Do you require papers before accepting a nanny or helper in the house?

I think that is really very important. I mean, we can't just let someone in our house without knowing them more than their first name. Right now, I'm waiting for her to fill out the clean paper I provided for her to write down her details. It's been 2 hours and she hasn't written anything on it. Last night, when I asked her about her educational attainment, she said she only finished Elementary or Grade School. I would suppose she knows how to read and write, having finished grade school. I should just probably ask her straight if she can write.

Yes, we need to do it. If she is an old lady or aged 50 around, we can trust for some reasons. However, if they are unable to read or write, you can write in your own hand-writing or type the matter printed and read it out for her approval. In which you can mention that: I, (name) reisiding at(address details with cont. no.) is willingly and voluntarily intersted to wrok for (your name) and I am understood to do the assigned works form (date). I will take care of the belongings with care and do my best service for your satisfaction. If you can draft a letter like this and can read out for her and get her signature on the paper alongwith a photograph. She also will be awere of it and if possible, give a photocopy to her for her record. This will be a double side safety for any legal (to an extent for simple formalities) and such things are very strict here in our place as many problems are taking place with household workers. Many elderly poeple got killed by the house-maids (man or boys alongwith ladies also). So, do appropriately without hurting them, which will be good for you and the nanny. Also, if the nanny is coming from any nearby place, you can confidentially make an enquiry also that the given address is true and correct. My sister did it for her satisfaction when she hired a nanny for her household help.

Wow, that's a very formal letter draft you got there. Perhaps, I'll just have her dictate to me the basic details I need such as her full name, parents name, home address, and contact number of her folks for emergency cases. By the way, she's young at 17.

You are right it is good to have some paper work on them but mostly how they get along with you, your kids. Does that persons personality fit in with what you want and what you need not only on a piece of paper but how they present and act around you. Just looking at some kind of document isn't good enough for me because anyone can say anything they feel like on a paper and it not be true.

I like what you say about a person's character more than what the paper says. That's true. And of course, when things go bad, the information you have on whatever identification documents you got from them would be very helpful. If they faked it, at least the police could have somewhere to start with. There have been a few cases here in our place, that housemaids or nannies would steal from them, and when they reported the incident, they found out that information on the forms submitted were falsified. I actually have considered not having a nanny anymore, because on my experience, they are just a pain more than help. I'll strive to manage everything. Im sure I can adjust little by little, day by day.

I haven't really offered to give SSS membership to my nannies. I wanted to, for those who would stay for at least a year, but none of them have stayed longer than 9 months for various reasons. I think the medical would be necessary, though, because you need to know that they don't carry any contagious disease bigger than a simple cough and cold.