FAQs
General
Are all carers / sitters police checked?
Yes, all carers and dog walkers are DBS checked (Disclosure and Barring Service, formerly CRB) and over 21 years old. We also have a very thorough screening process and always follow up on references.
How do I make a booking?
Once you have filled out the registration form, you can make bookings for both babysitting and home-sitting online, by email, or just give us a call and we’ll do it for you.
Can I have the same sitter/dog walker each time I make a booking?
We understand the need for you and your children to have consistency. We always try to book your preferred sitter when you make a booking and if you require a regular booking each week then we will find the same person for you. For ad hoc bookings, if your preferred sitter is not available, we will always try to find someone who you’ve had before. Please bear in mind the more notice we get, the more likely we can book your preferred sitter.
How do I know when you have found someone for my booking?
Once we have found a suitable team member to allocate to your booking, we will send you an email confirming your booking with their name, the date and the time of the booking. A link will be sent so that you can view their profile and find out all you need to know about them. You can also view all of your bookings, both pending and confirmed on the website.
Will I be charged a booking fee even if you can’t find me someone?
No, you wouldn’t be charged a booking fee if we were unable to find you someone. We only charge you if we have found you a suitable child carer/ sitter.
How much notice do you need if I want to book a child-carer or home-sitter?
We understand that life happens and these services can be required at the last minute, so we do our best to facilitate last minute bookings. Therefore there is no minimum notice period, however, the more notice you can give us the better so that we can find your preferred child / sitter.
How do I pay the sitter?
You pay by cash (or BACS transfer if agreed by the sitter) at the end of the booking
What if a booking ends before or after the nearest hour?
If the clients arrive more than 30 minutes before the end of the session we kindly ask that the full duration is paid for. Where the client arrives more than 30 minutes after the duration of the booking we kindly ask that you round the fees up to the nearest half an hour.
How do I pay The Forbes Partnership?
We take payment by debit/credit card through online payment processing. The membership fee is processed in advance via Direct Debit and the booking fees are taken as and when you make a booking. For temporary or permanent placements, the placement fee is taken once the nanny/ sitter or dog walker is confirmed for the job. You will always be emailed an invoice for your records. Please note we do not store any card details.
Do I need to pay for a taxi home for the babysitter/home sitter?
This is not necessary for bookings ending before midnight, but we kindly ask that you offer to pay for, or contribute towards, a taxi for bookings ending after midnight. Please note that we always try to book someone as local to you as possible to keep any taxi costs to a minimum on late bookings.
How much notice do you need if I want to cancel my booking and is there a fee?
For babysitting bookings;
The more notice you can give us the better. There is no fee owed to the child carer for cancellations made in advance. However we charge a fee of £10 for bookings cancelled more than 24 hours after the time of booking.
The more notice you can give us the better. There is no fee owed to the child carer for cancellations made in advance. However we charge a fee of £10 for bookings cancelled more than 24 hours after the time of booking.
If you need to cancel the child-carer within two hours of the booking start time we kindly ask that you pay them 1.5 hours of work as per the hourly rate (50% of the minimum time). If the child-carer arrives at your home we kindly ask that you pay them the minimum amount of three hours. We do not refund the standard agency booking fees. For temporary and holiday nanny bookings we will refund 50% of the agency fee if the booking is cancelled before the start date.
For home-sitting bookings;
There is no fee owed to the sitter for cancellations made in advance. However we charge a fee of £50 for bookings cancelled more than 24 hours after the time of booking.
If you need to cancel the sitter within two hours of the booking start time (for sessions under 12 hours) we kindly ask that you pay them 6 hours of work as per the hourly rate (50% of the minimum time). If the sitter arrives at your home we kindly ask that you pay them the minimum amount of 24 hours. We do not refund the standard agency booking fees. For home sitting bookings of 24 hours or more we will refund 50% of the agency fee if the booking is cancelled before the start date.
Can I give feedback?
Yes, we really appreciate those who take the time to feedback on their experience with us, both positive and negative. You will be sent a feedback request each time you have a new sitter so you can let us know how your booking went. We always pass good feedback onto them, and deal with any negative feedback. If you have any suggestions for improvement regarding our services we welcome those too.
I need a temporary/part time nanny/dog walker/sitter, can I meet them beforehand?
Yes, with all longer term bookings (including part time nannies, permanent nannies, holiday nannies, school holiday nannies) we recommend that you interview, or skype interview the candidate. You will be able to view the online profiles of the suitable candidate/s beforehand so that you can decide whether you would like to meet with them. A temporary nanny is a nanny placement of three months or less.
Do you offer a refund on the agency fee for permanent positions if it doesn’t work out?
On the rare occasion that a permanent position doesn’t work out for the family and/or candidate, we will refund 50% of the finding fee if it is cancelled within six weeks from the start date.
What happens if an ad hoc child carer is hired on a permanent basis?
If a client decides to take on a candidate in a permanent position, the agency charges a finding fee equivalent to five weeks of their net salary plus VAT. (Minimum fee £500 for childcare and home sitting engagements)
Why is there a minimum booking fee of 3 hours for home sitting and babysitting bookings?
3 hours ensures it is worthwhile for the team member when their travel time is taken into consideration.
Why is there a minimum booking fee of 1 hour for dog walking bookings?
The minimum booking fee is 1 hour for dog walking as it ensures it is worthwhile for the team member when their travel time and rate of pay is taken into consideration.
As a sitter/ carer would I be responsible for applying for a DBS (formerly CRB)?
Yes, all of our team members are responsible for making their own application and paying for them. If you’d like to apply for a DBS please contact us and we will help you to apply for one.
Further questions
If you still have any questions please either call us on … or email us at enquiries@theforbespartnership.co.uk
Dog walking
What happens if a dog walker has a problem?
Dog walkers are selected to react sensibly to emergencies and if advice or extra help is needed they can contact our office, We encourage clients and dog walkers to exchange phone numbers and/ or email address to communicate where necessary.
What happens if I think a dog walker is unsuitable?
his is very unlikely, but for your peace of mind we expect the assigned dog walker to call and introduce them self as soon as possible and you could meet them as well (this must be agreed to and organized between client and dog walker); then if there is any problem you can telephone us and we will re-select.
Should you anticipate workmen being present during the placement, You must brief us at the time of booking. With full details of this and the likely disruption to the household, we can then provide a suitable home sitter.
Why does my dog need to wear a GPS tracking device?
This is to safeguard, in the unlikely event that a dog was lost this would enable you to locate him/ her.
How can I be sure that my dog will be happy with the dog walker?
When you book, we will ask for information on your dog’s requirements. We then select the appropriate dog walker whose abilities, experience and attitudes match your requirements. and you can meet the dog walker as well (this must be agreed to and organized between client and dog walker); so you can see how your pet reacts to them.
Are all dog walkers police checked?
Yes, all dog walkers are DBS checked (Disclosure and Barring Service, formerly CRB) and over 21 years old. We also have a very thorough screening process and always follow up on references.
Can I have the same dog walker each time I make a booking?
We understand the need for you, and your pets to have consistency. We always try to book the team member you prefer when you make a booking and if you require a regular booking each week then we will find the same person for you.
How do I know when you have found someone for my booking?
Once we have found a suitable team member to allocate to your booking, we will send you an email confirming your booking with their name, the date and the time of the booking. A link will be sent so that you can view their profile and find out all you need to know about them. You can also view all of your bookings, both pending and confirmed on the website.
How do I pay The Forbes Partnership?
We take payment by debit/credit card through Stripe online payment processing. The membership fee is processed in advance via Direct Debit and the booking fees are taken as and when you make a booking. For temporary or permanent placements, the placement fee is taken once the nanny/ sitter or dog walker is confirmed for the job. You will always be emailed an invoice for your records. Please note we do not store any card details..
I need a temporary/ permanent dog walker can I meet them beforehand?
Yes, with all longer term bookings (including part time, permanent, holiday roles of any service provided we recommend that you arrange to meet and interview, or ‘video call’ interview the candidate. You will be able to view the online profiles of the suitable candidate/s beforehand so that you can decide whether you would like to meet with them. A temporary placement is a placement of three months or less.
What happens if an ad hoc dog walker is hired on a permanent basis?
If a client decides to take on a candidate in a permanent position, the agency charges a finding fee equivalent to five weeks of their net salary plus VAT.
Why is there a minimum booking fee of 1 hour for dog walking bookings?
The minimum booking fee is 1 hour for dog walking as it ensures it is worthwhile for the team member when their travel time and rate of pay is taken into consideration.
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Home sitting
What will the home sitter do while he or she is there?
The home sitter will live in your home to safeguard the security of the property. He/she will keep the areas of the home that they use clean and tidy; will water houseplants; take telephone messages; deal with callers/ deliveries made; provide light garden maintenance, and care for all pets according to your instructions.
If you want the home sitter to take on additional tasks it is imperative that these are discussed with us from the booking stage to ensure that we make the most appropriate selection. There may be an additional charge for such tasks. The Forbes Partnership cannot accept any responsibility for activities outside those stated on our Terms and Conditions and detailed on the confirmation of booking.
What if someone else is going to be present during the home-sit?
Normally it is not our policy to accept responsibility for a property where other people are resident during our home sitters placement– the security of the property and its contents is lessened if more than one person has responsibility for opening windows and unlocking doors. However, we are happy to discuss special arrangements if we are given full details at time of booking. We do not offer nursing care.
Should you anticipate workmen being present during the placement, You must brief us at the time of booking. With full details of this and the likely disruption to the household, we can then provide a suitable home sitter.
What happens if a home sitter has a problem?
Home sitters are selected to react sensibly to emergencies and if advice or extra help is needed they can contact our office, We encourage clients and home sitters to exchange phone numbers and/ or email address to communicate where necessary throughout the placement.
What about food and living expenses?
The client is not expected to pay for any food or other living expenses for the home sitter.
What happens if I think a home sitter is unsuitable?
This is very unlikely, but for your peace of mind we expect the assigned home sitter to call and introduce them self as soon as possible and you can meet the home sitter as well (this must be agreed to and organized between client and home sitter); then if there is any problem you can telephone us and we will re-select.
Will the home- sitter be unaccompanied throughout the whole placement?
We instruct all home sitters not to invite anybody else into the client’s home, however with the clients permission the sitter may bring his/her partner (which some clients are happy to allow).
If I have a pet how can I be sure that my pet will be happy with the home sitter?
Most of our Home sitting team become home sitters because they miss the company of pets and welcome the opportunity to care for animals. When you book, we will ask for information on your pet’s requirements and normal routine. We then select the appropriate sitter whose abilities, experience and attitudes match your requirements. and you can meet the home sitter as well (this must be agreed to and organized between client and home sitter); so you can see how your pet reacts to the home sitter. You can then go away confident that your pet will be safe and happy in their home.
What happens if my return is delayed?
The home sitter should not vacate your home until you return (unless this has been authorized with the client through our office).
Should the delay be so unusually lengthy that our home sitter is unable to remain in residence, he/she would notify us and we would arrange a suitable replacement to take over if necessary.
Should the delay be so unusually lengthy that our home sitter is unable to remain in residence, he/she would notify us and we would arrange a suitable replacement to take over if necessary.