Help! My student's shiney new job as Au Pair has gone <poof>

[Mammuzza]

Cutting a long story short, I live in Italy, my student is Italian. She can't start her Master's this year (will be going to study something complicated about finance in Monte Carlo next ac. year) , I suggested she spend this year in the UK to improve her English (she's just passed CAE speaking, near miss on the other three papers). We looked at options. She loved the idea of Au Pairing. Found a job.... and it turned out to be a scam.

I have a thread on chat that underlines my inability to notice an obvious Nigerian Prince in his home office coat.

Anyway. She is a bit gutted, and I am trying to help start round 2 of the job search, but more carefully this time.

Which agencies are reliable and scam free ? Any recommendations ?

I've been checking out some agencies with proper addresses and tax numbers and came accross the need for a certificate from her doctor and one from the police. We live in a tiny rural area. Nobody in those roles speaks or writes English. Would a translation done by me cut the mustard ? Becuase I have no idea where she could find a notarised translator in the vicinity, in August, when lots of places are shut. I am not even sure what the certificates should say specificslly. Any tips on that score ?

And if there is anything else you think I should bear in mind, mucho gratitudo !

Cos it's a bit like the blind leading the blind at the moment.

Either Google or be bold and ask one of the au pair agencies if they can send you an example of an au pair contract.

Do also put in that she will have her own room solely for her use and not to be used by family and/or guests. Some families let their kids bother the au pair when she is off duty, it has to be her sanctuary. Ideally with TV,DVD, internet etc and the opportunity for her friends to stay with her during the weekend (ideally also a sleep over). We initially only allowed female friends. After we had had several au pairs we also had boy friends now and then, never was a problem but most families will not like this.

She can also ask a potential host family: What will you do to,help me feel at home?
If they get annoyed with this question, then you know it is a one way street and I would bin them.

I've found a nice, clear template.

I'll add your suggested "clarity clause" about the room.

People actually use it as a guest room while the au pair is in it ?

Most of today will be swallowed up with police stuff, cos the scammer is back on the scene.

No, what happens is that when they have guests they may ask the au pair to either sleep on a mattress on the floor in the room of the child or in the living room. I have heard from friends of our au pairs that this happens quite a lot.

I have been reading this thread and while I appreciate DikTrom means well I disagree with some of her advice about emphasising the au pair must have her own sanctuary, must be allowed sleepovers etc. I also disagree aboutasking lots of questions about how the family will help her make friends etc.

We use au pair world to find our au pairs and we do like them to be part of our family but if an interviewee asked me all that then I would worry that they would not be independent and would expect too much from me and I would not hire them.

There are many more potential au airs than potential host families. Your student must show her very best sides to get hired. She needs a great profile, references ready, an engaging manner on Skype etc.

I also disagree with DikTrom that lots of families abuse au pairs. Of course there are some bad families but as an au pair employer who has met loads more au pairs through my own au pairs I would say the vast majority have great host families and great years abroad.

Good luck to you and your student. I only hired last week otherwise I would have interviewed her.

I aupaired through aupairworld.co.uk(/.com cant remember).

it isn't a policed agency etc but if you get her to skype the family a few times etc you should be able to tell plus it gibes her the opportunity to check the family out etc.

so sorry for her about the scam, hope it doesnt put her off!

To get a feel how au pairs get treated you may just want to advanced search this board you are posting on using the word 'au pair' or 'problems with au pair'. I agree there are many good families, but there are also many many families I would not like my dd to be their au pair when she is older. People can really be very unreasonable, very able to think about their needs but not about the needs of a young girl in a foreign country.

Actually, we went through agencies. We were told there were not that many western European au pairs, so she is in an advantageous position. There are many au pairs who are. Ot even allowed to,work in the UK. And many many Eastern Europeans.

Not even allowed to work in the UK

When I hired through au pair world a couple of weeks back I specified only Scandinavians or Germans and I got 111 responses in two weeks! Obviously not every response was a good one but many were. Germans in particular seem keen on au pairing in their gap years.