First Au pair:any 'day-to-day'/ misc advice

[Dragonball]

Hey there, we have our first au pair arriving next week. We are working out how best to organise things like our laundry for eg. Should she do hers separately? Or should we put all together? Do you have written instructions to give her? Should we buy her a phone? How do we help her find friends etc?
Any other advice to ease us into this new situation?
Thanks!

Our 3rd au pair arrived yesterday (she's lovely).

Give her a laundry bag for her room. She should certainly do her own laundry in my opinion but I ask that they tell me if the load isn't full so I can top up with kids clothes for the sake of the environment

Au pair brings phone I arrange a cheap contract (2.50 a week) which covers everything. This paid out of my bank account. Instructed to use What'sAp or similar for messages home

Timetable to give them a good understanding of when they are most needed and when they are free to do their own thing.

Happy to answer other questions you have. Having an au pair has been great for us

Thanks, yes, very helpful.
How do you organise mealtimes - does the au pair eat with you in the evenings? or the kids?

We offer out au pairs the opportunity to eat with the kids or with us. I quite like eating with then as it's a chance to catch-up and debrief about the day.

Do a detailed daily and weekly roster. Write everything down clearly outlined. Write routines down. Everything and anything. It may seem trivial and overbearing but then on the second day I sit down with AP and go through everything. My AP's overlap which gives new AP a chance to be trained by old AP too. Its important to clearly outline your expectations and what you need AP to do. Then the AP knows exactly what should be done and can study the papers if she forgets. I have all the schedules taped on the kitchen cabinet for easy referral.
As AP gets more experienced mine have started to plan their own days and arrange playdates and trips with other AP friends and after a couple of months they do their own schedules . A family calendar with a row for the AP to fill in their plans is good. Its all give and take, we are all one family and the ap is certainly part of ours.
Every Sunday evening I sit down with the AP and plan the week so we know who does what, sort the kitty for snacks etc and talk through any issues. We also txt during the day to update, never "you must do this" more " hope kids being good and all well, on track to be back at 3 etc" lots of communication, and lots of thanks and praise, as My AP is brilliant, and deserves to know how appreciated she is!:)
Mealtimes we all eat together as a family at 5, and AP joins us. If she has evening plans she tells us but shes usually starving and will still have some dinner! She usually does her own thing in the evening as she is very social with lots of friends, but shes equally welcome to join me for tea and bisquits on the sofa!:)
Our AP does her own laundry, is responsible for changing her own sheets and tidying her room so the cleaner can hoover and dust once a week. Shes more than welcome to mix her laundry with ours, last AP used to throw a load in daily off her own back, fold and leave a neat pile on the side bless her.
In the end its all what works for you. Set expectations. Communicate Appreciate and keep fingers xxed! Good luck!!!

Oh yes, capped contract for phone. Tesco or 3 do them. That way she cannot run up bills yet can top up if she wants more data etc. Tell her to use whatsapp fb etc for communicating with home!:) x

Thank you!