Host Family Guidelines
Au Pairs for Hire around the UK and in Manchester, Cheshire and North Wales
Looking for an Au Pair? Make an enquiry about our Au Pairs for hire by clicking here or alternatively contact us on 01829 730201.
An Au Pair is a single Male/Female aged between 17 – 27, who comes to live with a UK family in order to improve his/her English, and experience life in another Country, for a maximum of 2 years.
Responsibilities
As the Host Family you are inviting a foreign person into your home on a cultural exchange and you are expected to treat your Au Pair like a member of the family. Therefore you have the following responsibilities:
- You should eat your meals together.
- Provide them with their own heated bedroom, if possible with their own television.
- The Host Family should find the time to chat with the Au Pair, make an effort to introduce them to people of their own age, and show them round the local area. This will help the Au Pair to settle in more easily.
- You should provide the Au Pair with all their food and pay them pocket money appropriate to the number of hours they work.
- They must have the opportunity to improve their knowledge of the English language, preferably through a local college.
- The Host Family should check with their Doctor to see if they are prepared to accept the Au Pair as an NHS patient, which means the Au Pair will not be charged for any medical treatment.
Whatever your requirements we can help find the solution
- by drawing up a comprehensive profile of you, the Host Family.
- by specifically promoting your placement to our partner agencies in IAPA.
- by carefully selecting and rigorously checking all prospective Au Pairs before they are introduced to you.
- by always being available to give advice and assistance during the period of the placement.
Procedures
As the Host Family, you must complete a registration form and provide the following information:
- As much information as possible about your family, your life style and what you expect from your Au Pair in the form of a ‘Dear Au Pair’ letter.
- Provide at least two character references for each parent if applicable, one of which must be from a professional person such as a Doctor or a Solicitor.
- If applicable, each parent must provide a current reference from his or her current employer. All references will be verbally checked by the Agency.
Please note that Host families must be prepared to be interviewed by the Agency either face to face, by telephone or Skype.
Once all the above procedures are complete, your placement information will be sent to our partner Agencies who are all IAPA members.
The partner agency will have interviewed prospective Au Pairs, in person prior to them being introduced to the Host Family, and will have verbally checked all references.
The partner agency will then send us with the following documents of any interested Au Pair:
- A ‘Dear Family’ letter, comprising full details of their education, family, life style, any work experience, interests and hobbies.
- Copies of any qualifications and other relevant certificates.
- A Police Check from their country of origin.
- At least two written references which can either be character references or from recent employers.
- A valid Medical Certificate.
- Proof of their identity
Once we have found the right Au Pair for you, we will send a detailed resume together with copies of all relevant documents and help arrange a suitable time for you to contact the Au Pair either by telephone or Skype interview.
If you then wish to proceed with the placement and a commencement date has been agreed, the Agency will implement the following:
- Send an ‘Official Invitation’ to the Au pair, giving full details of the placement known as ‘The Placement Schedule’.
- When ‘The Placement Schedule’ has been agreed, a copy of ‘The Placement Agreement’ will be sent to your Au Pair for their signature.
- Once signed and returned to us by your Au Pair, two copies of ‘The Placement Agreement’ will be sent to you for your signature along with the Agency’s invoice.
- One copy of your signed ‘The Placement Agreement’ must be returned to the Agency with your payment within 14 days of receipt.
Upon receipt of your placement agreement and payment, a ‘Welcome Pack’ will be sent to you before your Au Pair arrives containing the following documents:
- Welcome Letters
- Placement Schedule
- Guidelines for Host Families and Au Pairs
- BAPAA Handbook and details of all the benefits available through BAPAA
- O2 Sim card
- Details of Aupair2aupair website
- Emergency Telephone Helpline number
- BAPAA Au Pairs discounts provided by
- International Friends
- Merlin Entertainments
- International Students’ House
- Safe and Sound First Aid courses
- OCN accredited On Line Au Pair courses
Finally we recommend that you agree with your Au Pair from the outset the following:
- What to do in an emergency
- Approach to discipline
- Daily routines
- Dress code (if required)
- House rules (if applicable)
Remember, we are always available to give advice and assistance to both parties during the period of the placement.
Au Pairs for Hire around the UK and in Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire
Driving and Insurance
Most Au Pairs will not have any experience of driving on British roads. If your Au Pair is from an EU* or EEA* country then she/he can use her licence to drive in the UK.
It is strongly recommended that you are satisfied with your Au Pair’s driving skills before allowing her/him to drive your children. The Au Pair will probably be used to driving on the opposite side of the road and may be used to quieter roads.
We recommend that Host Families arrange driving lessons for their Au Pair to make sure he or she is safe and understands our highway code.
Petrol used by the Au Pair in connection with work is paid for by the family but most Au Pairs will have to pay for petrol for their personal use. This needs to be discussed at the beginning of the Au Pair’s stay.
The family is responsible for insuring the Au Pair to drive the family car.
Your Au Pair should only agree to drive if he/she is satisfied that they are insured. Please show your Au Pair evidence that he/she is included on your motor insurance policy before they drive in the UK for the first time.
Au Pairs under 25 will be more expensive to insure than those aged between 25-27.
Au pairs from within the European Union are cheaper to insure with some insurance companies than those from other countries.
If your Au Pair has an accident in your car you will lose your no claims bonus so it may be worth insuring your no claims bonus.
Some families put their Au Pair on their company car policy to save the cost of insurance.
Au Pairs for Hire around the UK and in Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire
Financial
Your Au Pair will not necessarily be familiar with our currency and may need assistance in setting up a back account and any other financial matters.
- You can expect your Au Pair to work for a minimum of 25 hours and up to a maximum of 35 hours per week over a 5 day period.
- This can include up to 2 nights baby sitting per week.
- In return you should give them pocket money ranging from £70 – £120 per week depending on the number of hours and the location.
- The minimum for 25 hours is £70 and the minimum for 35 hours is £85.
- An hourly rate for additional hours should be agreed before the commencement of the placement.
- Your Au Pair is entitled to 2 full days off per week and 1 fully paid week off per three months.
- If the Au Pair is staying for less than 12 months holiday is calculated pro rata at the rate of 1.66 days per month.
