What
is an Au-pair?
The
Au-Pair arrangement offers a good opportunity for girls & boys
from Western and Eastern Europe to learn a new language whilst living
as a member of a resident native speaking family. Au-Pair applicants
are usually available for a minimum of 6 months. There are a number
of au-pairs who want to come for approximately 2 months during the
summer holiday period.
Age
& Duties
Most
Aupairs are between 18 and 27 years of age.
An
Au-Pair must be prepared to help their host family with general
light housework and to help with young children for upto five hours
per day, or a maximum of 25 hours per week. In addition, 2 evenings
babysitting per week would be reasonable. It cannot be too strongly
stressed that au-pairs are not trained nannies or domestic servants,
they should not be expected to take sole responsibility for children
or household duties. Several weeks "training" may be
necessary before s/he can do their share of the light housework.
During school holidays, an Au-Pair may be asked to look after
children more when the mother is working. Families are expected to
compensate for this either in pocket money or free time. However,
aupairs should never be expected to work excessive hours.
An
au-pair plus is an au-pair who does more than 25 hours a week for
extra pocket money.
What
Countries do they come from?
Au-pairs
come from many countries, it is very important you check that there
is an au-pair agreement between your two countries and they are
legally allowed to be an au-pair in your country.
Further
details in the members area.
Free
Time and Conditions
The
Au-Pair should be given free time daily to study or to pursue other
interests. Two whole days a week must be completely free and any
evenings when babysitting is not required. S/he must have thier own
room where they can study in comfort, however the Au-Pair must also
be made to feel that they are welcome to share in the social life of
the host family, as if s/he were a member of it. Not to do this may
lead to an au-pair becoming very homesick and lonely and eventually
lead to them wishing to leave the family.
Language
Tuition
Most
au-pairs wish to follow a language course, usually for a few hours
2-3 times a week. This may take the form of private lessons or group
classes at a private language school or technical college. Au-Pairs
are responsible for their own fees, but it is extremely helpful of
the family to assist them in finding the most suitable and convenient
classes. Remember that the Au-Pair's attendance at classes legally
takes precedence over their work for you, but obviously it is
sensible that the girls' classes are at a time that is convenient to
the family, both from the point of view of them getting there and
back and from the point of view of the cost of those classes to the
au-pair. For example, the au-pair is responsible for their own fees
but if the family wishes them to attend in the evenings or at non
normal times it would only be right for the family to pay the extra
cost between the basic morning or afternoon classes and those in the evening.
Pocket
Money
In
the UK, The Home Office recommends from £50 per week, this must
be paid on a weekly basis to the Au-Pair. Au-Pairs staying with
families in country areas who have to travel quite far to language
classes should receive above the "standard" pocket money to
offset the cost of bus or train fares to their classes. An au-pair
plus normally earns approximately £75 depending on the hours. We
have also been advised by the Home Office that it would be reasonable
for the family to give the Au-Pair two weeks notice when wishing to
end the Au-Pair arrangement prematurely. Pocket money will be
approximately the equivalent in all countries.
Invitation
and Travel
Once
your family has decided to have an Au-Pair and you have selected a
girl/boy, they will need a letter of invitation from you, giving them
details of your family, their duties, free time and pocket money.
Au-pairs are responsible for their own travelling expenses. It is
understood that the family will meet the au-pair from a major airport
or mainline railway station.
Police
Registration
A
student from a non ec country must inspect their passport stamp on
arrival as it may require that s/he reports to the Police at the
Aliens Registration Office within seven days of their arrival, taking
with them their passport, two passport sized photographs and a fee of
approximately £34 (UK price). In England, Au-pairs from EEC
countries need only apply for a permit of residence when they have
been in England for almost six months and wish to remain longer. They
must then obtain Form Eec1 from the local Job Center. Au-pairs are
responsible for their own registration fee and should be advised of
this at the time of invitation. Au-pairs should check with their
local Embassy or Consulate for the country they are going to.
National
Insurance & Health care
In
the UK, this is not paid for an Au-Pair. Most Au-Pairs can be
treated under the N.H.S., although au-pairs from countries who do not
have a reciprocal agreement with Great Britain should arrange for
private cover before arriving in England. Au-pairs going to other
destinations should check before traveling that they are adequately
covered for health care.
How
do I check their background?
Background
checks are always a bit tricky with au-pairs due to the language
barrier between some countries. Certainly obtain at least two written
references, preferably childcare reference and telephone them to
check they are genuine. Most au-pairs can also obtain a police check
in their country free of charge to show they have no criminal record.
If
you feel more comfortable, ask the au-pair to obtain a medical
certificate from their GP to say they are fit & healthy.
Driving
If
your Au-Pair is to drive your car, it is important that you provide
adequate insurance cover for them to do so. You should also check
that they have a suitable driving licence or permit for the country
they are going to. It might be a good idea to provide one or two
driving lessons for the Au-Pair if they are apprehensive about
driving in your country.
Creating
the Right Atmosphere
The
vast majority of Au-Pair placements are successful and happy. The
following are likely to help:
When
the Au-Pair arrives, give them a little time to settle in, and to
become used to you and your family. If they want, let them make a
brief call home to let their family know they have arrived safely.
Homesickness
can be a problem. Be patient! Don't forget that the Au-Pair is a
long way from home - possibly for the first time in their life.
Talk
to the Au-Pair! Remember that they have come to your country to
learn your language, so it is important that they have the chance to
communicate. You may need to speak slowly and particularly
distinctly, but your Au-Pair's understanding will soon increase.
Treat
the Au-Pair as you would the daughter of a friend from overseas,
visiting your family.
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