Is there still such a thing as a "mother's help"?

[Petsville]

I'm going back to work next month. DH will be looking after our DS during the week, but may want someone to keep an eye on him, probably in our house, for a couple of half-days so that he can get on with other stuff. Whoever it was wouldn't be in sole charge as DH would be home. An au pair would be an obvious answer but we don't have space. I dimly remember that there used to be "mothers' helps" who would do a bit of childcare and light housework - do they still exist, and where would we start looking for one?

TIA

They still exist. As you will be wanting them to do some childcare, I feel they are more an unqualified nanny. They are like any other live-out employee in terms of employment law and tax law, so Written Statement/Contract, Holiday Pay, PAYE etc.

Just create a job advert which gives as much detail as possible so that candidates know that the job isn't sole charge of a child and will involve housework. Post the advert locally plus also online on various places like Childcare.co.uk (click the advert that often appears on this mumsnet page), Gumtree, other local job advertising sites.

i used to do this when i was at college, might be worth putting an advert up in your local college for childcare students, the experience is always useful so might not be as expensive

There are some brilliant people looking for work on gumtree - I was looking for a cleaner a while ago and lots of applicants had extensive childcare experience. You will need to sift but there are some great candidates out there.

Thanks for these responses - looks as though Gumtree may be a place to start. Don't think we have a local college with a childcare course, but I'll check that too.