Terms and Conditions

The following Terms of Business are between The Maternity Nurse Company (The Agency) and the Employer (The Client):

1. The client will pay the due fee to the Agency upon an offer of engagement being made by the client to the Employee, and being accepted by the latter.  Payment of the fee is due upon this acceptance and not upon the commencement of employment.  Temporary and maternity engagement fees are payable in advance for the proposed contract terms.  All invoices must be paid within seven working days of invoice date.

2. The client will notify the Agency immediately upon any offer being made which results in an engagement.

3. The client will notify the Agency if a Temporary Employee continues after the contract terms, and an additional fee will then be charged up to a maximum of 12 weeks.  Thereafter the fee for a permanent engagement will be payable.

4. The weekly salary is paid direct to the Maternity Nurse. All Maternity Nurses are self-employed for Tax and National Insurance purposes.

5. Maternity Consultants are self-employed for Tax and National Insurance purposes. All consultancy fees should be paid directly to the Maternity Consultant. The agency charges a one-off fee for the introduction of a Maternity Consultant - who provides a consultancy service only. If full maternity duties are undertaken then the weekly Maternity Nurse placement fee will be applicable.

6. The fee charged for an introduction is applicable to one engagement only.  If the client should re-engage an Employee within 12 months of Termination of Employment a further fee will be charged and the Agency must be notified immediately of any such arrangement.

In the case of cancellation of the engagement by the client before the employee has started work, half the proposed fee will be charged by the Agency to the client.

7. A full refund will be made by the agency if the employee fails to take up her duties.  If a permanent employee leaves a UK position within the first eight (8) weeks (the guarantee period), the agency will endeavour to find a replacement within four week's of the nanny's departure.  If a replacement is not found then a 10% refund will be made by the agnecy for each week of the eight (8) not worked up to a maximum of 90% of the total fee.  If a temporary employee leaves a UK position within the initial period, the Agency will endeavour to provide a replacement.  Should this not be possible, then a refund will be made for each full week not worked.

All instances of termination of employment where a refund is claimed must be notified in writing to the agency within three days of the termination of employment.  No claim for refund or replacement is available where payment in full has not been received by the agency within seven days of the invoice date as per the terms of business.  No refund is available where the client requests that no replacement is to be sought.

Clients retaining the services of an employee beyond the guarantee period, however unsatisfactory, paid or unpaid, will recieve no replacement or refund.  There will be a 10% surcharge, per week outstanding, on all invoices not settled within 10 working days of date of invoice.

8. The client will provide the Employee with full written details of salary.  National insuracne and tax details, duties and time off before the engagement.

9. All introductions of applicants by the agency and their details shall remain confidential and must not be passed indirectly to potential Employers or Employees.  A sum equivalent to the full introduction fee will be charged to the employer if this undertaking is breeched.

10. Whilst the agency endeavours to interview personally potential employees and obtain references, it is the employers' responsibility to satisfy themselves as to the suitability of the employee for the engagement.  The agency does not accept any responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, expense delay or personality clashes resulting from the agency's introduction nor do they give any guarantee concerning the suitability of any staff introduced by the agency.  It is up to the client to satisfy themselves in this respect.

All instances of termination of employment where a refund is claimed must be notified in writing within three days of the termination of employment. No claim for refund can be entertained by the Agency where payment in full has not been received by the Agency within ten days of the invoice date.

NO VARIATION TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, MAY BE MADE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PROPRIETOR OF THIS AGENCY