Wendy Sjaardema is a CACHE certified Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) with both Master® and Elite™ NCS qualifications and a seasoned Professional Nanny with over 20 years of private childcare experience and was the recipient of the INA 2021 “Nanny of the Year” (NOTY) award.
Over the course of her career, Wendy has provided hands on care for more than 30 families and 40 children as an NCS/nanny and has supported many more as a consultant. She works closely within nanny networks, professional organizations and agencies and is passionate about supporting, training and coaching both caregivers and their employers in the private childcare industry.
Wendy also strives to remain active within the nanny industry as a whole. She has worked as administrator of the Denver Area Nanny Association for over 10 years, leading a group of close to 2000 local nannies. She has also presented for various annual International Nanny Training Days, Newborn Care Solutions “Real Talk” episodes and other speaking engagements in addition to offering her time, experience and mentorship to nannies just starting out in the industry.
Wendy’s company, Nanny Consults, offers targeted coaching for both caregivers and parents with a focus on promoting professionalism within the private childcare industry.
Round Table Discussion: Nanny/NCS Focus
Self-Advocating for Yourself during Contract Negotiations
One of the areas nannies, newborn care specialists and other private caregivers struggle with most is negotiating employment terms with potential families, especially in areas such as contracts, legal pay, guaranteed hours and other industry standards. This round table discussion will establish some basic tools for negotiations and will open discussion about common issues caregivers face when trying to advocate for themselves.