information about au pairs

what is a host family

what is an au pair?

An Au Pair is a young girl/boy whom to improve her knowledge of a language, goes to a foreign country and lives with a Host Family for an agreed period.

The Au Pair helps the Family to look after the children and with the daily household duties. In return, she receives from the family board and lodging and a weekly pocket money.

The Au Pair is integrated into the Family and in their daily life with the same rights and obligations than all others family members. The Family helps the Au Pair to improve her knowledge of the language and to know the countries costumes and culture.

Whenever possible the Au Pair will have meals with the family and will participate in their daily activities. Families must take into account that au pairs do not enter in the category of employee or student, but have a special status between both concepts.

It is necessary that the Au Pair has a basic knowledge of the host country language. To host an Au Pair is actually cheaper than a professional helper. An Au Pair can be female or male, however most families require female Au Pairs. Boys can be accepted if can be proved that they have some experience of looking after children and with household duties.

NOTE. All references to au pair girls apply to male au pairs.

background

France is the birthplace of the Au Pair program. The Au Pair concept was born at the end of the XIX century when young British and Germans went to France to study and families of their same social level employed them.

Au Pair means "on par" or equal. At present, this word is known worldwide and cannot be translated into any other language.

Since the end of the Second World War the number of young people going abroad to improve their knowledge of languages increased considerably. It is a problem of such magnitude that is no longer sufficient the interchanges between schools and universities, scholarships of studies, school trips, etc. in order to satisfy the desire of young people to extend their horizons, knowing other countries and other way of life.

The Council of Europe, through its Social Committee is forced to lay the foundations to regulate the figure of the Au Pair, because even though in practice it existed for a long time, had become very popular amongst young people

legal frame

The legal frame that regulates all concerning the Au Pairs is the “European Agreement on “Au Pair" Placement" of the Council of Europe signed by several States members on November 1969. The Treaty was effective on May 30th, 1971. After this date, other States members have signed/ratify it.

types of au pair

Summer Au Pair program is indicated for young people who want to improve their knowledge of a language but cannot travel at any other time of the year.

As children do not attend school there will be more work and being a short stay, the Family will need someone easily adaptable.

Pocket money will depend on the type of Au Pair required by the Family (Au Pair, Au Pair Plus or Demi Au Pair)

The amounts shown above are only for reference, as pocket money paid to the Au Pair has to be agreed between the Family and the Au Pair.

If a family has three or more children or need a driver Au Pair, of they have under 2 year olds, we suggest to consider paying slightly more, as the work involved is more. This will encourage the Au Pair to accept your offer, other than to find another family with fewer children and pay more pocket money.

Who can become an au pair

• Young people between 17 and 30 years old
• Single and without children
• Have basic knowledge of the host country language and want to improve it
• Responsible, honest and adaptable
• Like children and have some childcare experience (although is not necessary)
• Have some experience with household duties
• Healthy
• Willing to live with the host Family from 3 months up to 2 years
• Have no criminal records

Nationalities

Au Pair can be a citizen from any country belonging or not to the European Union, as long as she fulfils the legal requirements demanded by the authorities of each host country.

An Au Pair from EU countries just need Passport or Identity Card.

An Au Pair coming from countries out of the EU will need a Visa issued by the host country Consulate. If you choose a candidate from a no member of the EU country, you must enquire to the local authorities if the girl can be an au pair.

Au pair duties

The Au Pair not only take care of the children but also helps with light household duties.

There are families, which might require the Au Pair to do less housework and take more care of the children and others to do more housework and take less care of the children.

Childcare can include:

• Dressing and feed them
• Cook for them
• Nappies changing
• Take and pick them up from school
• Help them with their homework
• Play with them
• Bath them and get them ready to bed
• Be creative
• Introduce the children in activities that stimulate their growth and development

• Help to keep the house clean and tidy
• Dusting and vacuum cleaning
• Doing the washing and ironing
• Prepare breakfast and simple meals for the children
• Tidy up the kitchen
• Take care of the house, animals and plants when the Family is out

• Clean up the house
• Clean up the bathroom
• Clean up the kitchen. The Au Pair will only clean the work surfaces and wash the dishes
• Clean up the Family car
• Do the garden
• Cook dinner or lunch for the Family
• Never serve to the Family
• Clean up the wardrobes
• Clean the Family shoes but only the childrens shoes.

The Family must have always in mind that an Au Pair is not a servant. She must be treated as a member of your family, with respect and flexibility. In this way, you should avoid major problems.

If there is additional work during school holidays, this should be clear at the time of the offer and reasonable additional pocket money is expected in return, assuming she is not asked to work more than 3 or 4 extra hours per day.

The children

In the beginning, the children might have difficulty in adjusting themselves to the Au Pair so she will have to work hard to earn their trust and cooperation. The first few weeks are very important, since the relationship the Au Pair has with the children she is in charge of, could set the duration of her stay with your family and it might make or break the success of the placement.

We always advice our au pairs to follow these guidelines:

• To be flexible and try to adapt as well as they can to the house and children’s routine
• To continue the daily patterns the children follow, to help them to feel more secure
• Not to try to impress her personality at first
• To be tolerant and do not force the situation
• Gradually play with something that distracts them (lego, modelling, painting, etc.)
• To avoid confrontation between the children

The Travel

The Au Pair will pay the travel cost although there are families who like to help. In some cases, the Family pays the return travel if the Au Pair has stayed for the agreed time. Therefore, make sure this is clear in advance.

The Family must collect the Au Pair from the point of arrival (airport, train or bus station); therefore, they must be previously informed about the Au Pair’s travel plans. As the Family and the Au Pair have already seen one another by photographs it will not be difficult to recognise each other at the meeting point. Nevertheless, the Family must determine where to meet the Au Pair and how to recognise to each other.

In the event the Family could not collect the Au Pair from the point of arrival or make the necessary arrangements for any other person, properly identified, to pick her up, then a taxi should be provided in case the Families house is within 25 miles/50 km from the point of arrival. If the house is more than such distance, the Family should send the Au Pair information as detailed, clear, and accurate as possible on transportation (train, bus, etc.) that she can take to get to their house. Such information must include stations address, timetable, transport identification and /or any other information the Family consider it is important for the Au Pair feels herself secure and safe. All this information must be in the Au Pair hands before making any travel arrangement.

The Family must reimburse the Au Pair for all travel expenses from the first point of arrival to the second point where families MUST COLLECT THEM.

Au pair accommodation

The Family will provide the Au Pair with her own room and full board. If it not possible to provide her with her own bathroom, it is better to allow her to share the children’s bathroom.

Minimally the Au Pair should have in her room a bed, some storage space for her clothes, a desk or a table where she can work, a radio/CD player and an alarm clock. It will be most appreciated to provide the Au Pair room with a television, which will give the freedom to choose more understandable programmes for her and for the family to have au pair free time.

It will be appreciated if children regard the Au Pair room as "private, for instance, from their intrusion.

Language Classes

The Au Pair is entitled to attend language classes and exams. The Family should assist in finding the most convenient and suitable classes and the nearest language school to their house.

The Au Pair will pay for the language classes but some families like to help with the lessons or exam fees.

The Family should adapt the daily schedule to allow the Au Pair to attend language classes, as it must not forget that her main objective to come to the families country is to learn its language.

If the au pair needs to take public transport to go to college and this is far, the family should pay for it or at least contribute to a weekly bus pass. Transport in the Uk is expensive and these girls are not earning that much money.

Telephone and Internet

The Family should make clear to the Au Pair when and under which conditions she is allow to the use of the telephone and the Internet.

Nowadays the use of the family computer is a MUST. In our experience families with no computer and no internet connection and/or who do not allow the au pair to use their computer, Struggle to find an au pair.

As a principle, the Family should allow the Au Pair to call her family once a week for a short chat. The family also can inform her of how to use and where to buy the phone cards.

Driver Au pair

Should the Family require the Au Pair to drive it is under their complete responsibility. You need to think about it very carefully as the Au Pair will be driving your children around.

It is the responsibility of the Family to ensure that necessary documentation, driving license, and experience are suitable for the Au Pair to drive in the host country, prior acceptance.

The Family must pay all vehicle expenses (e.g. gasoline, insurance, repairs, etc). Families cannot expect an Au Pair to pay for any damage caused to vehicles. Please ensure that you have appropriate cover on your car insurance thinking that you must cover the Au Pair properly in case of an accident and cover any damage caused to your vehicle. Nannies and Childcare shall not be liable in any respect with regard to this matter.

Driving Au Pairs are taking extra responsibilities and you should pay her for it. She should be paid £15 to £20 extra per week.

Families may consider allowing the Au Pair the use of the car for personal purposes.

Au Pairs citizens of any of the European Union countries are allowed to drive in any of them with a valid license as long as it remains valid.

Non-EU citizens are allowed to drive for one year with their local or International license after which they must take a test in the country of their choice.

WE STRONGLY ADVICE FAMILIES TO PAY FOR LESSONS BEFORE LETTING THE AU PAIR DRIVE THE CHILDREN AROUND!!

Medical insurance

Au Pairs nationals of any of the EU countries can use the National Health System.

If the Au Pair is a citizen of a non-EU country, the Family should make arrangements for her to be able to get medical assistance whilst living with the family.

Holidays

After a six months period of stay, the Au Pair is entitled to one week paid holiday with a total of two weeks in 12 months.

If the Family goes on a holiday and invite the Au Pair and she accepts, they have to pay her as if she was working. They should respect her working hours. The Family must give the Au Pair the guidelines of her duties on holiday in advance.

If the Family invite the Au Pair but she refuses the invitation, the Family does not have to pay her for the time they are away.

If the Family does not invite the Au Pair to go with them, she has to be paid, regardless of whether she stays at home or not.

Au Pairs appreciate the chance to return home for one week at Christmas or New Year.

The Family should discuss the holidays as early as possible once the Au Pair has arrived. The Au Pair is also entitled to have public holidays as free days without loss of pay.

If you plan to take the Au Pair on holiday with you outside the EU, please check with the travel agent she should need a VISA.

Weekends

Au pairs should have two days per week free. Ideally Saturday and Sunday unless they have a babysitting they should be free to do whatever they want with their time.

Letter

It is mandatory that the Family write a Letter of Invitation to the Au Pair. This letter is a sort of contract between the parties and probably the most important part of the engagement process because most candidates take their final decision after reading it. The Letter of Invitation must be written to the Au Pair even if she is already in the host country, just a general Dear Au pair.

Au Pairs nationals of a non-EU country will have to show the letter to the host country Consulate when apply for a visa and to the Immigration authorities on arrival to the host country. With name and address of host and the specifics.

The letter must contain the following:

• The title "Letter of Invitation for our au pair
• Your name, address, telephone number and the date
• The salutation "Dear" and the Au Pair's first name, followed by "we would like to invite you to come and stay with us and be our Au Pair, starting.. " and give the date when the Au Pair is expected to start
• Information about your family, such as names, occupation, ages of children, where they go to school, etc.
• A description of your house and the area you live
• A description of the accommodation you will be providing your Au Pair, such as her own bedroom, bathroom, TV, etc.
• A detailed description, and on a day by day basis, of your Au Pair's duties, giving the number of hours of each duty including the start and stop time, and the number of hours free. Pay attention to the total number of hours, because if they exceed the maximum allowable hours the visa could be denied to the Au Pair.
• Your families likes and dislikes, etc.
• What her pocket money will be -
• Number of free days per week. This should be at least two and always Sunday
• Information about language classes -
• Finish the letter with Yours sincerely" your signature and your full name.

First day

The initial settling-in period is very important for both the Family and the Au Pair. Welcome her into your family and treat her as part of the Family to make the Au Pair feel at home and comfortable on arrival.

During one or two days the Family should be entirely at the disposition of the Au Pair to show her the house, to explain what they want her to do, answer all her questions, show her the childrens school, the language school, etc

In order to create a happy environment and avoid misunderstandings for everyone in the Family, be straightforward about the house rules and give the Au Pair clear instructions about what to do. It is in the best interest of both parties to establish the guidelines and expectations at an early stage of the relationship.

WE HOPE THAT ALL THIS INFORMATION IT IS HELPFUL TO YOU AND YOUR AU PAIR WILL ALSO RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS.