DIFFICULTIES in juggling a career with providing a clean, safe home could be a thing of the past, thanks to a recruitment agency set up by two friends.

Debbie Griffiths and Rachel Davies (pictured) set up the Griffiths Davies Recruitment to specialise in providing office staff.

But now they have branched out and offer a nanny sourcing agency and a Lifestyle Recruitment Division.

The recruitment company, which was started in October 1998, operates its Nanny Agency from the company's two existing home offices in Newport and Cardiff, and its service covers the whole of South Wales.

Ms Griffiths said: "Childcare issues are paramount to any working mum. I've just had a baby myself and have found it difficult to find a nanny. In addition, I have been concerned that many nanny agencies I spoke to during my search were happy to provide me with home addresses and telephone numbers of potential nannies within two minutes of my initial inquiry. No-one made a search on me or came to visit me to check me out."

Up until now, nannies who wished to find employment had to undertake their own police checks and present the findings to prospective employers, if, even, the employer bothered to ask for it.

Ms Griffiths added: "I would never send a nanny to a house without first having acquired a police check. Neither would I consider employing a nanny myself who could not present me with it.

"Even so, these are not guarantees, and this is why we are determined to provide a nannying service whereby we thoroughly check references and backgrounds as much as is possible.

"We will also visit the homes of those looking for nannies. We aim to protect both the nanny and the employer."

The other new venture, the Lifestyle Recruitment Division, is set up to meet the demands of busy professionals, said Ms Davies.

She said: "Working people today, with much greater demands on their careers and family lives, don't wish to be burdened with additional responsibilities in the home. "Working people are prepared to pay people to make their life that much easier. We aim to become the one-stop shop for all domestic staff needs."

The GDR Lifestyle Recruitment Division will provide a range of staff, including housekeepers, mothers' helps, cooks, gardeners, general handypersons, dog-walkers, cleaners, house-sitters, drivers and dinner party helpers.

Ms Davies said: "Staff will be available for one-off occasions to long-term situations, and again, as with GDR Nannies, all staff will be strictly vetted before being placed on GDR's books.

To contact GDR phone 02920 911 020 or 01633 613926.