Looking for an au-pair or live-out in Balham/Streatham Hill

[starrystarrynights]

Our absolutely lovely au-pair has got engaged over Christmas and will be leaving us to go back to Germany shortly.

Am so very, very gutted and have no idea how I'm going to break it to DD,6, who loves her and has started to call her 'Mummy Aupair's name' .

Will search using the usual avenues but a recommendation is always better, as this AP was. So, does anyone have any AP recomendations for me?

TIA

Are you looking for a recommendation/testimonial of someone who is already in the UK looking to au pair for a different family, for an agency or for general recommendations about having an au pair..?

Sorry Treesa, I can see that my post above was not very clear!

I would be looking for a recommendation of someone already in the UK who might be looking for work or for agency recommendations please.

Our 'lovely' au-pair cleared out last night - taking all of her things, money and housekeys - without saying bye to even DD who is upset. Really need to get someone quickly but after recent events am worried about making the wrong decision

TIA

I don't know anyone myself but my au pair has lots of friends and says she knows of a couple of girls who have friends who will be looking soon..

Agency wise I would recommend 1st Choice - they travel to meet their candidates & have videos of each so you get really good information and a personal opinion about each one. They also use personality testing so this has helped a lot with decisions. Don't think they have German girls but most of their girls are a lot older than most and have good experience.

If they haven't got anyone suitable try Maggie at the London au pair & nanny agency as I'm sure she used to have a lot of German candidates if you want to try another German girl again.

I have used Au Pairs by Pebbles for the last 3 years. Have had 2 indifferent APs, but 4 pretty good ones. Current is lovely (boys v upset when she went home for Xmas). They were all French.

By the way we are moving to Balham / Streatham Hill in June, so if you are still there and with an AP, we should perhaps introduce them.