What next - I have sorted my Au Pair World profile and replies are coming in!

[Dysgu]

Just that really!

I have posted here previously about whether an au pair would bring the solution to our child care requirements...

And have now created a profile on Au Pair World.

I know what I want the au pair to do once they get here - in August so still some time to get it sorted, typed up and finalised into a 'guide' kind of thing.

But how do I go about knowing/finding out which possible au pair will turn out to be the right one? I have done a search and have found mention of questionnaires and contracts and stuff - is there anyone who would be happy to forward anything they have found useful, please?!

Thanks you!

Well my process is they contact me/I contact them, I send them the basic job description and ask for a CV and if they have any questions, rank them on the basis of that reply and if still good answer said questions and send them my list of questions for them. I would send you my list of questions but I think you have different aged children. Some of them might be useful if you want though.

If we're still good at the stage I say I'd like to set up a phone/skype interview to check their languages and have a chat, then warn them I'll ask them to send copies of certificates and references.

If interview goes well I check those out and, in theory, if they checked out I'd make them an offer.

I'm quite ruthless about cutting at each stage, which may or may not be a good strategy! If at any point they don't tick something on my checklist I move on - I have essentials, nice to haves and definite no-nos.

Thank you for the response. Right now I am weeding my way through what seems to be a lot of messages from Au Pair World. I have not actually sent any messages myself to initiate contact but have cut over 50% of the initial responders already.

What sort of things would you (and anyone else) have as essentials? Nice to haves? Definite no-nos?

Is it necessary for an au pair to have had previous childcare experience in a setting outside of their own family? We will still be using the child minder for the 2 year old during the day time so our au pair would only have them for the before and after-school bits of the day.

Totally depends on your requirements, what you ask for. This really should be in your profile though (although many punters reply regardless of whether they fit.)

What do you need them to do?

I have 2DDs aged 4 and 2 years. The 4 year old will turn 5 in September and will be starting at the local school. The 2 year old will start at the local pre-school (attached to the school) for 2 full days a week. The other 3 days each week, the 2 year old will either go to our current child minder or my mother.

I need an au pair to get the girls ready in the morning (although it may well be that I will drop the 2 year old off at the childminder's or my mother's on my way to work) and then get them to school/pre-school. This is a 10 minute walk for an adult but anything up to 40 minutes with a 2 year old not in the buggy!

In the afternoon the au pair would need to collect from school/pre-school (the childminder would hand-over the 2 year old on non pre-school days) and keep the girls safe and happy - this could be going to the park, baking at home, painting etc etc etc...

There would also have to be some flexibility as the older DD starts joining after-school activities.

Beyond that, I would just expect/hope for someone who would join in with the family around the house - the childcare would be about 22-23 hours a week so there would not be much housework specified.

I would not need them to work during school holidays as I am a teacher, although if they were still around then would hope they would join in around the house or activities, perhaps?

Does anyone have any advice regarding which nationalities to look for? Should I stick with EU nationalities as they seem to be the easiest regarding legal requirements?

What are the legal requirements for au pairs from NZ or Australia?

Is it difficult to get visa for Romanian au pairs? I notice they have different requirements from most EU nationals - is it a risk that they might simply be wanting to get into the country?

For the purposes of the profile, I would fix a schedule in terms of the hours and the general sort of things they could be asked to do, and on which days per week. If you do the drop offs some of the time in reality, this is fine, it's a bonus for the AP generally (the way it wouldn't be for a nanny for example.) But if you think you might need it, include it in now. State the weekly pay (or neg for right experience). Be careful about too much of 'joining in around the house' sort of language as they can assume that you actually expect them to be working most of the time. Tell a little bit about the room and other things you can offer her (internet access etc).

If the AP is on her own with the children for any period of time, I would personally require a reasonable standard of English. Could she make a phone call to the emergency services, for example? Many APs may have babysitting experience, but I only really see it as evidence of interest in children rather than expertise. I assume they know very little this regard and need to be trained up. I look for evidence of interests and hobbies - preferably something they can try to do in the UK - and some independence. But that's just me. You will have your own things that are important to fitting in to your family.

For me the 'rapport' is very important - we do skype calls with a videocam with the candidates to try to get a feel for this.

I would stick with candidates from EU countries that are full members if I were you - avoids immigration hassels. Things are more complicated with Romanians and Bulgarians.

I love how I'm advising and struggling to recruit too!

Australians have the right to work here for up to 12 months under the Youth Mobility visa. Think it might be the case for NZ as well but can't be sure.

Have a think about how much 1 on 1 experience they have had with children. I just had to give notice to an au pair who had 4 months nursery experience. With that experience she thought she had loads of experience (and so did I TBH), but in reality she didn't, she was probably just an extra pair of hands. She didn't have much 1 on 1 experience with children, just playing with them etc and didn't have a clue how to interact with a child - never once got down to eye level with my DSs, and was upset that my DSs didn't want to go to her.

Being an elder sibling with lots of young siblings would be beneficial, as could be being an older cousin etc. Babysitting is not necessarily enough as TBh most of the time the children are asleep!

Legal requirements:

EU excluding A2 - absolutely fine, no limits on working hours or anything
A2 (Romania/Bulgaria) - you need to get them in under a BR3 if recruiting directly from Romania/Bulgaria, which means they can only work a max of 25 hours a week OR you need someone with a blue card already (which means they've been employed here for more than a year) and they have unlimited working. DO NOT consider someone with a yellow card as that means they can only be self-employed.
Canadian, NZ, Aussie, Japanese or Monagasque candidates - on a Tier 5 visa also absolutely fine and no limits on working

As an employer you are the one responsible for checking their right to work so if you're in any doubt, don't hire.

My essentials are:

Legally able to work (!)
1 year actual professional experience with children or a qualification
First Aid certificate
Language competence, which we test through a phone interview
Willingness to provide a medical certificate and evidence of immunisations (we live in the tropics though...)

Nice to haves:
Driving license
Musical ability
Interest in sport
Lived away from home before
Evidence of having held down a job

Definite nos:
Smoker
Any kind of conviction, including points on driving license as it puts our premium through the roof

I forsee our requirements changing as DC gets older and academic credentials will become more important for homework help whereas actual experience with children will become less of a priority

I would say previous sole charge, preferably all day (not necessarily live-in), care of young children is essential for looking after a 2 and 4 year old. English skills would also be essential, in the event of an emergency or even talking to teachers and parents at the school gate.

Our arrangement is much like yours. I have an 8 yr DD, almost 6 yr DS1, and 4 mnth DS2. DS2 goes to a childminder during school hours term time ony. Au Pair has this time fore English class or to enjoy her gym membership or whatever she wants to do. Handover to/from childminder happens at the shool gate.

As for nationalities, I would recommend Germans for their excellent English, Poles for their hardworking work ethic, Estonians also for a hardworking work ethic, and I know many people who recommend the Swedes. These are of course all stereotypes. So perhaps take it as a guide only.

Our au pair travels to and from school (and anywhere else they go) on the bus come rain or shine. Given that we live in England I usually avoid candidates from warm cosy beachy climates cause I figure the school run in February might be more than they bargained for.

The other thing that I am really strict about is nutrition. So, I ask a lot about their own eating habits. But, this is often useless because they all say they like healthy food even if they don't.

We had a hilarious application last night from a girl who said she would take the children to the beach to entertain them. Considering we live in GREATER LONDON that might be tricky, of an afternoon.

Good point though about the beachy climes Strix - I hadn't thought of that. Although our friends who've hosted Spaniards and Italians haven't mentioned their APs gloomy in winter. And I've had Germans complain about the weather.

Thank you for all the advice - there are some really useful pointers there.

Are there any other countries within the EU that require additional paperwork or is it just Bulgaria and Romania?

I think we will stick to EU countries and perhaps we need to be more specific about wanting childcare experience as they will probably have either one or two of the girls for sole charge for about 3-4 hours each day to cover the before and after school bits.

The English language bit is important too. They will probably have to do all of the school runs most weeks so they will probably be the main point of contact from the teachers - although many of the teachers at the school are ex-colleagues of mine from when I worked there (not sure if that is a good thing or not!)

As for the weather, we generally get better weather than many other places in the country and the beach is only a ten minute walk from the house. However, that will probably remain an activity for us until we know that we have chosen a sensible au pair who would not let them run into the sea unguarded.

Do I need to start looking now to find someone who would be able to start in about the 3rd week of August? I will still be on holiday from work for a fortnight and then DP has a fortnight booked off work to cover the 'integration' into school for DD1 until she goes full-time.

Is anyone currently advertising on au pair world who would let me have a look at what they are asking, please? I have trawled through many of the families but ... gosh... there are so many.

Please PM me if so. Thanks.

yes I would start searching now for an August start.

I think it's just Bulgaria and Romania but watch out for Macedonia and Croatia - these APs do turn up from time to time in London, not sure of their immigration status.

Make sure they know how long you need them to stay and that they can supply references.

Another thing you might want to consider is sending the au pair on a paediatric first aid course when she arrives.

I would definitely stick to EU candidates. Anything else is just not worth the hassle.

I would think putting an ad up and starting the search in about June is probably adequate. I think now is too early. You will get inundated with candidates who are actually looking for a June start.

My sister had an otherwise-wonderful au pair who unfortunately got very homesick and only lasted four months - she had been with her boyfriend for several years and missed him too much.

Dsis says she will only use single au pairs from now on. May be something else to consider.

I don't agree! It can take a while on AP world.I haven't found anyone looking for a June start but most of the girls thwe are looking at are in school anyway and wouldn't free up until later.

My current AP told me that the girls who were serious about being aps from her school looked early, like now. the ones for whom it more of, I can't figure out what I want to do so I'll be an AP, waited until later when other stuff didn't work out. It's just her experience but I thought that was interesting.