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Au Pair placement has been specially designed for single females or males between the ages of 17-27, to enable them to come to the UK to learn or improve their English and to experience some English culture and customs by living with a Host Family.
This is in exchange for helping to look after children, helping with light housework (vacuuming, cleaning, washing, ironing), preparing simple meals (burgers, pizza, sandwiches, etc.) and babysitting 2-3 evenings a week.
Au Pairs receive weekly pocket money for their duties, which is payable by the Host Family. Recommended Au Pair hours are 5 hours daily, 5 days a week; so 25 hours per week, with 2 days completely free. Clearly these hours can be rearranged within the week to suit all parties involved.
We recommend weekly pocket money to be a minimum of £50.
It is recognized that these are only guidelines and that the situation may differ from family to family. Generally, the payment depends on the level of responsibility given to the Au Pair.
Visas
New EU citizens intending to enter the United Kingdom as an Au Pair are not obliged to apply for a visa before they enter the UK.
Generally, one year Au Pair visas are granted by an Immigration Officer upon the presentation of an invitation letter from the Host Family, which should include details regarding the placement.
Accommodation
The Host Family are required to provide full board and lodging. The Au Pair must be provided with their own heated, fully furnished bedroom. Minimally, the Au Pair should have some storage space for her personal belongings, a desk where she can study, if possible a radio/TV and an alarm clock. She should be invited to eat with the family, even on her free day.
Spare time and holidays
Free time should be given daily for study, or to attend English language classes either during the day or in the evening . They should also be allowed to pursue personal interests. She must have two days a week completely free. Public bank holidays should be regarded as days off for the Au Pair too!
All Au Pairs are entitled to one week's paid holiday for every six months stay with the Host Family; this is time when they can go home and visit their family. It is important to address the subject of vacations as soon as possible – it may be the families’ requirement to take the Au Pair away with them, or they may need to ensure the Au Pair is able to stay comfortably at home.
Family Rules
They are likely to differ from family to family and can cause problems if left un-addressed. To avoid any misunderstanding, we strongly advise that the household rules in your family are made clear to the Au Pair immediately upon the arrival.
Clearly instruct her of when and what you expect her to do in your home and what will be acceptable in terms of using the phone, email, internet or inviting friends.
If you require your Au Pair to drive your car, it is important that you provide adequate insurance cover for her to do so. You should also check that she has a suitable driving licence or permit for the U.K. Non – EU Nationals may use their international driving licence only for the first year of their stay in the UK. After this period they must take and pass an official UK driving test if they wish to continue driving.
How to make your Au Pair feel welcome
It is vital to treat your Au Pair as a part of your family and make her feel welcome to share in the social life of the family. The first few weeks are crucial. Try to do as much as you can to help your Au Pair to settle in. Don't forget that the Au Pair is a long way from home and possibly will feel lonely and uneasy at the beginning, until she gets used to you and your family. Help her and be patient. There is bound to be some misunderstanding and confusion early on, mainly due to some language and customs differences. Make sure that all instructions are communicated properly so she understands them; if necessary write them down.
Although all our Au Pairs will have an acceptable level of English before they arrive, this will possibly be the first time they’ll have been given the opportunity to speak English in a “natural” environment. Please remember that one of the reasons she is with your family is to learn English, so talk to your Au Pair, include her in your conversations and simply give her a chance to speak!
Help her to find information about local language schools, show the area where you live, sports facilities, shops entertainments, transport, and places to visit.
The sooner she gets familiar with her new environment, the quicker she starts language lessons, meet new friends and have a social life in her free time. In the end there will be little time for homesickness, and the settling in period will not be long.
It is most important to understand that an Au Pair is neither a trained Nanny nor a person engaged to perform domestic duties for the Host Family and cannot be expected to wholly and fully look after the children on their own or be solely responsible for houshold chores.
Procedures
Au Pair applicants are usually available for a minimum period of 6 months and a maximum of two years.
When required, we can arrange for your Au Pair to stay with your family for periods shorter than 6 months.
Step 1: The first step is to complete the family registration form. Then you will be able to discuss further your requirements with us over the phone.
We find suitable Au Pairs normally within a month after you submit your registration form. Then we will send information about the Au Pairs, which best match your needs.
Step 2: Once you have accepted one of our Au Pairs, we send you a full information pack complete with the Au Pair’s childcare references, medical certificate and photographs.
If you are satisfied and happy with your Au Pair-to be, we will ask you to provide a letter of invitation to her, from you, giving her details of your family, her duties, free time and her pocket money. We will then forward the relevant information to the girl together with correspondence and instructions from us. She will be asked to reply immediately to “Aupairs & Nannies International Ltd” . You will be advised straight away on receipt of an answer from the Au-Pair.
Step 3: We will then arrange for you to make contact with the Au Pair to discuss the placement and to arrange her arrival. Normally, the Au Pair should be met at the point of arrival into the UK.
Agency Fees
Please note that fees will be due once you have formally accepted an Au Pair. The Agency fee must be sent to us with the letter of invitation. We will be unable to confirm the booking of the Au Pair until full payment is received.
Cheques should be made payable to 'Aupairs & Nannies International Ltd’
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