to think a 22 year old Romanian girl

[deliakate]

could be an excellent child-friendly Housekeeper? We are hoping to hire a live-in housekeeper for at least 6 months whilst no 2 is little. There would be some involvement with the children, some sole-care, but not much and she does have good childcare qualifications. But the main role is to "keep house" and cook occasionally.

She has applied for the job, and seems nice, and is very reasonable in her wage requirements (obv still above nat min wage).

My mum thinks this is too young, and she is just not going to have the experience to clean properly - we live in an older property, which really shows when its not been thoroughly cleaned for a week or so..... Obv I'd provide guidance, but memories spring to mind of past cleaners who have used 10 rolls of kitchen paper each week despite having loads of cloths etc, and still not managed to get anything sparkling..l...

So would I, I would definitely have paid help if I could afford it!

VinegarTits - Why would you want to?

Oops

I really did think you were trying to wind people up! Why did you draw attention to her nationality? And call her a girl? The last housekeeper thread I saw (although admittedly the OP called him a houseboy) really kicked off.

Sorry OP.

But at 22, she's not a girl, and more than capable of running a house. I wouldn't expect a cleaner to look after my kids as well.

I worked as a cleaner from age 16 onwards so 22 is hardly too young. And I'm sure she can have it explained if necessary.

If I had the space and money for a live in housekeeper, I'd do it! I'd much rather spend my time with my children or doing basically ANYTHING else other than cleaning and tidying.

VinegarTits ... why would you want to clean your own house if you didn't want to?

OP - don't think she's too young, give her clear instructions, check references etc, and most importantly, check work visa situation carefully as it is your responsbility.

At 22 I had been married a yer and had my own house for 6. Now I'm 25 and probably still don't clean to others standards. Don't think age has anything to do with it.
I'm welsh, that might have something to do with it though

Do check her right to work but anecdotally Romanians are supposedly very good at both cleaning and childcare.

Is she coming from Romania to live in? If so you may be able to get her here on a BR5, which is restricted working hours but employee status.

Sorry - meant to say "why would you want to clean your own house if you didn't HAVE to"

All Romanians are good at cleaning and childcare? And the french are cheese eating surrender monkeys and you Brits can't cook and have bad teeth.

Jaysus, stereotype city.

Does she live in the UK already? can you interview her in person? does she have references you can actually speak to? how's her English? have you had livein help already and do you know the perils and pitfalls? Has she lived in your area before?

I went over to romania on mission a few years back and stayed with a romanian family. From very early on they are part of the cleaning of the house and errands etc. Even looking after smaller siblings and cooking meals. The youngest girl was 8 when i was there and she had a long list of chores to do every morning. She is more than capable.

BR3 not BR5.

Fat fingers.

All the questions have got me thinking why I mentioned her nationality - I think it was because I am aware that culturally there are different expectations and traditions as to what young women and girls in the home are expected to do, just as there are re the division of labour between men and women etc.

And her age - well I got a cleaning job age 20 with a friend on a Saturday morning, and we used to have to take it in turns to mop badly whilst the other one nursed an horrific hangover. I was awful, but I know I'd be much, much better now. So that was personal experience.

Oh for goodness sake winter. Anecdotally, pop over to nannies and au pairs - it's not a stereotype, it's a fact that many people have had excellent experiences whereas other nationities have been very good at one part, or the other.

I could say they generally have an excellent work ethic, are generally conscientious and generally come knowing the skills needed for both cleaning and childcare. Would that still be stereotyping?

In general Germans, Dutch and Scandanavians have excellent English. Still stereotyping?

It's a generalised observation. Romanian girls/women/whatever tend to know what they're doing without too much guidance.

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/eea/bulgariaromania/liveworkuk/

There are some restrictions on what Romanian and Bulgarian people can do work-wise, but there is an exemption for au pairs, they can just apply for a worker registration type doc and you don't have to apply for a work permit for them.

I don't think Romanian women are necessarily good with child-care, but it is true that in a lot of former Soviet bloc countries which are quite poor, that people grow up quicker and are given family responsibilities much sooner. There are reasons why many employers prefer to employ Polish or Bulgarian workers. But it absolutely depends on the person, and I would be looking for solid contactable referees as my first starting point, plus then looking at how this particular woman interacts with the children, you are not employing a generic person but this one in particular!

If you pay above M.W. as you have stated and holidays, sick days and everything the law requires then surely you could find someone from uk?

Thanks snapfrakkle, and oldenough. She is in the UK, and I can interview her and check refs too. We've not had live-in help before, but she will def have plenty of her own space, so the main thing is whether we get on as people.

you can pop over where you like but you said:
"Do check her right to work but anecdotally Romanians are supposedly very good at both cleaning and childcare. "

is a stereotype, and anecdotes are the point. More; "It's a generalised observation. Romanian girls/women/whatever tend to know what they're doing without too much guidance"

its a load of bollocks. Talking about levels of english literacy in several countries is a matter of fact, verifiable by facts and figures and is nothing like your lazy stereotyping.

By the time I was 21 I was married owned my own home and had DS at 23, although my house isn't "sparking" it can be when I get time and can be bothered!

YABU
If you didn't know how to clean at 22 then you were extremely sheltered!!

You need stated holiday, contract etc anyway. The status if au pair doesn't preclude that. And if you pay above NMW you will probably have to deal with tax/NI etc.

She may already have a blue card, in which case no worries. If she's in the UK she can't use BR3 unless she goes back to apply, but if she's working here already the likelihood is she can get a blue card (providing her previous employers have done everything above board).

If she has a yellow card you're stuffed though.

And the other stereotype on this thread that 22 year olds will be incapable of cleaning?

I'm it stating it as fact, I'm pointing out the experience of other people and I'm aware this evidence is anecdotal and general! I'm not flatly saying they are or not, just that other people have had positive experiences and cultural background may be a factor.

I'm not stating it as fact even.

The French do eat a lot of cheese though.

I'm Romanian.
What do you want to know about me?

I think she wants to know if you are good at cleaning without kitchen roll, and at what point Romanians should be referred to as women rather than girls...