• Why should I use Dedicated Domestics agency?
   

• Dedicated Domestics has over 12 years of experience and is committed to finding the most caring and responsible Nannies, Babysitters, Housekeepers, Child Caregivers, Eldercare providers and other in home staff in Orange County California.

• Our agency can provide you with the peace of mind you should have when you invite potential candidates into your home.  We personally pre-screen all of our candidates and provide you with resumes and photographs.  No "Internet Only Option".  While they can fill out the application online, all candidates are personally interviewed at our office.  

• You save the time and energy of having to sort through hundreds of resumes posted online looking for relevant information.  We are family owned and operated so we know what your needs are and have narrowed the selection of applicants to only the best of the best.

• You save time answering phone calls at all hours, in response to ads.  Do you really want to give out your phone number to complete strangers? 

• You save the cost of advertising and tracking multiple invoices from online services, news papers or classified listings.  Not to mention your limited time spent on searching, writing ads, sending emails and constant follow-up.  

• Your safety is preserved by not having to open your home to meet with complete strangers. Our office is available for you to conduct private in-person interviews or we can send the pre-screened candidates to your home or office.  When possible, we suggest the first interview be held at our office.

• We will take care of every last detail for you from the moment you call us requesting information until
  your placement is finalized.

• Dedicated Domestics also offers you a replacement guarantee in the event that your original hire does not work out.

• We are also here as your domestic resource, so our relationship does not have to end once you have
  hired. We are here to answer any of your questions regarding the domestic field.
   

• How do your services and fees compare with other agencies?

Most agency fees in Southern California are based on one month (which is approximately 8.3%) to 18% of the employee’s gross annual salary. Dedicated Domestics fees are very competitive and based on the service and needs of our clients.

 

Dedicated Domestics and Nannies offers services designed to meet the needs and budgets of all our families.

 

Please call us now for more information about our services and fees. You will be glad you did. Call 949-612-1900.

• How does Dedicated Domestics screen its candidates?

The screening process begins the moment the candidate comes through the door. All candidates must apply in person and are required to fill out a detailed four page application. We will interview the candidate in-person and select only the most caring and qualified candidates for possible introductions to our families. Applicants that are either unable to or unwilling to meet our criteria are not selected so we do not waste a families time.  Before a candidate can begin a new job the following requirements will be completed:

• CPR / First Aid Certification

• Criminal Misdemeanor and Felony Background Checks

• Reference Verification

• Fingerprinting and Photo

• Copies of Licenses and/or Identification Cards

• Sex offender list check

• Social Security validity check

• TB Test Results

• Trustline Registration
   

• Are Dedicated Domestics’ nannies and caregivers CPR and First Aid certified?

Yes. Dedicated Domestics makes sure every nanny (infant/child) and caregiver (adult) has the
appropriate certification before their start date.
 

• Does Dedicated Domestics provide me with a criminal background check?

Yes. Upon hiring a candidate you will receive a criminal misdemeanor and felony background check prepared by an independent professional information agency and when applicable a current DMV report will also be provided.  The background checks will be run for each county and/or state in which the candidate resided. 

 

• What is the Trustline Registry?

Trustline was created by the California legislature to offer parents, employment agencies, child care
provider’s and child care resource and referral programs access to a background check conducted by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). This includes checks of the Criminal History
system and Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) at the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and a check of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records. The Trustline Registry is maintained by CDSS.  As required by California law, Dedicated Domestics will ensure that all nannies are registered or have applied for registration with Trustline prior to starting work.  Trustline generally takes about 4 to 8 weeks for results.
 

• How do I start the process with Dedicated Domestics?

 

The first step is as easy as calling one of our experienced placement counselors. We will walk you through every step of the process to see that all of your needs are met. We will ask you about what your family needs so we can determine the type of help that will be best suited for your specific situation. We will give you a copy of our Agency Agreement for you to approve and sign.  We will be introducing you to several candidates that have been pre-screened to fit your criteria. For your convenience the interviews can take place by appointment at your home or place of business. Next, you will be provided with an interview package including the candidate’s resume with letters of recommendation and a questionnaire to help guide your interview. When you select a candidate that you like you can make an offer or we will help you with the process. Salary negotiations should be done directly with the candidate since it is ultimately up to the candidate to accept a specific salary for a job. Next, once you have selected the candidate, made the job offer and taken care of the Agency referral fee, we will arrange for the background checks through an independent information agency. You will then be given all the reports and any other applicable paperwork. Lastly, you can set up a start date for the candidate to begin.
 

• Why do some agencies charge a registration or membership fee and others do not?


Most established full service agencies will charge a registration or membership fee to insure that they are working with serious clients. The registration fee is usually just a small one and reputable agencies will generally reimburse the charge if you hire from them.  We believe that we have some of the best candidates in the industry and offer the best services, so getting started with Dedicated Domestics is free.

 

Dedicated Domestics has developed a large pool of thoroughly screened, hand selected applicants, with the highest level of qualifications and experience available.  Our database of high caliber candidates is second to none.  Dedicated Domestics is the only agency to be voted into the APNA in Orange County.  Our reputation for only working with the most caring and qualified candidates, has attracted the best of the best to us.  We have the strictest standards for applicants insuring the best for our families.  We will not send a candidate on an interview until we have met with them personally first, and unlike some, our definition of “personally” means face-to-face.  If we won’t hire them for our own family, then you won’t meet them.

 

• I have a special needs child. Does Dedicated Domestics have candidates that can fit my
  requirements?

Yes. We have candidates with a broad range of experiences to fit the needs of all our families.
 

• Is Dedicated Domestics licensed and bonded?

California law does not require referral agencies to have any special license other than a business
license. Our business license is clearly posted on the wall of our offices. Only employees working for an agency can and should be bonded. Do not be misled by advertising claims, referrals do not work for an agency and therefore can not be bonded by the agency. 
 

• What is the range of salaries?

This is the most frequent and always the hardest question to answer, since the range of salary varies so greatly with the level of experience, requirements of the position and the hours needed.  Nannies and Caregivers with advanced degrees, licenses and specialty training will almost always command a higher salary.  Whereas, if your needs are limited you can sometimes find someone in the lower range of salaries.  Listed below is just an approximate sample of what you might expect for some popular full time  (40 Hours per week) live-out positions:

 

Nannies / Sitters:		$ 12.00 to $22.00 per hour*
Mothers Helpers:		$ 10.00 to $14.00 per hour*
Housekeepers:		$ 12.00 to $25.00 per hour*
Elder Caregiver:		$ 12.00 to $20.00 per hour*

 

Nannies with college degrees or specialized training who are required to help with homework or tutoring may be somewhat higher than the above salaries.  Nannies with less skills, do not drive or do not speak English well, may be willing to accept less.

 

* The above salaries are just approximates based on what candidates are asking for and what families are currently offering in Orange County.  No agency can set the salary for candidates.  The final salary is up to what the family is willing to pay and the candidate is willing to accept.  Like every other industry, salaries are based on "supply and demand".  The more candidates looking for work the less a family has to offer to find a suitable match.  However, while currently there are many people looking for work, good candidates are harder to find which enables them to command higher salaries.

 

Salaries for House Managers, Chefs, Chauffeurs and other household staff are of course commensurate with their experience and skills.

There are many factors that go into quoting salaries and we want to make sure that no one is misled.   

1. The number one reason is supply and demand.  There are many nannies, housekeepers and other workers in Orange County looking for a job, but there are very few good ones who have the qualifications, experience, reliability and documents that we require.

2. It is estimated that about half of the domestic workforce in California are undocumented workers.  Generally, but not always, undocumented workers will charge a little less for their services just to get a job.  Years ago it was not as big an issue as it is today so some of the older agencies in Orange County still thrive off placing undocumented workers.  The family pays the same finders fee to an agency to run a meaningless background check on a person that doesn't have a real Social Security card, Identification card or may not even be using their legal name.  But, you may save $50.00 per week.  At Dedicated Domestics we require copies of the original documents before we will accept anyone for a job.  We also give copies of all the documents and background checks to the family upon hiring so they can see what has been done.  As an additional precaution we take photos and fingerprints of every candidate before they start a new job.  We are not trying to make a political statement by requiring that our candidates are legally allowed to work in the U.S.  We are just an old fashioned family and when it comes to caring for children we believe it is not worth the risk to save a few dollars a week. 

3. Have you ever heard of the term "Bait and Switch"?  It is easy to quote unrealistically low prices to get you to sign up with an agency and then suddenly no candidates are available in that range.  Candidates set there own rates so of course we will have some applicants willing to work for more or less than what we have quoted.  We are just giving families the averages.

4. Some agencies have quoted families one rate and told the Nanny another higher rate.  After the Nanny receives her first paycheck the truth is revealed, but by then the agency fee has already been paid.  At Dedicated Domestics we will assist with the negotiations but we encourage nannies and families to talk freely about the job offer.  We also provide our nannies with a written confirmation of what the final agreement is so there are no misunderstandings.

• What type of work schedule is customary?

Schedules are even more varied than the salaries. It is best to have a clear understanding with your new employee by setting up a written agreement listing details of the job, the hours and days required. Or if the schedule needs to be flexible, list the minimum and maximum time that the candidate can expect. The more you can communicate in advance as to what is expected the better.

• What are your requirements at Dedicated Domestics?

• You must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in the field you are applying for.

• You must be fluent or able to communicate well in English.

• You must have at least 2 verifiable work references.

• You must be a US citizen or legally authorized to work in the US.

• You must have a valid Social Security card.

• You must be honest, responsible and reliable.

• If driving is involved: you must have a valid drivers license with a clean driving record.

• If childcare is involved you must be registered with "Trustline".

• I am a job Candidate.  How do I apply?

Click here to APPLY NOW

If you have any questions that we did not answer here, please call us and we will be happy to provide you with excellent service.

 

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Dedicated Domestics is a proud Member of the International Nannies Association (INA)

Dedicated Domestics is a proud member of the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies Only the most professional Nanny Placement Agencies in the country belong to the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies. We are also proud to be the only Nanny Agency to be accepted as a member of the APNA in Orange County California

 

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Dedicated Domestics and Nannies
14 Corporate Plaza, Suite 120
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Ph:   949.612.1900
Fx:   949.612.1998
info@DedicatedDomestics.com

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