How long did it take you to recruit your au pair and how many

HarrietTheSpy · 2008-09-14T16:56:09+00:00

sites/agencies, etc were you using at the time? TIA

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 29/10/2008 21:00

Chloe
How's it all going? Swimmingly I hope!!!

Ours has been and gone and I think...we're there. I have some lingering doubts. One is that it's difficult to take up any references as she's only babysat for her parent's friends...or else been at university...so, I could think I was making myself feel better by taking them up but they could be anyone. Seems genuine though, very well mannered, good with the baby (who obviously speaks no English)...seems a little bit scared of DC1 who said tonight: "She's not very good at English is she?" Also, she won't be looking after the baby (maybe only collecting her) who is going to nursery. A bit quiet, but we've put her in some daunting situations to be fair. (Not sole charge but children's parties with lots and lots of people and confusion...and meals with friends - who do speka her language to be fair but didn't that day.) Given some of the problems I hear about on here, I feel we've drawn a good lot overall. I'm inclined to give her a break re the quietness as I've lived with families abroad before too where I didn't speak the language and I know how exhausting it can be. But the other thread going on here at the moment which talks about au pairs with a general unspecified sadness worries me...also DC1 is what people describe as a 'handful'and I supposed I'm a bit worried about how she'll cope when we're not around. She'll have her for three and a half hours a day, three days a week, on her own.

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chloeb2002 · 08/10/2008 22:14

Good Luck!

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 08/10/2008 07:49

Pleased it's all worked out for you. Everything crossed. We are doing the trial run. It's eating up a good deal of our half term but I think it's worth it.

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chloeb2002 · 08/10/2008 04:55

Hi again. we finaly have someone.. well two.. i have found a home for the spare au pair too! a really nice sounding normal 22 year old snglish girl. hows your hunt going? Id do just as you say pay her for the weeka nd train fare etc. we dont have that luxry. had to go on gut instinct. ours flys out on the 16th october so all fingers and toes crossed.

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 03/10/2008 11:01

hi chloe
I'm having another 'chat' with someone tomorrow. If it goes well, I'm hoping she can come for a week beforehand as a sort of trial. We can get to know each other a bit and she can see the lay of the land and if it's likely to suit. It won't be EXACTLY the same because I'm on maternity leave but I'm sure the personality mix and whether we can communicate is going to be about 70% of whether it all works out.

In terms of expenses, I was planning to compensate her for the train fare and food along the way. It's a pretty straightforward trip. And then paying her for the week.

Has anyone done something like this before?

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jura · 03/10/2008 09:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chloeb2002 · 03/10/2008 06:25

Hi harriet, I think we have found someone.. eueka.. a lovely english girl who can stay for 12 months,seems great. not much experience with babies but has some with toddlers so sure she will be fine. her parents speak highly of her and she can be here on october 16th... ideal as i stat work on nov 3rd so a couple of weeks to adjust ect.
Note usre about the language thing. i hd one that wanted to go to english school and i turned her down because it wouldnt ahve worked because i work shifts and couldnt say yes ill be free on friday and wednesday for example.
still depends what works for you..

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 01/10/2008 13:22

Okay all
How many people have had au pairs who are planning to use their time to get a language qualification?

I am thinking the time commitment would mean that an au pair plus schedule may be unrealistic...

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DadInsteadofMum · 30/09/2008 14:30

Oops apologies.

Though I believe the new UK system was copied wholesale from recognised the best practice of the Australian system

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 30/09/2008 13:11

I think Chloe is in Australia though...

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DadInsteadofMum · 30/09/2008 11:01

Regarding the yank and a visa, in November the rules change, the old au pair scheme is dead and you have the new and shiny youth mobility scheme, she may be eligibile.

Nobody seems to know how it is going to work and what little details the government has are here

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 30/09/2008 09:55

I'm losing track of which people I've emailed Chloe. Progress?

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chloeb2002 · 28/09/2008 22:37

ditto one amercan girl interested. but needs a passport... and a visa..
noone else has replied and i emailed about 20 people.
will have to look else where i think.

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 28/09/2008 17:22

Chloe any weekend joy? Almondbury said they thought it would take us A WEEK to find something. Responses from both have dwindled to zilch. Weird. Maybe they assume we've found someone because it's been up for a month now?!

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chloeb2002 · 26/09/2008 22:10

H harriet, you would have thought.. well i did that loads of english nannie would be cueing up to come but not one bean from a british nanny...OMG are we that bad? a few americans and a german show interest but so far nothing good... wel no one who can start asap. one who can start 21st decmeber and another on 31st december....arse. May have tp pay large sumd of money for some one local till then. really dont want to do that! and i want some continuity.
Still will keep plugging away.

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 26/09/2008 11:23

Thanks for the recommendation moeaw. I will look into that. In terms of the evenings,that sounds great, I'm assuming you're London based - we are, but Greater...I wonder how they might get on with aps not centrally located?

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moeaw · 26/09/2008 08:19

I've used 2 agencies - Peekaboo and Childcare International. Both have been really good. Both agencies have sent me details of girls that were very good on paper and interviewed well. However, what has impressed me more with Childcare Int is the pack they send to the au pairs and families to explain the roles and responsibilities of an au pair, alongside some guidance on living with a family. When I read through it - I thought if we'd had the information for previous au pairs it would have saved lots awkward/difficult conversations with girls explaining things.

They also seem to set up better evenings for the girls, which aren't just social, but also gives them some information on personal safety.

They are on the more expensive end - but in terms of value for money you're spending on somebody living in your home for a year - and a better integrated, happier and more responsible au pair = happier more secure household overall :-)

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 25/09/2008 14:10

Chloe
I think you will get loads of responses for Oz. There are lots of British au pairs on Almondbury who I reckon would be interested. Are Yanks allowed to come to Australia? Almondbury seems to have lots of Americans.

Blueshoes, our experience of Au Pair World has been mostly time wasters - we email, call, send picturs, nada - or unsuitable for whatever reason. It might be we are way too picky though. I was thinking maybe I wasn't accounting for the age factor enough, when evaluating what some of them were saying too us, putting on their profiles. ie. that would be BONKERS if you were 30, but at 17...it's just a maturity thing??? DH is a Deputy Head of a secondary school, so much more recently familiar with that age group. It's difficult to decide, and I think a big problem for me is doing it all remotely.

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blueshoes · 25/09/2008 11:50

Hi Harriet, wishing you luck.

I hope you haven't already answered this below, but you have not having much luck with aupairworld?

I wouldn't go for a moany aupair, however justified she is in moaning. It is a character trait that is likely to grate over time. I have seen some pretty interesting stuff said about their host families in the aupair's profiles and steered clear of those.

blueshoes · 25/09/2008 11:41

kathy, for the standard 25 hours + 2 nights babysitting, I would agree that to be fair to the aupair, the babysitting should be as the agency describes. However, I specifically vary the standard understanding by making it clear in my emails that I am unlikely to require 2 nights' babysitting a week (ds' bedtime is too tricky for an aupair to handle), but instead may occasionally require her to take the children to the playgym/park on a pre-arranged Sunday morning. My aupairs seem ok with that.

chloeb2002 · 25/09/2008 11:39

thats what i figured... thanks

Kathyis6incheshigh · 25/09/2008 11:29

Our agency describes babysitting very specifically as meaning the au pair being in the house after the children are in bed, rather than any active childcare, though obviously she would deal with any issues that arise.

Not sure how general this definition is though.

chloeb2002 · 25/09/2008 11:22

you have all my luck... i may need some returning too! I keep hoping australia is a great location someone must want to come. I think my only request is a non smoker... not that hard surely! Im not sure however what the difference is between au pair duty childcare and the term babysitting
any idea?

Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 25/09/2008 11:10

Chloe
The floodgates have now opened. I think the agency has to forward stuff onto people. Good luck with your search - wish us luck please!!

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Original poster

HarrietTheSpy · 25/09/2008 09:48

Okay, we clearly have the Plague. I have had a total of TWO responses from au pairs from there. We are not one of the 'elite' families though, ours is well down the list.

They did sent me the details of a GUY with no experience in childcare whatsoever (DCs will be 4 and 9 mo when I need someone). But he speaks the same EE language I speak, I think that's why. DH was like: get him over to organise the shed!!

I got a corker from [another site] the other night. I am convinced it's a spoof. Claims to be looking after triplets full time in Surrey, describes the mother in deeply unflattering terms, said she wouldn't be able to get a reference but could spend the day with someone (this is why I think it's all bollocks). Oh, and she wants to find a family which allows her to bring men back to her room - "They're JUST FRIENDS."

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