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BAPAA – The British Au Pair Agencies Association

The Bunbury Care Agency has been a member of the British Au Pair Agencies Association (BAPAA) since 2009 and abides by their recommended code of conduct in the recruitment of Au Pairs. BAPAA is the only official trade association for Au Pair Agencies, is recognised by the Home Office and abides by all current UK and EU regulations.

BAPAA is the only recognised Trade Association for the Au Pair industry in Britain. This organisation was formed on a non-commercial basis with the purpose of setting standards for the Au Pair industry and protecting the Au Pair experience as a rewarding cultural exchange programme.

Members must meet firm business and ethical standards and, in turn, agree to abide by BAPAA’s code of conduct, which signifies competence, fair dealing and high integrity.

BAPAA Benifits

  • All BAPAA members work closely with reputable partner agencies all over Europe to make sure an Au Pair is both vetted and prepared in their own country prior to departure to the UK.
  • A BAPAA agency assists with the careful matching of an Au Pair to vetted families in Britain. BAPAA’s Agency Code of Conduct means that agencies have to supply your family with sufficient personal information about the applicant, including references, a medical report and a police report.
  • All agencies work to the highest standards in the industry and their experience and professionalism means they can minimise the risk of disappointment and help resolve any issues that may arise.
  • BAPAA is the only official Trade Association for Au Pair agencies, is recognised by the Home Office and abides by all current UK and EU regulations.
  • We have access to the latest guidelines on immigration, ensuring your Au Pair placement is legal.

Once the Au Pair is placed with their Host Family in the UK, the Bunbury Agency provides the following benefits through it’s BAPAA membership:

  • Free BAPAA handbook.
  • Welcome Pack continaing General Guidelines and information for the Host Family and Au Pair.
  • 24 hour emergency helpline.
  • Use of the exclusive BAPAA “find a friend” website. A safe way for Au Pairs to met each other. www.aupairfriends.com
  • Free O2 Sim card. For a £30 top up the Au Pair will get an additional 200 minutes of free overseas calls.
  • Excursions and introductions to other Au Pairs.
    • International Friends – £10 discount on the published price of trips and tours.
    • International Students’ House in London – Half price membership for Au Pairs. Ideal accommodation when visiting London.
    • Discounts on entry tickets to UK attractions and theme parks through Merlin Entertainments Group.
  • OCN accredited On Line Au Pair courses.
  • Discounts on Pediatric First Aid courses through Safe and Sound.
  • Support and advice throughout Au Pair stay from a professional agency.

The BAPAA Au Pair Programme

The BAPAA Guidelines for Au Pairs and Host Families participating in the BAPAA Au Pair Programme in Britain are listed below:

Nature of the Programme: The Au Pair programme is a cultural exchange programme. Au Pairs must be welcomed as a member of the family.

Age: Traditionally, an Au Pair is aged 17 – 27, however an Au Pair without visa requirements (from EU) can be older.

Hours on duty: Au Pairs can be on duty for 25 – 35 hours per week if they are from an EU country. This is limited to 25 hours per week and 2 evenings per week if the Au Pair is from Bulgaria or Romania. These hours can be spread out over 5 days per week. Longer hours are usually referred to as ‘Au Pair Plus’. Many Au Pair agencies also offer ‘Mother’s help’ positions; this is not part of the traditional cultural exchange programme, as it usually involves longer hours and schedules can conflict with language classes.

Pocket Money: Pocket money must be minimum £70 per week for 25 hours, regardless of whether the minimum hours are worked. Many agencies recommend slightly higher pocket money. For 30 hours the minimum is £85.

Babysitting: Two evenings babysitting per week are included as part of the programme. Additional pocket money should be paid for any additional evenings.

Leisure time: The Au Pair’s schedule must provide sufficient time to attend language school, and the Au Pair shall receive two free days each week and should be offered one full weekend off per month.

Holidays: As from September 2010, BAPAA recommends 28 days holiday per 12 month period, including Public Holidays. Pocket money will be paid during this time. For further guidelines click here.

To calculate the holiday entitlement for less than a year, or for someone helping less than 5 days a week, click here.

The Au Pair should not be forced to take holiday to coincide with the family holiday. Holidays should be mutually agreed between Host Family and Au Pair.

UK Public Holidays: These are included in the recommended holiday and Au Pairs can either be given the day off or have a day off in lieu as part of their holiday allowance.

Light Housework: A list of suggested light housework tasks can be found below these guidelines.
Childcare: An Au Pair is not permitted to have continuous sole charge of children under the age of two.

Room and board: The Au Pair receives full room and board from the family throughout the stay. The Au Pair must have her own private room with a window and not be required to share with children, and she should be given facilities to study.

Travelling Costs: The Au Pair is required to pay their own travelling cost to and from the UK, unless the family chooses to fund this.

Insurance: EU Au Pairs visiting the UK do not need additional health insurance as they are entitled to use the National Health Service. The Au Pair may also wish to take out additional travel insurance to cover loss of belongings, repatriation in case of accident, death etc.

Language School and Costs: Au Pairs must be given enough time to attend language school. There are many courses in the UK for EU members, which are more affordable due to government funding. These are usually ESOL classes. If an Au Pair chooses to go to a private school, they must bear their own cost, unless the family offers to fund this.

Written Offer: Each agency shall ensure that the Au Pair receives a written offer from the family covering pocket money, holidays and what help would be expected.

The Host Family: Each agency shall ensure that the family is suitable to host an Au Pair and understands the nature of the Au Pair programme, and that the Au Pair is there to help the family and is not in charge of the house.

List of housework tasks accepted as light housework:

  • Washing dishes, including loading and unloading dishwasher
  • Preparing simple meals for children
  • Keeping kitchen tidy and clean, including sweeping and mopping floors
  • Loading and unloading laundry into washing machine
  • Ironing for children
  • Putting washed clothes away
  • Vacuuming
  • Dusting
  • Making and changing children’s beds
  • Cleaning children’s bathroom
  • Everything to do with keeping their own room/bathroom clean and tidy
  • Light shopping (not the entire household shopping)
  • Walking and feeding pets
  • Emptying bins

List of tasks considered unsuitable for an Au Pair – Please remember, it is a cultural exchange programme, giving a young person the opportunity to learn about British culture and improve language skills through interaction with children.

  • Gardening
  • Window cleaning
  • Spring cleaning
  • Cleaning the oven, other than simple wiping out
  • Washing carpets
  • Washing the car
  • Weekly shopping
  • Pet training
  • Clearing up after untrained pets
  • Making parents bed*
  • Ironing for parents*
  • Cleaning parents’ en-suite bathroom*
  • Polishing silver and brassware*
  • Cooking the family meal, unless the au pair enjoys cooking and has chosen to do this for the family

*These duties can be included where there is less childcare and the children are out of the house for most of the day, if this is agreed in advance.

Au Pairs should not be required to do housework such as ironing, when looking after children of primary school age or toddlers, due to safety reasons.

Elderly Care Information

We offer a very personal and bespoke service supplying carefully selected Carers and Companions who look after all your needs.

To view more information about our elderly care services click here

Child Care Information

We are members of the Association of Nanny Agencies (ANA) and the British Au Pair Agencies Association (BAPAA).

To view more information about our child care services click here

Household Care Information

We can provide domestic and household Staff on a daily or residential, full time or part time, permanent or temporary basis.

To view more information about our household care services click here

Testimonial

Please pass on our grateful thanks to all your staff that cared for Jill. Thank you is never enough in these circumstances. We have come to know many of the girls who were so kind and generous with their time and care, without whom Jill would have had to be admitted to a hospital or home.

St Albans, Herts

Testimonial

Dear Emily, Sarah and Trish. Thank you so much for your kind and caring attention through these past years. It is really appreciated. Mum died peacefully in her own bed, thanks to you and the Carers... the most recent of which was one of the very best carers possible. Thank you all.

Tyne & Wear

Testimonial

I am writing to you to thank you for your letter and condolences. I was very impressed by the professionalism and care everyone I dealt with at Bunbury, including the two Carers that sadly never had the opportunity to look after my father. Thank you for all your help and support at what was a very difficult time for me and my father. With all good wishes.

Oxford

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Potter, ...I am deeply grateful for all the loving and devoted care that was given to my father over the two years we have called on the Agency for help. I know he appreciated all that was done for him and I am thankful that I arranged the “Bunbury Birds” to look after him.

Denbighshire

Testimonial

Dear Emily and the “Bunbury Birds”. I am writing to thank you very warmly for all the wonderful Carers you have so kindly supplied to look after my father ...He was so pleased to be able to live in his own home. May I say how grateful I am for all the support and help you have given me ...You have provided a wonderful service.

Leeds

Testimonial

Dear Emily, Our thanks to all your kind ladies who looked after my mother in her final months. Mother loved her home which she moved into as a new bride in 1938 and it is thanks to the unstinting attention, most kindly given by the Bunbury ladies, that she was able to stay there until her peaceful end. We shall always remember their cheerful diligence and care.

Prestbury

Testimonial

Dear Emily, I would like to thank you and your team for bringing comfort and happiness to Mum in what turned out to be a very short period of time since joining the ‘Rosy Rota’. As you know I was very apprehensive, wondering whether Mum would cope with the new situation. As it turned out your ladies brought laughter and fun back into her life ...her sparkle had returned.

Didsbury

Testimonial

The Family and I would like to thank all member of staff and carers of the Bunbury Agency, for the time and trouble they have taken over the past three and half years, to ensure that my parents received the care required to enable them to remain in their own home. This was their strongest desire and with your help we were able to carry out their wishes. Long may your valuable work continue for many years to come.

Aylesbury

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Potter, Sarah & Beth. I just wanted to thank you for all your help, through good and hard times over the past six years. Not only have you never let us down, but I have felt a very real relationship with you, as though we have been working together to keep things going. This last month has been really difficult for us all, especially seeing my mother declining with increasing rapidity. My great ambition was to keep her in her own home until the end. Without your help this would not have been achieved.

Cumbria

Testimonial

I am very happy to recommend Bunbury Agency as an effective and responsible organisation.

Cheshire

Testimonial

I would like to take this opportunity on behlaf of our family to thank you for all you have done in supplying our mother with very caring ladies. They all did thier utmost to make her happy and healthy in her last year.

Preston

Testimonial

Trish has been the most wonderful Carer for Mum and she was all that I ever wanted from someone for Mum plus a lot more. We were so blessed that she came into our lives! Every day Mum looked forward to her coming and felt so safe and secure when she was around. It is so hard to put all Trish's wonderful qualities into words, but nothing was ever too much for her and when things got hard she was always around to help and do above and beyond what we needed. She looked after us all really! When Mum was in the hospice, she still visited which gave Mum such a boost and I will never forget her kindness in sitting with Mum the night before she died so my brothers and I could go out and have something to eat. When our elderly parents need care it's hard to entrust them to strangers and I hope that there is a "Trish" for me one day! I will never forget her and I can never thank her enough for all she has done. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and for putting us in touch with such a wonderful person.

Tarporley, Cheshire

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Green, Thank you so much for your kind letter about my mother Sylvia. She was very well looked after by all the nice Carers you provided for her. Whilst she could be a little insensitive at times due to her dementia I believe, she certainly appreciated their company and the sensitive way they looked after her. Thank you again for all you did for her.

Heswall, Wirral

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Green, Thank you very much for your letter and your kind thoughts following the death of my sister. You did indeed supply three Carers for her in September and October. We were very happy with Margaret and Alex was superb in every way and did so many extra things to improve my sister's quality of life. It must have been very traumatic for her when my sister died, but I am just thankful that she was with someone who was so caring.

Gillingham

Testimonial

Dear Trish, A personal note of thanks from Sue and myself for all your dedication to keeping things running smoothly at my mother's. It seems a very long time ago since you sent the first Bunbury Carer along. Sue and I have always known that we'd be alright "Trish will sort it out" - somehow!! A very big thank you.

Warrington, Cheshire

Testimonial

Dear Sarah, Now that the family have made the decision that Mother should stay in the Care Home, I write to thank you and the Agency for all the help and assistance you have given over the years. We have had some "interesting" moments but the Agency has, with very few exceptions, managed to provide care to a very high standard. Please pass on our thanks to the many Carers who have been to my Mother's. Trish continues to provide wonderful support, visiting Mother each afternoon.

Tarporley, Cheshire

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Green, It is with regret that I write to confirm that we will no longer require the services of your Bunbury Ladies. Most of them have proved excellent at caring for my mother who has not always been the easiest person to look after and they have exercised good sense and discretion in caring for her. As her quality of life has declined, this has been a great comfort to the family. Thank you so much for all the Agency and the Ladies did for her.

Heswall, Wirral