Au pair wanted advice please

ames123_2

Hey,
I'm starting an au-pair job on Monday in Germany. I found the family through aupair-world.net. That site is very good, also greataupair.com. They are not agencies, you put a profile up and can search through au-pairs profiles. Also if you go on mumsnet.com/talk and click on the childcare and au-pair bit then there are lots of useful threads on the subject there.

Good luck. x

poe.tuesday

Rachie_B wrote: »

erm no thats not quite right lol

A Mothers help doesnt have to be live in they can be daily ( or whenever required) ,nor do they have to have to have 1.5 days off !

OP have a look here for info on employing an Au Pair http://www.justaupairs.co.uk/aupairs.htm

HTH

I was employed as a mother's help and all the mohter's helps with the agency that I got my work from were live in and got 1.5 days off, I can only go by my experience and pass that info on

Rachie_B

ames123 wrote: »

Hey,
I'm starting an au-pair job on Monday in Germany. I found the family through aupair-world.net. That site is very good, also greataupair.com. They are not agencies, you put a profile up and can search through au-pairs profiles. Also if you go on mumsnet.com/talk and click on the childcare and au-pair bit then there are lots of useful threads on the subject there.

Good luck. x

Hi Ames,

I recognise you .......

I am rach109 on nannyjob !
Best of luck for Monday :T

Justie

sorry for confusion over tax and NI I was thinking more of my experience of being a mother's help but it doesn't apply to au pairs.

MH's can work any number of hours/days according to what's agreed by MH and the family it's just that as a MH you're not expected to have sole charge of under 5s.

ames123_2

Rachie_B wrote: »

Hi Ames,

I recognise you .......

I am rach109 on nannyjob !
Best of luck for Monday :T

Haha small world! Thanks! x

ruthyjo

Hi - after doing some research elsewhere I concluded that an au pair would possibly be the right way to go for us and fit our needs.

OH is arranging for a builder to come and quote on converting our unused garage (which is integral to the house) into a room with en suite for an au pair. In the meantime if we managed to get someone to come they would have to share a bathroom with the three DCs but this seems to be ok.

I went on mums net and read some of the threads. Concluded that I would not be expecting nearly as much from an au pair as a lot of the posters on there do. Although there are loads of really nice posters I was a bit scared at how harsh some were and have taken a mental vow that if the au pair thing works out I will not be corrupted into someone who whines about slow ironing, eating habits etc

I posted a profile of our family on au pair world and tried to be honest about us all and what I wanted (may have been slightly more positive about us all than normal!). I've had lots of responses but haven't done anything with them yet as I want OH to look.

I've got a couple of questions for everyone.

Firstly I didn't specify that I wanted a female au pair because I didn't feel that strongly. There are few male au pairs on the site but I seem to be getting enquiries mostly from boys/men. I'm guessing lots of families must not want them. I'm now not sure if one would be right for us. It's mostly my five year old daughter I want the au pair to look after and she is very girly. I've found myself worrying could a young lad do her hair, tolerate her fondness for the pink and frilly and her relationship with babies born and annabell etc? I feel so sexist to be worrying about this, as, of course, OH takes all of this in his stride, just as I follow football, watch rugby matches etc for the benefit of my boys. So has anyone got experience of/an opinion on having a male au pair especially for a younger girl?

Second I feel a bit anxious about the whole thing from a safety point of view. There's no real way of screening the au apirs other than by interviewing and getting references. I have experience of interviewing but obviously it's more key when it's someone who I am entrusting to be alone with my children. An agency would cost in the £150-£300 to place someone with us. This is not a lot of money if it ensures my childrens safety (obviously) but I'm not sure that it would actually improve the chances of this. So has anyone got any comments/experience of DIY v agency?

Sorry that was so long btw!

ruthyjo

Just thought - having a male au pair would at least negate the get an ugly one advice I guess!

misfire

My friend has an aupair - she found an online agency and they were really helpful (french aupair - agency was http://www.aupairsbypebbles.com/) My friends au pair lives in (3rd bedroom) and helps with morning school run and afterschool/evenings where needed up to a contacted amount of hours. The aupair also did a english course whilst here.

My friend had contact with the 'aupair' suggested by the agency - she went out to france to meet the aupair before she agreed on having that aupair. Her first aupair was absolutely wonderful and babysat for me on many evenings when she was free. My friend felt she got very good service from the agency - she now has her second aupair with them.

My friend didnt disclose how much she pays but I know she is very happy with this solution for her childcare.

Aupair is a very personal choice - i would just say do your research on the agency and meet the aupair before. GO with your gut insinct on wether you like the aupair as they will (possibly) be living with you and looking after your kids.

Voyager2002

I have had several au pairs in the past, and on the whole my experiences were positive. All placements were arranged through an English language school in the city where I then lived, which meant that they took care of interviewing and obtaining references, and there were no agency fees. The deal that they offered: the au pair worked for a limited number of hours each week, and in return received free board and lodging. No money changed hands in either direction.

I would suggest that you begin by finding out where au pairs in your region go to learn English, and post some adverts there and/or talk to the language school. In some ways it would be an advantage if you could find someone already in this country, who already has some experience working in an English home. But remember that in that kind of situation you would have to carry out all interviews and check all references for yourself.

Rachie_B

misfire wrote: »

Aupair is a very personal choice - i would just say do your research on the agency and meet the aupair before. GO with your gut insinct on wether you like the aupair as they will (possibly) be living with you and looking after your kids.

I agree,you will "click" with some and not others

i think you just "know" instantly whether you could work ( and live!) with them

good luck