The safety of children is central to why Nora’s Lantern exists. This policy explains, honestly and specifically, what we currently do to support that — and, just as importantly, what we don’t do, so parents and guardians know exactly what to rely on us for and what remains their own responsibility.

Before a nanny’s profile is published, a member of our team reviews the documents they’ve submitted: a CV, a verification photo, and evidence of their right to work in the UK. We check that these documents are present, appear genuine, and are consistent with the profile information given. Approval is recorded as a visible “Admin Verified” badge on their profile.

This is a human document review, not a criminal records (DBS) check. We do not currently run or verify DBS/enhanced DBS checks, and no profile claims otherwise. If a nanny lists a certification or qualification (e.g. first aid, a DBS certificate they hold themselves) on their profile, that’s a self-reported claim — clearly separated from our verification badges — not something Nora’s Lantern has independently confirmed.

We review documents again if a nanny updates their profile significantly, and right-to-work documents with a known expiry date are tracked internally so they can be re-checked before they lapse.

Our review is a meaningful first step, not a substitute for your own judgement. Before engaging a nanny, we recommend:

• requesting and checking their own DBS certificate directly;
• speaking to references yourself;
• confirming qualifications directly with the issuing body;
• meeting and interviewing the nanny in person;
• trusting your own judgement above any badge on a profile.

See also our Terms & Conditions, Section 6.

If something doesn’t feel right — about a nanny’s profile, a conversation, or anything else on the Platform — please tell us. Every nanny profile and every message thread has a Report button that goes straight to our team, not to the other person.

You can also email us directly at littlelantern@hotmail.com.

If a child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services on 999 (or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000) first — our review process is not a substitute for that, and is not designed to respond in real time.

Every report is reviewed by a trained member of our team. Depending on what we find, we may:

• request more information from either party;
• place a nanny’s profile under review while we look into it;
• suspend a nanny’s profile, immediately if the concern is serious;
• suspend a parent’s account, for concerns about their conduct;
• refer the matter to the relevant authorities, where we believe that’s appropriate.

We keep a record of every report and the action taken, and we aim to give the reporter an outcome once our review is complete, where we’re able to share one.

A suspended nanny’s profile is immediately removed from search and can’t be messaged or booked, while remaining visible to our own team for the duration of the review. A suspended parent account loses the ability to message nannies or unlock contact details. Suspension is a protective measure while we look into a concern, not automatically a final finding — a suspended account can be reinstated if our review doesn’t substantiate the concern.

We’ll update this page as our verification process changes — for example if we add real DBS integration in future. The “Last updated” date above will always reflect the current version.