What to Do When a Placement Isn't Working

Before you conclude it cannot be saved, a clear-eyed look at whether it can, and how to act either way.

Sometimes a placement that began with promise starts to falter. The fit feels off, issues recur, or something simply is not right. Before concluding that it cannot work, and before acting hastily in either direction, it is worth approaching the situation methodically, because some struggling placements can be repaired, and the ones that genuinely cannot should be ended thoughtfully rather than in frustration.

Start by diagnosing honestly what is wrong. Is it a specific, addressable issue, a matter of communication, expectations, or a habit that could change, or is it a fundamental mismatch of temperament, values, or capability that no adjustment will fix? Many apparent failures are really unspoken-expectation problems: the family wanted something it never clearly asked for, or the professional understood the role differently. Those are often fixable. A genuine mismatch of character or competence usually is not.

If the issue seems addressable, try to address it before giving up. Have the direct, kind conversation. Name the specific concern, listen to the professional's side, and see whether a clear, mutual adjustment resolves it. Give a reasonable, defined period to see if things improve. A surprising number of wobbling placements right themselves once the real issue is finally spoken aloud and both sides recalibrate, and a professional who is good but was simply unclear on expectations may become exactly who you hoped for. It is worth the effort, both for the relationship and because a settled placement is far better than starting over.

If you have addressed it honestly and it is still not working, accept that and act without dragging it out. A placement that is fundamentally wrong does not improve by waiting, and prolonging it serves neither the family, the children, nor the professional. At that point the kind and sensible course is to part ways gracefully and properly, which deserves its own care, on notice, final pay, and a respectful exit, guided by your work agreement and the relevant law.

This is also where a good agency earns its place. If you engaged a firm with a real guarantee, a placement that is not working for performance-based reasons within the covered period entitles you to a replacement search at no additional placement fee, rather than leaving you to start over alone. Our full-year guarantee exists for exactly this situation: it means a struggling placement is not a loss but a covered event, and we conduct the replacement search on your behalf.

The honest truth is that even with rigorous matching, not every placement is perfect, which is why thoughtful diagnosis, a genuine attempt to repair, and a graceful exit when needed, backed by a guarantee, all matter. We help families navigate exactly this moment, salvaging what can be salvaged and, when it cannot, finding the right person without the family bearing the cost of the misfire. This is how we work at Nannies + more…®, on every placement.