Basic au pair information

Language Skills

The au pair will normally have basic skills as a minimum (the standard varies with each person) and a desire to improve their skills and learn the culture.

Types of Duties Involved

Caring for children

Help in carrying out light housework, eg dusting, vacuuming, ironing

Simple cooking

Driving - if you want your au pair to drive, you need to think this through very carefully. They could be regularly driving your dependents around. You will need to ensure their licence is the approved international one, and that you have appropriate cover on your car insurance.

It must be stressed that an au pair is not a servant, domestic or qualified. We find that it is best if you treat the au pair as a member of your family, with respect and flexibility. In this way you should avoid major problems.

Accommodation

You will need to supply an equipped bedroom where an au pair can study or just relax in comfort. But you also need to make sure that they are treated as part of the family, and join in the social side as well as the work side. Not to do this, will lead to them becoming unhappy and wishing to leave.

Helpful hints

Be flexible.

Allow time for the au pair to settle in.

Talk to your au pair and give her the space to speak to you - speak clearly and slowly.

Remember how daunting the au pair's new life may be to them - they will have to adjust to a different culture, unfamiliar food, family life and customs. If you are a first time family you also need to consider how it will affect you.

Treat each other with respect and understanding, as you would your own family and close friends.

Remember that au pairs are not looking for a financially better lifestyle; the exchange of culture and language is an important part of the process.

Write down the au pair's daily/weekly duties. Train them in the way that you want things carried out.

Sort out basic house rules, eg can the au pair have friends to the house, late nights etc. Telephone calls are often an issue and clear guidelines should be given. A reasonable allowance for calls home should be allowed. A phone call home is a definite requirement when the au pair first arrives.

Draw up an emergency contact list and procedures for your own family and for the au pair. The family are now involved in someone else's health and safety.

Give them an induction to the local area.

Overall, make the au pair feel welcome - they are bound to feel unsettled at the start.

Review after four weeks:

Discuss how it has been, what problems there are, if any. They will need a mutually agreed way forward.

If the au pair raises a problem it will have taken a lot of courage to bring it to your attention. Treat it with the respect it deserves.

Free time is to be respected and the au pair will want to go out or just relax in their room. The au pair will need to have fun while they are here, after all they are young. Just work and study leads to unhappiness followed by an early return to their homes.

For country specific information on Age, Marital status, Eligible Nationals, Hours of working and free time please click here.

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