The company said that out of 849 agencies nationwide it had surveyed over the past 12 months, only 213 passed its test, while 338 failed outright.
Best Bear assessed the agencies with its 'Helen Test' - having an experienced, qualified nanny pretend to be a girl who is both inexperienced and unqualified and whose only childcare experience is with her sister, but who wants a position involving the sole charge of children. Best Bear found that some agencies were willing to send her out on interviews, having only spoken to her on the telephone and without verifying essential references.
The company added, 'Some agencies put business before child safety and suggest dangerous embellishments to a childcarer's experience. Many agencies have an inadequate understanding of the business, including a worringly negligent knowledge of necessary qualifications such as the NNEB.'
Sally Harrison, director of Best Bear Childcare, said, 'Despite the results of the survey, there are obviously good agencies out there that really care about the safe placement of childcarers, and thankfully we now know who they are.' However, she declined to name any names 'because legally we're not allowed to name agencies' and added that if Best Bear did so, 'agencies could sue us over loss of earnings and reputation'.
Ms Harrison described the statistics as 'frightening' and called for the Government to 'clamp down on bad agencies'. 'Until such time as agencies are regulated, either by the Government or through a self-regulation scheme, we will continue to provide this service to parents,' she added.
She said, 'We are trying to show the good side of childcare. The Government needs to clamp down on bad agencies, and we support anyone who helps to keep good agency standards.
'We want to work with all other agencies working to improve nanny agencies.'
However, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which represents employment agencies, including some nanny agencies, was unimpressed by the survey. Elizabeth Elder, chair of REC's childcare division, said, 'The consensus here is that their methodology is not terribly professional and, as such, has no credibility.
'We don't think the so-called "Helen Test" is a sufficiently professional basis on which to put a list of reputable nanny agencies together.'
A spokesman for the Department for Trade and Industry said it would investigate if Best Bear passed on its findings. He added, 'Any agency not abiding by the law would be subject to prosecution. Best Bear should contact our employment standards helpline so that we can take it further.'
