What is An Au Pair ?

An Au Pair's Duties

It is important that you understand what will be expected of you as an au pair, so please read these guidelines carefully. We have written them to help you!

You need to be dependable and trustworthy as it is a big responsibility looking after children. Also, you must like children and be willing to work hard!

E.U. nationals can either be an au pair or an au pair plus, non E.U. nationals may be an au pair only. Although we accept boys and girls as au pairs, we shall only refer to girls in these guidelines as this is the most usual situation. An au pair works 25 hours plus two evenings baby-sitting per week for pocket money of around £35.00. An au pair plus works up to 40 hours plus two evenings baby-sitting per week, for pocket money of around £42 for 30 hours; £50 for 35 hours and £60 for 40 hours.

Our families know that you are NOT trained in child care, and that you will need their continual support and encouragement in looking after their children. They will not ask you to have sole charge of the children for many hours at a time.

The First Four Weeks

It is a special relationship that develops between your family and yourself. You must be willing to make your stay a success.

Your host family will welcome you to their home and regard you as an elder son or daughter. This will mean that you will be included in some, but not all activities, and will be expected to help out as would a family member, in addition to the 5 hours work per day that you will do.

Remember, this is not a holiday!

You will be expected to work hard for your host family. Looking after children can be very demanding and it is likely that your hosts lead extremely busy lives, so there will be a lot to do. At first, you will have much to learn, and you may worry that you will never be able to do everything. You will, but it takes time!

Make sure you understand what is required of you. Talk to your hostess and listen to her. Be ready to change your way of doing things, as she will want it done her way and she will have " House Rules " which you must observe. Ask if she can write down your working hours in advance, so that you know and can plan your free time, but accept that this may vary. You will have to be flexible if for example the children are ill or it is a holiday.

Explore the local area and read the local papers to find out what's on. Your hosts will probably show you around at first, but you will have to make an effort yourself.

Arrival & Stay

If for any reason the host family cancels before your arrival, they are liable for any expenses incurred, including the cost of your flight ticket, and the agency will try to find you a replacement family. If for any reason you cancel after acceptance but before arrival, you will cause a lot of inconvenience to the host family and you may be required to cover the additional cost of finding a replacement au pair for them.

After your arrival, you must be prepared to make the arrangement work. If either you or your host family have serious problems within the first four weeks, you must phone Catriona straightaway, so that she can offer advice. If, after trying hard, both parties decide that the placement will not work, they should write to Au Pair UK giving each other two weeks' notice. Then, Catriona will try to place you with another family, within the next week, but if this does not work out either, you will have to return home.

Should the family ask you to leave without a valid reason or the required notice, please telephone us immediately if you would like our help. We may not be able to help you otherwise. We will try to help you find another suitable family within the next week but if you are unsuccessful, you may have to return home.

You may apply to be an au pair at any time of the year for at least 3 months, but it is easiest to place you if you arrive in September and stay for 9 months or longer (up to 2 years.)
SINCE MAY 1998 THE LAW REQUIRES TURKISH NATIONALS ONLY TO REGISTER WITH POLICE WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF ARRIVAL IF STAYING LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS.

It is always quicker to place au pairs who do not smoke, those who are not vegetarian and those who are not allergic to animals.

Duties

You will help with light housework such as ironing, washing and vacuuming as well as caring for children and baby-sitting in the evenings. You do not have to do any tasks which are the duties of a cleaner such as cleaning windows and scrubbing floors. Your hostess should show you exactly what she wants you to do and what is expected. If you are not sure that you are doing something right, ask her.
Please bear in mind, some jobs can be safely done at the same time as looking after children (vacuuming, washing etc.) but others may be dangerous ( ironing, cooking etc.) as a moment's distraction could easily result in an accident. Check with your hostess what you should do. Remember, she may well do many potentially dangerous tasks, but she knows the children better than you and has a parent's authority and instinct.

When you have sole care of the children, always ask her if you wish to take them on outings or have other children or au pairs to visit. It is very important that your hostess knows where and with whom her children are at all times.

Baby-sitting

You will be expected to baby-sit in the evenings twice a week as part of the arrangement, but you may be needed to baby-sit on additional evenings for extra pay. Normally, you will baby-sit once at the weekend and once in the week. You should have two Saturdays and Sundays completely free of all duties per month Remember that even if the children are asleep, you are "on duty" and must not leave the house. You will have to check on the children during the evening, but you do not have to do any additional jobs such as ironing.
If you wish to go out yourself on a particular evening, ask the family well in advance in case they wanted you to baby-sit then.

Health & Safety

You do need to have first aid training before or during your stay as an au pair. If you can go on a course, this would be ideal. Otherwise, ask your hostess to help you. She should also have an emergency procedure written down, with names of people to contact in emergency. You will be treated, except for Turkish Au Pairs, under the National Health Service for medical or dental problems, but you must ask your hostess to register you on arrival with their Doctor or Dentist, and you would have to pay prescription charges for medicines and dental charges, as would a UK national.

Free Time

You should have two complete days and evenings free of work per week, but E.U. nationals may work longer for extra pay. You would of course be expected to help as a member of the family might e.g. it is polite to ask if anyone wants a cup of tea or coffee if you are intending to have one yourself.

Your free time is for you to spend as you wish, within reason, but you should tell your host family where you will be and when you intend coming home. Always ask before inviting friends round as it may not be convenient or desirable. Also, understand that the host and hostess may like to have some time alone, so try to go out at least once a week and don't take offence if sometimes they want you to eat with the children, rather than with themselves!

Pocket Money

All meals are provided.

You will recieve £35 per week plus your language classes, these are paid for if you come from a non- EU country, for 25 hours.

£50 - £80 per week if you are from an EU country for 25 - 40 hours.
£120 for a parent's help from an EU country working 40 hours (Interview required).
£180 per week for a nanny from an EU country working 50 hours (Interview required).
All the posts include babysitting twice a week.

You should be paid weekly in arrears, on the same day each week.

Accommodation

You will have a room of your own. You will need an alarm clock so check if one is provided. If not, bring your own. You will of course be able to use the kitchen, sitting room etc. as would a member of the family.

Meals

Usually you will eat with the family, but there will be times when you will eat with the children or prepare your own meals, for instance if the host and hostess wish to eat together later in the evening. Check with your hostess what she wants you to do, and always clear up after using the kitchen. You should always ask what you can eat and what to do if supplies run out. It would be appreciated if occasionally you cooked a meal for your host family!

Telephone

Always ask if you can use the phone and expect to pay for your calls. Your host family will probably have a telephone bill that lists all calls made, so they will be able to calculate how much you owe. It is cheaper to phone at weekends or after 6pm or before 8am.

It is not a good idea to receive calls when you are working, as you cannot give your undivided attention to the children in your care or to the work you should be doing, so ask your family and friends to phone during your free time.

You will get used to answering the phone, but it will be difficult at first as people speak quickly. When taking a message, write down:-

the name of the caller
the time they phoned
to whom they wish to speak
whether they will phone again
or whether they would like your host to call

Language Classes

The main reason for being an au pair is to attend English lessons and to learn English, so it is your right to attend language classes. You will need to go in person as soon as you can after arrival in the UK, to enrol. You will have to pay the term's fees (unless this is a free class) and will probably take a short test to determine which level you should study. Classes are usually two hours per lesson, twice a week and are held at Adult Education Centres in nearby towns. The cost is around £90.00 per term, with an enrolment fee of £15.00. Exams are taken normally in two stages in May and June. Exam fees are about £40.00. Please note there are no classes from June to September.

Au Pair UK will help you choose a language class, as we have details of all local classes, but you will need to enrol and pay as soon as you can.

Driving

Make sure if you are a non E.U. national staying for more than 12 months, you have your International Driving Licence and that you have a couple of driving lessons in the host family's car soon after arrival, or take a British School of Motoring (BSM) assessment test, to find out if you are ready to "drive on the wrong side" or whether you need further lessons.

You need to find out if you are allowed to use it in your free time or is it only to be used while "on duty" ? Will you be given a petrol allowance or do you buy the petrol and give the receipt to the host family? How far can you drive it? Who cleans it ? Can you give lifts ? etc.

Notice

Two weeks' notice is required on either side to end the placement, unless there is serious misconduct.

Holidays

Once you have worked 26 weeks, you should have 10 days paid holiday. You should also have Bank Holidays free, unless days off in lieu are agreed or extra pay.
If you accompany your host family on holiday, remember that this is their holiday and not yours. You will have to work your 25 hours per week and receive your usual pocket money, but you will not be following your normal timetable.
If you are not going on holiday with the host family, but remaining in the family home, you must have your food, accommodation and pocket money provided as usual.

Best wishes and Good Luck !

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