apartment, and the next, you could be engaging school-aged children in a suburban family home. You will be part of a nationwide network of carers, backed by a friendly support team that is always available to assist you. This role is perfect for a seasoned professional who enjoys meeting new people and prides themselves on their ability to settle a child and manage a household at a moment’s notice.

A Commitment to Carers At British Carers, we recognize that our nannies are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a competitive hourly rate of up to £16.81 and a unique “weekly pay” system—ensuring you see the rewards of your hard work almost immediately. We also understand the logistics of being a mobile nanny; we provide hourly travel pay for longer distances and offer performance bonuses to reward those who consistently go above and beyond for our families.

Who You Are The ideal candidate is a “pro-active problem solver.” You are someone with at least three years of professional experience who doesn’t need a manual to know how to engage a child or manage a kitchen. You are dependable, punctual, and possess the emotional intelligence to walk into a stressed household and immediately lower the temperature with your calm, professional presence. If you are ready to turn your childcare skills into a flexible, salaried career in Newcastle, British Carers is ready to get you started.

British Carers is a specialist emergency childcare provider that has become a key player in the Newcastle upon Tyne domestic care market. Unlike traditional local charities, it operates as a nationwide network focusing on emergency, back-up, and short-term childcare solutions for families whose regular arrangements have fallen through.

Organization & Culture

British Carers is defined by a culture of reliability, flexibility, and rapid response. As an employer, it positions itself as a “modern” childcare agency, offering competitive pay and performance-based bonuses that are relatively high for the North East sector.

Internally, the workplace is described as supportive and community-focused. In 2026, the company is recognized as a Living Wage and Disability Confident Employer, signaling a commitment to ethical hiring and fair treatment. Staff frequently mention the “fast-start” onboarding process, which allows vetted professionals to begin accepting shifts in as little as two days.

Key Organisation Highlights (2026)

Core Operations & Specialist Services

In Newcastle, British Carers fills a critical gap for working families and corporate employees:

• Emergency In-Home Care: Stepping in during school strikes, nursery closures, or when a family’s primary nanny falls ill.

• Specialist Needs Support: Recruiting nannies with specific experience in SEND (Special Educational Needs) to provide continuity of care during emergencies.

• Corporate Back-Up: Partnering with regional employers to offer childcare as an employee benefit, helping reduce absenteeism for Newcastle-based firms.

• Weekly Payroll: One of the few agencies in the region providing same-week pay for completed shifts, which has made it highly popular among the local student and freelance population.

Working for British Carers (Newcastle)

For childcare professionals in the North East, the agency offers a high level of autonomy:

• The “Back-Up Nanny” Role: Employees are expected to be adaptable, as they work across diverse households in different NE postcodes.

• Vetting Standards: Rigorous compliance is required, including an Enhanced DBS check (registered on the Update Service), Paediatric First Aid, and a minimum of 3 years of paid experience.

• Benefits: Beyond competitive hourly rates, staff receive travel pay for longer commutes and are auto-enrolled in a pension scheme.

• Candidate Sentiment: 2026 feedback highlights the “friendly and personal” recruitment team, though some note the unpredictable nature of the work—shifts are often “last minute,” which may not suit those seeking a rigid routine.

2026 Strategic Vision: “The Reliability Standard”

As of March 2026, British Carers is focusing on:

• Technological Speed: Upgrading its internal job board to provide real-time push notifications for families in the Newcastle/Sunderland corridor.

• Professionalization: Offering free training modules to help their “Back-Up Nannies” specialize in early childhood development, moving beyond simple supervision.

• Community Impact: Actively seeking out “Grandnannies” and career-changers in the North East to add life experience to their pool of emergency responders.

Important Distinction: British Carers (the recruitment agency) is separate from Newcastle Carers, the local charity based on Shields Road that supports unpaid family carers.