Fawn & Fern's Placement Process
Finding the right nanny or household manager is about much more than filling a position. It’s about welcoming someone into your home and trusting them with the daily rhythm of your family. At Fawn & Fern, the placement process is thoughtful, thorough, and designed to make hiring a caregiver feel manageable and stress-free.
Founded by a mom and former nanny and household manager with more than 15 years of experience, Fawn & Fern understands both sides of the relationship. The goal is always to create placements where families feel supported and caregivers feel valued.
What you can expect when working with us:
Initial Reach Out
Families begin by reaching out through our contact form. This first step allows us to learn the basics about your household, your childcare needs, and the type of support you’re looking for.
Next, expect an email from us with a questionnaire to fill out - this will go deeper into your values, your expectations, and what you are seeking in household support.
Whether you’re searching for a full-time nanny, part-time caregiver, or a household manager to help keep your home running smoothly, we’ll begin gathering the details needed to guide the search.
Consultation
The consultation is where we take time to understand the unique needs of your family. During this conversation, we’ll discuss:
• Your children’s ages and routines
• Schedule and coverage needs
• Responsibilities for the role
• Parenting philosophy and household values
• Experience level you prefer in a caregiver
• Any household management tasks you’d like support with
• Compensation range and benefits
This step allows us to build a clear picture of the type of caregiver who will truly thrive in your home.
Position Design & Guidance
Many families are unsure what responsibilities should fall within a nanny role, newborn care specialist, part-time help, or household manager role. We help clarify expectations and refine the job description so it attracts the right candidates.
We also provide guidance on industry standards, including:
• Competitive pay ranges
• Guaranteed hours
• PTO and sick leave
• Holidays
• Payroll and tax requirements
Our goal is to set both families and caregivers up for long-term success from the beginning.
Engagement Fee
After the consultation, families are asked to submit a $250 nonrefundable engagement fee to officially begin the search process.
This fee demonstrates your commitment and allows Fawn & Fern to dedicate time and resources to finding the best caregivers for your household. The amount is applied toward the final placement fee once a caregiver is successfully hired.
Candidate Search
Once the role is clearly defined, we begin searching for qualified caregivers within the Fawn & Fern network.
Every candidate we introduce has been carefully screened. Our vetting process typically includes:
• Detailed application review
• Professional childcare experience verification
• Reference checks
• Interviews to assess experience, communication style, and childcare philosophy
• Background screening (done at the final stage of hiring)
We focus on candidates who are not only experienced but also aligned with your household values and family dynamic.
Candidate Introductions & Interviews
Families receive a few thoughtfully selected candidate profiles that highlight each caregiver’s experience, strengths, and personality.
Rather than overwhelming you with dozens of applicants, we prioritize quality over quantity and present candidates who are strong potential fits.
Families can review profiles and select candidates they’d like to meet with. Fawn & Fern will
help coordinate interviews. These conversations allow both the family and caregiver to learn more about each other and ask important questions.
Sometimes families like to do a video call with each candidate, followed by an in-person working interview or trial day, which can be a helpful way to see how a caregiver interacts with your children and household routines.
We remain available throughout this stage to provide guidance and feedback.
Hiring Support & Placement Fee
When you’ve found the right fit, we assist with the final steps of hiring.
This may include:
• Reviewing compensation and benefits
• Confirming schedule expectations
• Discussing start dates
• Helping outline a work agreement
• Providing guidance on payroll and tax compliance to ensure everything is set up correctly and professionally
Our goal is to ensure expectations are clear and the hiring process is smooth for both the family and the caregiver.
At this step, the final placement fee is due. This confirms your commitment and allows Fawn & Fern to officially close the search for your role.
At this stage:
• Your selected candidate will no longer be sent on additional interviews with other families.
• The caregiver’s profile is officially reserved for your household.
• The final placement fee secures your placement and applies any previously submitted engagement fee toward the total.
Ongoing Support
All caregiver placements are backed by Fawn and Fern’s Happiness Guarantee. If a placement doesn’t work out for any reason, the team will help you find a replacement—offering a 60-day guarantee for long-term hires and a 30-day guarantee for temporary placements.
Our relationship does not end once a placement is made. Fawn & Fern remains a resource for both families and caregivers as the relationship develops.
Should questions arise, we’re here to help guide communication and support a positive long-term partnership.