au pair agency

[debb55]

i run an au pair agency and am looking to update my website. i get lots of recommendations through mumsnet and so thought i'd ask it's members what they would like to see from a website. would you prefer to view details of girls on-line or have selected suitable applicants sent to you and so on...... any comments appreciated and will be noted!

"of girls" - what no male aupairs?

Given that the aupair visa isn't available for most people anymore - perhaps have lots of info about how someone can come to the UK, from which countries, what paperwork needs checking, what the employers responsibilities are, tax thresholds etc.

Up to date accurate advice on visas, tax matters, employment contracts.

Fees that are set at a reasonable level. Clear upfront details of what you are actually doing for the fees.

Same as DIOM

plus..
How long can I expect it to take.
How many au pairs available.
What process if things break down.

I know some will prefer to look through lots of candidates and are used to au pair world and so on, I prefer to be sent candidates who are well matched to what I want.

What is annoying is when an agency doesn't bother with my requirements and sends for instance people without driving licences when I've already told them I need a driver. I've previously ditched agencies who work like that.

hi there
thanks for your responses so far
au pairs are not liable to pay tax and ni - this should be made clear on agency websites. the money they earn is pocket money and under the tax threshold
the au pair arrangement is an informal one so no employment contract required. i think some families forget this when employing au pairs - they think of them as employees - this is not the case
re: treesa - your comments noted - we do send suitable applicants to families including drivers when required and so on. useful to know as i know some families are happy to use the au pair world etc sites which are more like a database than an actual agency hence why they are generally cheaper
look forward to receiving more comments from others

au pairs are not liable to pay tax and ni - this should be made clear on agency websites. the money they earn is pocket money and under the tax threshold

These days au-pairs are paid quite a lot and may have another job as well. So it is ONLY if their combined income is below the threshold per week that PAYE does not need to be operated.

the au pair arrangement is an informal one so no employment contract required.

Following the European court ruling, an au-pair is considered to be a Worker.

See Aupair tax rules
So they would have the same employment rights as anyone else. Exception may be for those who are her actually as an au-pair (having completed form BR3), rather than just someone coming to the country to take on the role.

If you think about it nannynick, the level for tax/NI goes up by a little bit each year - as does the recommended level of au pair pocket money.. So relatively au pairs are paid at the same level as they always have been in relation to these thresholds.

Also since most au pairs are coming to the UK to be au pairs from their home countries, then they don't have other jobs here and so families don't ever need to worry about operating PAYE or having to register as an employer. So it is ONLY if the au pair already has another job in the UK before starting with the family that they will need to register.

Debbs - that kind of inaccurate advice leave au pairs and there employers incredibly exposed to fines and all sorts of problems. Agencies need to be more professional and ensure that the information they hand out is accurate - and so we come full circle back to the first line of my original post.