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.'
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