INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES
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Our service allows you to search free of charge for prospective au pairs who match your requirements. You can register your details online, or you can download and post/fax a registration form. Alternatively you can call or email us for an informal chat. Once you have seen some candidates that you think will be suitable, you can register to get their contact details. You can then contact as many au pair candidates as you like, and talk directly with them in order to get to know them and select your au pair! You will also receive an email on any Child Carer who matches your requirements There are now no placement fees. You can contact your chosen Child Carer directly via email or telephone to make arrangements.

An Au Pair is a single person, aged 17-27, without dependents, who comes to the UK to learn English and live as part of an English speaking family for up to 2 years. In return for helping around the house and assisting with basic childcare they receive pocket money of at least £55 per week for 25 hours 'work' and have their own bedroom and all meals provided. An Au Pair is not a servant, a qualified nanny, a chef or a professional cleaner. Au Pairs work for up to 25 hours per week plus up to 2 evenings per week babysitting, in return for at least £55 weekly pocket money. The work involved is generally helping with children, cleaning, ironing, and helping prepare food and other light housework. The Au Pair must have 2 full days off per week, and these should be agreed in advance to allow the Au Pair to make arrangements. An 'Au Pair Plus' can work for up to 40 hours per week in return for pocket money of approximately £90. Au Pairs are currently entitled to one week paid holiday for every 6 months worked.

Visas: Au Pairs come from either an EU country or from some none EU countries:

No Child Carer visa required: Andorra, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, USA, Canada Child Carer visa required before travel: Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey

Child Carers can work in the family home for up to 25 hours per week ( plus 2 nights babysitting) and have 2 full days off per week for free time. Au Pairs from EU countries can work more hours in return for more pocket money. All Au Pairs will require a letter of invitation from the host family in order to be granted their au pair visa. Au Pairs are generally intelligent, trustworthy and reliable people keen to improve their English and learn about the British way of life in return for being an 'extra pair of hands' around the house. Healthcare: Whilst in the UK Au Pairs will usually be covered by the National Health Service and the host family should register the Au Pair with the family doctor if possible. The Au Pair may have to consider private cover for dentists’ costs.

Cars, telephones, travel, holidays, insurance: The Au Pair will generally be expected to make their own travel arrangements to the UK, although in some cases the family may choose to reimburse this cost to the Child Carer. The family will then either meet her at the point of arrival, or will have provided her with a ticket for onward transport to their home. The Au Pair should have an open return ticket, and should always have enough money in reserve for an emergency.

If the Au Pair is expected to drive in the UK she should bring her driving licence/ international driving licence, and usually the host family will arrange 'refresher' lessons with a local driving instructor to help the Au Pair adapt to driving on the left etc. It should also be made clear when or if the Au Pair has personal use of the car, and if so whether or not she is responsible for petrol/ car cleaning etc. The host family should add the Au Pair to the insurance policy of the car, and we would suggest that the insurers of the home are also advised. Where a family request an Child Carer that is willing to drive, we can usually provide these, but obviously we cannot guarantee the driving skills of the Child Carer.

Telephone calls from the UK can be expensive. It should be agreed between the family and the au pair whether or not the home phone can be used for calls, who will pay for the calls, and when they will be paid for. Where the family goes on holiday the Au Pair should either go with the family or be allowed to stay in the family home. In either case she should still be paid and food should still be provided.