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People who take care of children in a family go by many different titles.
(Click here to view DEFINITIONS) Generally, a governess is a childcare specialist who works in a family’s home caring for the children. The work may be full-time or part-time and the governess may or may not live with the family. The governess is an important part of the family support system and serves as a loving, nurturing and trustworthy companion to the children. A governess needs to have special skills in taking care of children as well as a deep love of children. She also offers the family convenient, high quality care to meet the needs of the child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual development. 

Regardless of background, education or age, people who are governesses are all looking for a pleasant working environment with a good family. They may be interested in working for only a few months or finding a position which will extend beyond a one-year assignment.  

Governess Connection encourages all candidates to extend their knowledge and training and has made Paediatric First Aid and C.P.R. a requested skill.


In-home childcare providers go by a variety of different names. The broad definitions and job descriptions listed here should give you an idea of who does what in the in-home childcare field. Governess Connection, to suit South African conditions, has adapted certain definitions:

Baby-sitter: Provides supervisory custodial care for children on an irregular, usually evening, basis. No special training or background expected.
Au Pair (pronounced "oh pear"): Foreign national in South Africa for up to a year to experience South African life. Lives as part of host family and receives a small allowance/salary, helps with housework and childcare. May or may not have prior childcare experience. (Currently, work permits cannot be obtained, which creates difficulties).
Domestic: Lives in or out and works for a family to provide domestic help for families and may take care of children, as part of her duties. Usually works under the direction and supervision of the at-home parent but may be left in complete charge for brief periods. No special training is expected.



A governess may be distinguished from the above definitions of childcare services such as au pairs, babysitters and domestic workers.

A governess is a childcare specialist who works within the family’s home caring for the children, serving as a fundamental part of the family’s lives and acting as a caring and trustworthy companion for the children.

She/he will usually have special skills or a degree related to the care of the children. A certain amount of childcare experience is to be expected from a governess.

At Governess Connection we offer a variety of experienced childcare professionals that are able to work on a full or part time basis either permanently or temporarily.

Childcare professionals at Governess Connection tend to fall into three categories:

1.     Young candidates with babysitting and/or daycare experience who enjoy working with children and who are interested in being a governess for a year or more.

2.     Older, more mature candidates who have raised a family and who are drawn to in-house childcare due to their own personal experience with children.

3.     Individuals who consider themselves to be childcare specialists and professionals. They may have a qualification in: early childhood development, education, remedial training, psychology or they may have completed specialised childcare training. Such a governess considers childcare as a lifetime career rather than a transitory occupation.


Governess’ duties may include:



Interviewing a governess is extremely important and many problems which may later occur in the employer / employee relationship can be avoided if the interview is properly conducted.
If you only remember two things about interviewing let them be these: 1) depend on your intuition and 2) interview twice before hiring.

Your own personal feelings are usually a good source in helping you choose the right governess. Be prepared to ask the right questions to tune in to your feelings. Many items you'll ask about are obvious; questions about experience, training, background, specialised knowledge and driving record are important and should be asked. It's the more personalised questions that will reflect your own priorities and be the key to a successful match. Asking "what if ....." or "what would you do in the case of ....." type questions are often helpful.

When you discuss your expectations about your family's job and describe exact duties, hours, salary, time off, etc, seeing and hearing the applicant's reaction can be a valuable clue. By listening to the applicant's questions about the job you're describing, your family and your children, you are more likely to get a truer impression of her than just following a standard set of questions as you might in a normal job interview.

Observe the governess with your children. How does she interact with them? How do they react? Is she loud or quiet? Shy or outgoing? Do your children like her?

Carefully weigh the information you gather from the interview. Ask the candidate(s) you like best to come back for a second interview. Request that she drive her vehicle for you, if driving is a required duty. Keeping in mind that the governess you select will be spending a great deal of time with your children and some with you, judge your reaction to the governess and listen to your intuition. Remember that she will be privy to your private family life more than most other people. Is this the person you want in your home working with and helping your children?

If you are working with our placement agency, you will receive background information on the applicant referred to you - don't hesitate to double check references.


A) For Parents:
- Before you even begin to look for a governess, make sure you have realistic expectations about in-home childcare. A governess is not going to come into your household, wave a magic wand and make everything perfect. She won't be a substitute wife who will not only take care of the children but also do all the housekeeping, cooking, shopping and other niceties.
- Keep in mind that a governess's primary responsibility is childcare. As much as you might like to have someone to manage your household and look after your children too, your family will be the exception if you find one person who can and will do both jobs well.
- It's equally important that you develop a list of priorities to help you choose the best governess for your family. What qualities are important to you? Training? Flexibility? Enthusiasm? Independence? Good sense of humour? Do you want someone who is young and energetic and able to get down on the floor and play with your children? Would you prefer someone older with more life experience? How much experience and/or education is important to you in the governess who will have responsibility for your child or children?
- Be clear about what specific skills your nanny must have. Does she need to be able to drive? Swim? Cook for the children? Help your children with their homework? Care for a premature infant? Should she know First Aid and C.P.R.?
- Realise, of course, that there may not be one person who fulfils all of your personality and skills criteria, but by considering your priorities you will at least have an idea of the kind of governess you believe will be best suited to your unique situation.
- It's helpful to be aware that your family's needs are likely to change as your children grow older; the governess you want now may be quite different from the one you'll want a year from now.
- Once you've hired your nanny you must establish a good working relationship. This begins with fair terms of employment, job benefits and incentives and a mutually agreed upon work agreement. Your work agreement with the child-minder will define your - and her - expectations about job duties, remuneration, hours and working conditions in the household. Work agreements may vary among families and are likely to change over time; don't forget to target a date to formally review your arrangement with the childminder. As part of our service, we at Governess Connection will draw up a contract based on the most current Labour requirements.
- One of the most important things you can do to foster a positive relationship with your governess is to communicate. Take a few minutes every day, each week (or as often as you can) to talk to your governess about the day's events, your child, her work, etc. Ask her to keep a daily log to keep track of events during the day. Deal with problems as they occur and don't let things fester until they blow out of proportion. Listen to your governess with undivided attention. Keep a clear two-way line of communication going. And above all, express your appreciation often.
- Please remember that working with children is extremely tiring and your governess will require sufficient time off to enable her to renew her energy and avoid burn-out. Most governesses prefer to have weekends off, whenever possible.

                                                Contact us at (011) 442-0722 or e-mail us at childcare@governess.co.za