Compassionate Special Needs Nanny Arlington, VA

Full-Time Compassionate Special Needs Nanny Needed in Arlington, VA

Start Date: Mid-March 2026 – April 1, 2026

Schedule:

• Total of ~38 scheduled hours per week
• Monday & Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Tuesday–Thursday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, some flexibility required
• No weekend care required

Compensation: $32–$35/hour
, dependent on experience and qualifications

Please note that a portion of the compensation will be paid through a Virginia Medicaid waiver program. Onboarding will be required, and the family will fully support and assist with this process. Working hours must be logged through a simple online/app-based system (training and guidance provided), and the family will ensure proper setup and accurate payment distribution.

• Overtime pay for all hours worked over 40 per week
• Guaranteed hours
• Two weeks of paid time off annually
• Paid federal holidays, coinciding with the parents work schedule
• Long-term, stable position intended to last for years

About the Family & Position:

Hello Nanny! is supporting a family seeking a compassionate, emotionally grounded caregiver to support their school-aged daughter in a calm, low-demand, relationship-centered home.

The child is neurodivergent and medically complex
, with conditions including PANS, Lyme-related illness, chronic pain, and nervous system dysregulation. These conditions may present as anxiety, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, demand avoidance (PDA profile), sensory sensitivities, and fluctuating daily capacity.

This position offers a unique opportunity to provide highly personalized, one-on-one care
. The ideal candidate will be patient, grounded, playful, flexible, emotionally resilient
, and deeply committed to nurturing trust, co-regulation, creativity, and meaningful connection. Candidates with experience in Floortime, DIR, Positive Development, autism, or neurodivergent care will find this role especially aligned with their skills, though occupational therapy or PANS-specific experience is preferred, but not required.

Care Philosophy

This role is grounded in a relationship-based, connection-first approach
. The family prioritizes emotional safety, trust, and co-regulation over behavior compliance. Care is therapeutically informed and low-demand
, focusing on the child’s nervous system, emotional regulation, and individualized needs rather than rigid routines or behavioral correction.

• Connection over correction: Success is measured by the child’s engagement, comfort, and sense of safety, not by compliance or behavioral metrics.
• Co-regulation and emotional support: The caregiver works alongside the child to model calm responses, support emotional regulation, and navigate challenging moments without escalating stress.
• Flexibility and individualized approach: Daily routines are adaptable to the child’s fluctuating capacity, energy, and emotional state. Visual supports and gentle structure are used to create predictability without pressure.
• Playful, creative engagement: Activities such as imaginative play, crafts, interactive games, and gentle learning are tailored to the child’s interests and needs, fostering joy, confidence, and curiosity.
• Nervous-system-informed care: Understanding that behaviors may have neurological or immune-mediated roots (such as PANS, PDA, or sensory dysregulation), the caregiver approaches challenges with curiosity, patience, and openness, rather than correction.
• Relationship-centered trust: The caregiver nurtures a safe, predictable environment where the child feels understood, supported, and empowered, building long‑term trust and emotional resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing attentive, compassionate, one‑on‑one care
• Supporting emotional regulation, co‑regulation, and relationship‑building
• Structuring the day gently with flexibility (visual supports, light routines, low‑demands approach)
• Facilitating creative play, imaginative role play, crafts, games, and interactive activities
• Supporting participation in online learning or gentle educational activities when appropriate
• Driving the child (using a family‑provided vehicle) occasionally to medical or therapy appointments when tolerated
• Assisting…