Au Pair wanted - Suffolk

ickster

I have two children (aged 2 and 8 months old). I would love an au pair but have no idea how to get a good one. I know there are lots of agencies but I would much prefer a personal recommendation. Does anybody have any tips they could pass on?

Thanks !

black-saturn

I'm in Suffolk also and have never had an au pair but a friend of mine has one every time she has a new baby (she has 4 children so far). She's got a big house and plenty of money and doesn't work but still has one. She originally found her from a magazine called 'The Lady' which you can get in most newsagents.

misfire

My friend has an au pair - she is a fab girl and babysits my son when i need someone.

I will try and find the agency name - i know my friend had to fill out a very detailed form and then was put in email/phone contact with the au pair and then my friend and her older child went over to meet the aupair in france before they agreed to have this aupair (plus gave the aupair chance to back out if she didnt like the family) the agency was really good gave my friend lots of info on how to make the aupair feel at home and they also suggested that the aupair join this aupair network thingy where they are put in touch with other local aupairs.

here is the agency http://www.aupairsbypebbles.com/

I know my friend was very happy with them but i would also say go on your gut feeling - use your instincts as you can never be too careful where your children are concerned. (my friends kids are a bit older than your to they are 6 and 9)

Justie

The Lady is a good place to get agencies and to place an ad if you want to do your own. Be very clear about what you want from an au pair and how s/he will fit into your family, there usually have restricted hours of work and they are not usually expected to take sole charge of very young children and certainly not for long periods of time. If you get one then try to think about his/her social life, ways for them to get some language training or other education are good ways of them meeting other people and so being less dependent on you. Make sure they can drive and work out how much it'll cost to have them insured on your car and can you spare the car for him/her to use it in their off time? And think about what it'll be like to have a teenager in the house at the same time as young children - you will be expected to be in loco parentis to a certain extent...

ickster

Thanks for your advice. I am still at home but may return to work for 2 or 3 days. Thought an aupair would be company for me but the thought of having a teenager scares me! Maybe a part time nanny would be a possibility. Not sure if it is appropriate to approach the local college who do childcare courses. Also, do nannies help with the house/ cooking? Not looking for a slave but somebody who would cook for the children, hoover, put the washing on.

black-saturn

ickster wrote: »

Thanks for your advice. I am still at home but may return to work for 2 or 3 days. Thought an aupair would be company for me but the thought of having a teenager scares me! Maybe a part time nanny would be a possibility. Not sure if it is appropriate to approach the local college who do childcare courses. Also, do nannies help with the house/ cooking? Not looking for a slave but somebody who would cook for the children, hoover, put the washing on.

As far as I know the au pair my friend has never looks after the children without my friend being there too. She doesn't have sole charge of them. She also doesn't do any housework. She's employed just to lend a hand with the children. Neither will a nanny help with housework. She/he will be employed to look after the children only but will be able to have sole charge. A childminder also won't do housework but will normally look after children in their own home.

Justie

ickster wrote: »

Thanks for your advice. I am still at home but may return to work for 2 or 3 days. Thought an aupair would be company for me but the thought of having a teenager scares me! Maybe a part time nanny would be a possibility. Not sure if it is appropriate to approach the local college who do childcare courses. Also, do nannies help with the house/ cooking? Not looking for a slave but somebody who would cook for the children, hoover, put the washing on.

sounds like you need a 'mother's help' more than an au pair but that's hard to tie in with childcare for such young kids. In general you'll pay more for childcare for under 5s and that's because you should have someone trained to be in sole charge of little ones. You may be better off with a child minder for the childcare while you're at work and then some help round the house separate to the childcare.

Rachie_B

some nannies are happy to do housework so long as its not to the detriment of the childs care !

best bet is to put some ads out and see what responses you get
https://www.nannyjob.co.uk
https://www.gumtree.com
https://www.netmums.com

are all good and i have gotten my 2 nannying jobs and 1 mothers help job from placing ads there

it depends what you want TBH

an au pair lives in and doesnt generally have much childcare experience ,
most come to the UK to "learn english" and you must allow them time to study ,maybe attending a local college etc to learn about the country etc

"Au-Pairs should work for no more than 25 hours a week over 5 days, plus two evenings of babysitting. Au-Pairs get paid pocket money of no less than £55 per week . During a school holidays, she/ he can be asked to work more hours. However, extra pocket money must be offered according to the working hours." taken from http://www.aceaupairs.co.uk/page2.html

whereas nannies are usually more experienced / qualified,and have sole charge,but the rate of pay reflects this

Like suggested if you were going to be there and therefore no sole charge needed, a mothers help would suit you better

good luck

Rachie_B

black-saturn wrote: »

A childminder also won't do housework but will normally look after children in their own home.

A childminder looks after children in his / her own home NOT the childs home

ickster

Thanks you guys. Seems I cannot afford to return to work as a sole charge nanny is likely to cost more than my after tax earnings. Wasn't aware most au pairs are not left insole charge. I of course expected to pay for her to attend the local language school etc but could only justify the expense if I could go out and earn too. Oh well, back to the drawing board!!

Fizog

You could go for a nanny share which is cheaper. Be warned Nanny only looks after children and child associated work ie children's washing and ironing - children's meals- children's room cleaning.....and they are expensive.