Au Pair needed -- fast!

[DramaticGene]

Last year we got an au pair through Au Pair World and it all worked out beautifully. She stayed for 11 months. I started the search for the new au pair for Sept a little bit later but didn't expect the lack of success I'm currently experiencing. If anything thought it would be easier as have all the profiles, photos, blurb etc. now sorted. Got as far as Skyping with two of them and one dissappeared and the other found a different family. My process is a numbers game really, invite lots to view profile, whittle them down with questions by email and then Skype. I don't think I'm overly picky.

I joined an agency at the start of the week and they've been pretty rubbish so far too.

So, help, I'm getting the impression that anyone who wants to be an au pair for Sept start is now sorted and I start back to work on Sept 1st and don't have an au pair! Have two delightful kids and live in Berkshire. Anyone got any good leads / agency names with actual people waiting to be placed??

DramaticGene

Hi,
Try Aupairka agency(www.aupairka.co.uk), they quite fast. I registered with them last week wednesday, they send me 3 matching au pairs in 5 days. And I got au pair starting on 2nd of September, hurray!

Good luck
M.

You could try Gumtree for some actually in the country

I second Gumtree - we have always got our au pairs through there.

Gumtree is often a good bet but do be careful about why they're leaving their current family. You'll probably, for a Sept start, find summer APs who want to extend or people coming to the end of their year wanting a change.

Have you been contacting everyone you like the look of?

Yes, I have! But I'm beginning to think my slight delay in starting the process has dramatically whittled down the available numbers !! aaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhh!

Husband is starting to look worried that he's going to be picking up the slck in Sept

I am in West Berkshire and have always used Just au pairs since au pair world disaster in 2007 when just au pairs got me an au pair in 3 weeks. They place alot of APs who want to be close to London, but not in London in the berkshire area providing contacts to each other so friends is really easy.
I have to say they did contact me in April this year to say there does seem to be a general shortage of au pairs for this september, but there maybe more soon after exam results are published.

Thank you Lizcat. Am also in West Berks and have just registered with them. Fingers crossed!

try abacus au pairs in brighton. Debbie.

when I emailed them in January 2011 they did not have many girls available either, all the other agencies send me many files and I only received 3 from Just aupairs, was pretty disappointed ... I phoned them couple of times as well but there was no answer so not impressed at all .. I did used gumtree and also aupairworld but without much luck.. find it time consuming ...

January isn't a great time for someone you need soon as most au pairs want summer or Sept starts. You might find Aussie/Kiwi apllilicants at this time of year and greataupair has a few for immediate start.

When do you need an au pair by, Paulina? I agree DIY is very time-consuming!

I too am looking for an au pair and finding the SUITABLE applicants rather thin on the ground.

Am on the verge of biting the bullet and paying to rude people at Au Pair World as GAP does not seem to have many. Several ok profiles, but no replies so oi fgure they have long since found placements.

Maybe they're all applying for my summer start?! I've had a few good ones in the last few days wanting to come soon - although that indicates they haven't read my ad saying I haven't had the baby yet so maybe they're not that good. Lovely Dutch girl and 2 nice sounding Canadians!

The original message is from aug last yr, hence the request for a sept start! For some reason it's been posted on again.

It was resurrected by Paulina who was looking in Jan and I think needs someone quickly, and strix needs someone sooner as well IIRC.

Ha, had nice girl contact me. Possible still hope for GAP. Obviously prefer not to may two subscriptions if I can manage with only one.

Where are you, Frak?

You are right, they don't read all the details. I have had a couple who looked really good but wanted to start in July.

In the middle of the Indian Ocean - clearly a desirable location but I get lots who clearly see British family and don't look at location because they rave about living in the UK

On a boat?

Have you tried Norlands in Bath?

Nah an island! DH is on a boat...

I needed for January, apparently is the second best time of the year to be looking,
apparently the best time of the year to be looking is August-September