To ask if you realise au-pairs are seriously under threat after Brexit?

[Dontblameitontheboogie]

On another thread discussing a potential au-pair who would be starting this summer, I was struck that not a single poster pointed out that it’s far from certain au-pairs will be able to arrive or even stay after 29 March!?!

I thought this deserved its own thread, and in AIBU rather than the “Brexit” echo chamber. People may not even realise they could be affected.

Even in a “Deal” scenario, au-pair status isn’t guaranteed, as far as I know. They won’t qualify for pre-settled status, as they’re here temporarily and won’t be able to provide proof of ordinary residence. So technically they could be here illegally from 29 March. Access to health care would be a worry, as would re-entering the UK after trips home - or getting here in the first place.

The current au pair scheme is an EU-wide arrangement, that allows young EU nationals to temporarily live in another EU country without exercising Treaty rights. Some countries, like France or Germany extend the scheme to au-pairs from outside the EU too, but the U.K. doesn’t.

In case of a no deal Brexit, the Immigration Bill that was passed last Monday means that EU citizens wishing to come here must have a job offer worth at least £30,000k. Some exceptions I believe, such as nurses and doctors, but I haven’t seen any mention of au pairs anywhere.

Check out www.saveaupairs.uk for more info.

Missillusioned - childminders

I'm struggling to have much sympathy for the families tbh. Regardless of what a good deal they claim au pairs get, you only have to read a few Mumsnet threads to know how a lot get treated in reality.

People just want a cheap way to get childcare and I think a lot of the young (mostly) women involved are exploited and some are mistreated.

There are much bigger problems coming our way than the middle classes having to stump up for proper childcare.

missillusioned you are correct. Especially if you've maxed out the childcare you can claim for on the care you need for the daytime. (Night workers have to sleep!)

The system is different now, but when I was on £24k doing shift work, claiming tax credits, then the au pair (only reliable anti-social hours childcare option, other than a nanny, which is megabucks) didn't feel like a luxury.

@Inliverpool1 very few childminders do overnight. There are none in my local area. There are only 3 that cover the local school and I know none of them work past about 6pm.

oliversmum- that sounds a very dodgy option. Not likely to satisfy HMRC that they're au pairs not employees. The au pair scheme is something distinct. Having a British young adult living with you as an unqualified nanny, yet not paying them minimum wage, is dodgy.

Missillusioned - well when there is a gap in the market someone will fill it.
There are also ofstead registered nannies available- more work for them too hopefully

Childminders?! Very few do overnight. Those that do require the child to stay in their house (and when does it cross into private fostering?!), And most kids want to stay in their own beds, and not live somewhere else 5 nights a fortnight! And then the overnight childminders charge a week's worth of an pair pocket money for 1-2 nights.

But, yeah, at least people wouldn't judge it as a luxury.

@Inliverpool1 perhaps you shouldn't sneer or comment on something you have no knowledge or experience of.

I was an au pair in Paris 10 years ago and got paid 60€ a week for what was a lot more than 30hrs childcare a week. However I got free board in my favourite city, my French improved immensely (which was the main purpose of my taking the role), and I've made friends for life with the family I stayed with. There is no way I could've afforded to stay in Paris that long without being an au pair- and I will always be grateful for the experience. So please, save your pity.

It's an invaluable cultural exchange and it'll affect poorer British young people too who will lack the funds to travel like this without saving for a while first.

And for those saying it's a luxury...the family I stayed with had 4 children... the youngest stayed with the parents, the other 3 children (2 boys and a girl) shared a room, and I had the third room. This was the only form of childcare that they could afford.

Ofsted registered nannies are a luxury.

Thanks Ethel for knowing SO much more about my life than I do.

Also, au pairs aren't supposed to do overnights are they?

Childminders don't need or want to do overnights. Many don't have a spare room for their charges to sleep in, and many don't want to do night shirts, or the extra registration.

An pairs can do overnights, why wouldn't they?

They can't do sole care of under 3s, but overnights is often why they're needed. Looking after a sleeping child isn't taxing.

Of course they are there overnight they live in.

You could be an au pair in UK before free movement of people. Panic over everyone.

It's really weirding me out that people seem to be forgetting that some people can't afford any childcare at all

@Superchill
The BAPAA and Heavenly Au Pairs seem to disagree. They were the first two links I clicked on.

Au pairs are specifically catered for in our immigration rules, so I do not believe there will be an issue, unless the UK Gov changes the rules.

www.aupair.com/en/p-england-uk-visa.php

Least of my worries tbh

I was an au-pair here in 1999, it’s not an Eu thing.

ID81241 - I have plenty of experience as a host family, an au pair myself back in the day and as a mother who’s used every available childcare option. Cheeky cow.

Childminders?! Very few do overnight. Those that do require the child to stay in their house (and when does it cross into private fostering?!), And most kids want to stay in their own beds, and not live somewhere else 5 nights a fortnight! And then the overnight childminders charge a week's worth of an pair pocket money for 1-2 nights

But, yeah, at least people wouldn't judge it as a luxury

Of course that is also a luxury.

I'm struggling to have much sympathy for the families tbh. Regardless of what a good deal they claim au pairs get, you only have to read a few Mumsnet threads to know how a lot get treated in reality

So far I've seen "good deals" as those put forward by posters who say how they treaty the au pairs in their homes, so "claim" implies they are lying.

A "few" MN threads = a "lot" of mistreated au pairs? Check the logic.

@Inliverpool1 then I'm surprised at how staggeringly misinformed you are about the differences between an au pair, a child minder and a nanny and why you think the latter two can replace the former. Given your experience you should know better.