Mother's Helper Help!

[FidoDido75]

Hi, I'm a mother of two (DS 2.5 and DD 9 month old). I need somebody to help me in household duties and childcare when my husband is away on a business trip. I'll start working full time next week and children are already in the nursery full time. So, I'm looking for a mother's helper mainly for mornings and evenings and for the weekend when hubby is away (for about two weeks in a two month period). Both of my children are not great sleepers, DS is up at least once for a pee (fortunately he's toilet trained), and DD several times looking for some comfort in my arms. So, although not much eager decided that we need somebody to live with us. We have not employed anybody before and don't know much about the law as well. I'll be sending an offer to one of the candidates but got stuck with whether it'll be a gross or net payment. The weekly fee will be below the LEL (lower earnings limit), so hmrc web page says no PAYE and no NIC should be paid. So can we say net and gross payment will be the same? Will there be any other costs? In the mean time, I wonder if we can offer a pay rate below the minimum national wage? Thanks

State that the payment is Gross. Then should the tax situation change at a future point meaning that you do need to start making deductions, you are not tied to paying those deductions on top of the salary which would happen if you agreed a Net salary.

Other costs: Food, accommodation, a 'family' outing on occasion (I presume you are wanting them to be a bit like an au-pair, rather than getting involved in National Minimum Wage and Accommodation Offset).

Holiday entitlement will need to be calculated.

Are you having fixed hours of work? Fixed number of hours per week?

Yes, I exactly want her to be a bit like an au-pair, thanks :)
It'll be around 20 hours per week (weekdays), and weekends will be additional when required.