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What is an Au Pair?
The Cambridge dictionary describes an Au Pair as “a foreign person, usually a young woman, who lives with a family and looks after their children or cleans the house in return for meals, a room, and a small payment”. This is indeed an accurate definition, but a rather cold one. In the vast majority of cases, an Au Pair will become almost a member of the hosting family. After a few months living and working with a given family, the Au Pair will normally develop a life-long friendship with the parents and, especially, with the kids. There are thousands of examples of Au Pairs who lived with a family for a few months or a year but then went on visiting that family from time to time for many years. Of course, everything depends on the very individuals involved and therefore there can’t be any fixed rule as to how things will evolve, but the family-Au Pair connection is usually something much deeper than the one described by Cambridge!
The words “Au Pair”
The French words “Au Pair” mean “at the same level”. As so many other foreign expressions, it was assimilated into the English language and from there it has evolved into a multilingual concept which is used nowadys in many languages to describe young persons (usually women) who work for a family “at the same level”. What this means is that the Au Pair is not considered as a servant but as an equal to the hosting family members, a sort of long term guest with obligations and tasks to carry out.
Au Pairs
(25 hours per week) – They normally work for 5 hours per day (Monday to Friday) and baby-sit for up to 2 evenings per week. They must have at least two days free per week and must receive a minimum of £60 pocket money per week. They should also be allowed time off to attend an English Language Course.
Au Pairs Plus
(30-35 Hours per week. EU residents only)
They carry out the same duties as regular Au Pairs, but work for up to 35 hours per week. They must receive a minimum of £70-80 pocket money per week and every extra hour should be paid at £3.50 minumum. They should also be allowed time off to attend an English Language Course.
Mother’s Helps
Mother's Helps are not Au Pairs and are expected to work between 8 and 12 hours per day and to baby-sit up to 2 evenings per week. They must have 1 1/2 to 2 full days free per week and must receive a weekly wage ranging from £95 to £150 per week net of tax and National Insurance contributions. Unlike Au Pairs they are not considered to be on a cultural exchange programme and are therefore classed as employees subject to the minimum wage and families employing Mother’s Helps are responsible for their NI contributions and tax deductions. APNI can provide you with the relevant information if required.
Au Pair and Mother's Helps Qualifications
All the Au Pairs and Mother’s Helps selected by our agency will have fulfilled the following requirements:
- Be aged between 18 and 27/Mother’s Help 18–30.
- Be single.
- Have childcare experience in the form of baby sitting or looking after younger brothers and sisters and many will have had formal childcare training.
- Possess a good basic knowledge of English.
- Have completed high school education to the equivalent of A Level.
- Be motivated and keen. (They want to do a good job, take care of your children and improve their English at the same time.)
- Have a Doctor’s Certificate confirming they are in good mental and physical health.
- Have a valid driver’s licence if a requirement of placement.
- Have passed a personal interview with a senior member of staff.
- Provide childcare, character and criminal record references which will have been carefully checked.
- Have received the Au Pair Network International Orientation Materials.
Nannies
We provide two types of Nanny:
1) Qualified Nannies and Continental European Nannies who possess formal, recognised childcare qualifications (e.g. NNEB, France Auxilliaire de puericultrice certificat petite enfance).
2) Experienced Nannies and Continental European Nannies who have the experience of looking after children but do not possess formal childcare qualifications
Nannies are responsible for the general well being of children, cooking, laundry and general tidying up after them. This may also include school runs. The standard hours are Monday to Friday 7.00/8.00 am until 6.30/7.30 pm. Nannies are generally not engaged in general household duties.
Continental Nannies can also provide support in the foreign language of your choice. Weekends are usually free and if the Nanny works during the weekend, the Nanny should receive an equivalent amount of days off during the week in lieu of this. Holidays are 4 weeks per year excluding Bank holidays.
Live In Nannies
Live in Nannies receives full board and lodging and she must have her own bedroom and television. She normally baby-sits twice a week, which should be arranged in advance. Live in Nannies are paid a minimum of £280.00 to £350.00 net per week. The Nanny’s salary will depend on the working hours and qualifications of the Nanny and is negotiated with the family in advance.
Live Out Nannies
Live out Nannies make their own accommodation arrangements, but are entitled to receive meals whilst on duty with the family. Live out Nannies are paid a minimum of £350.00 to £500.00 net per week. The Nanny’s salary depends on the working hours and qualifications of the Nanny and is negotiated with the family in advance. Baby-sitting is outside the Nanny’s regular employment hours and as such the Nanny will be expected to be remunerated at a rate agreed upon by both parties.
Three month replacement
With Nanny Network International you pay one placement fee. Should the Nanny you select leave at any time during the first three months of her employment you are guaranteed a replacement without having to pay a further placement fee. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.
Au Pair House Work
This list has been produced to give host families and idea of what they can expect from their Au Pair in terms of housework. It is important that these guidelines are taken into account when preparing the Au Pair’s weekly timetable. An Au Pair is a member of a family and should be treated as such.
Suitable tasks:
- Anything regarding the children
- Hoovering
- Sweeping the kitchen and hallway floors
- Preparing children’s meals
- Clearing the kitchen after meals and removing any spillages.
- Cleaning the baths, basins and mirrors in both her and the children’s bathrooms.
- Children’s laundry and ironing (this may include a few adult items, but not the entire adult laundry)
- Putting away children’s clothing in cupboards
- Tidying the children’s room and playroom as well as her own
- Changing the children’s beds
- Emptying the bins around the house
- Emptying the dishwasher
- Walking the dogs
- Light shopping (not weekly shopping)
- Help in preparing family meals and private dinner parties if the Au Pair herself is invited.
Unsuitable tasks:
- Anything regarding adults, such as cleaning up after them or very personal tasks such as putting away clothes, washing underwear, etc.
- Spring cleaning
- Changing parents’ beds
- Cleaning household appliances throughly, such as fridges, ovens, freezers and microwaves
- Cleaning parents’ room and private bathroom
- Cleaning windows
- Dusting and cleaning skirting boards
- Cleaning outside the house
- Watering the garden
- Taking clothes to drycleaner
- Washing the car
- Preparing dinner parties if she’s not invited.
- Polishing silverware and brass, etc.
An Au Pair is here to help a family only, and should not be in charge of a household.
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