Does this sound ok for au pair role?

[cinnamonbun]

We're planning to get an au pair next year (I know, I like to plan ahead!) I know au pairs normally work about 20 hours a week but we'd need slightly more hours (and before anyone suggests a nanny, we definitely can't afford one!). This is what I'm thinking but feel free to tell me if you think I'm being unreasonable:

-9:30am-4pm Mon-Fri with one hour lunch break = 27.5 hours/week.

-Duties would involve looking after DS during the day (who'll be 1) and pick DD up from school. I'll be working from home.

-We'll all be out between 9:30 and 10am so this time could be used for tidying up after breakfast (while I bring DD to school), hoovering (3 bedroom flat) once/twice a week and ironing DH's shirts twice a week.

-5 weeks holidays per year plus bank holidays.

-Salary: £110/week? (We're in London.)

-We'd also probably offer to pay for gym membership (there's one in the basement of the building).

-What about phone credit etc.?

Oh, and does anyone have a contract template I could use? I'd be most grateful! :)

An au pair isn't 'most jobs' though is it?

Yes MrsHuxtable it was 20 years ago and hard work but great fun.

Au pairs are the only viable option for many, its easy to say get a cleaner and a childminder, but if you can find me a childminder willing to take on 3 children on an adhoc basis and speak Swedish to them I would be more than happy....I advertized for month for a nanny to do my adhoc hours and did not have a single applicant.

Advertized for months!!!! Butterfingers

Not sure what difference it makes because it is an au pair job? You could equally say waitressing isn't "most jobs" or nursery assistant isn't "most jobs"

'It's absolutely an au pair job hmm I'm surprised by those saying different!

Young person from another country
Living as part of a host family
Doing childcare and light housework
25-30 hours a week
Receiving "pocket money"

That's pretty much the exact definition of an au pair.'

An au pair is completely different to a formal job, which you know, because you just posted the exact definition of an au pair! As such, they are not treated the same as an employee like a waitress or a nursery assistant. Do the people in your family get a 'lunch hour'? Pay for an au pair job is based on hours, here the unpaid lunch hour is the difference between 27.5 hours a week and 32.5 hours a week. The pay is generous for the first, but slightly low for the second imo. I'm not sure that it's fair to count the hour she has while the baby sleeps as her free time.

Just to clarify, the reason why DH and I want an au pair is: a) there's no nursery near us that caters for under 2-year olds. B) DD's school will be a 45 min bus ride away so can't do a nursery/childminder run on top of that or i would have to give up work (which i can't afford) c) DH and i feel that nursery is great but once our child is a little bot older (1.5-2) d) we definitely want someone Swedish speaking and d) we can't afford a nanny.

What exact hours do you need childcare? You say 9-4 But not all those hours are chikdcare
You are working from home yes? And aren't home with any children until 10am?

Could you just get a nanny 10am -1pm, nanny put baby to nap at 1 then leaves. Then you can work 10-2.30/3 from home with a combination of nanny and child napping. Surely that's the same hours as working 10-12, hrs lunch, then 1-4.

A first job nanny with qualifications/ other childcare experience whilst your in house maybe £10 gross ( 10-1 only would suit maybe a parent whilst child is at school)

3 hrs a day x5 = £150 a week. It would cost you plus that with an au pair by the time you pay extra food/ bus/ English school

Get a cleaner or do your own housework

I've just had a look at au pair world:

www.aupair-world.co.uk/index.php/au_pair_program/uk/au_pair/pocket_money

E.g. "Besides childcare, helping with the household chores is part of your duties."

"An au pair in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland normally gets 70 - 85 GBP per week."

"Au pairs in the UK usually work 30 hours per week, babysitting included."

Holidays
"Our recommendation: an au pair gets four weeks holiday provided that he/she stays in the hosting country for 12 months."

So actually, I don't think I'm being unreasonable offering £110 for a 27.5 hour working week with 5 weeks holidays + bank holidays!

No you're not being unreasonable. It's a nice job. Although I think the working week is really 32.5 hours, the lunch hour thing is a bit 'tight' imo.

Their 'recommendation' is actually the law, so I'm a tad wary on what they're saying. Not that it has anything to do with whether what you're paying is reasonable or not, which is the crux of the issue, because you could employ the same person and call them a nanny and noone would blink.

You're well within your rights to choose someone with no qualifications or experience or speaks fluent Swedish or whatever, the difference is you'd be paying a nanny more.

Is there any law that states minimum pay for a live-in nanny?

If not, then would a live-in nanny actually get more pay - sure they could try to negotiate more pay, or not accept the job but whilst they are a worker, due to being provided with accomodation and included in family activities, NMW does not apply.

It's a good au pair job, but would be a terrible nanny job. I wouldn't advertise for a nanny OP, unless you're willing to pay a fair bit more.

It could work as part of a share though - someone whose children are going on to school but wants to keep their nanny might be happy to loan them out 10-3 for a contribution to their wages? The question is what happens in school holidays then.

I just worry an au pair might end up isolated as they'll be working when other au pairs are free and won't be going to English classes (whether they need them or not, it's good socialising) and that's not a great position to be in.

It would be ideal as part of a share as long as the OP doesn't need school holidays.

I wouldn't worry too much about an au pair becoming isolated in London though. I expect most socialising goes on in the evening when the au pair would be free, there are facebook groups for au pairs and I'm sure the OP would be able to introduce him/her to people in the local area. She will meet nannies, au pairs etc at playgroup/baby activities. It should be fine. She has the evenings to work, volunteer, join evening classes or a sports team if she is struggling to meet people.