Can you enlighten me about au pairs' hours? + the going rate in SE London Bromley way?

[MrsFogi]

I'm a rookie at this - I'm trying to put together a spec for an au pair and am getting somewhat confused about hours. Do I state the number of hours (I understand this is up to 35 per week) plus evening babysitting 1-2 times a week or does the evening babysitting form part of the number of hours per week.
Any assistance gratefully received as I suspect the key to getting this right for the au pair and us is making sure expectations on both sides are clear and aligned.
Also can anyone tell me what pocket money for an au pair in Bromley/Chislehurst as I'd like to ensure I line up with the current rates.
Thank you

I would say 20 to 25 hours a week, plus 1 baby-sitting (but some people abuse and it's starting to be 35, 40 hours a week. This is not OK.

You can expect the Au pair to work an hour in the morning to help get the kids ready, and drop them to school. Then 1 hour of housekeeping ( kids laundry, hoovering, clean the breakfast table, nothing insane)

Then in the evening she can pick up the kids and stay with them for 2 or 3 hours, help with the supper or the bath.

The Au pair should not have full days. She should not take care of children under 3.

It is as you say making sure that you explain to the aupair what her hours and pocket money are and what is included.

It is fine to include 1-2x evening babysitting on top of the weekly hours but generally that would only be on Mon-Thurs nights. Fri tends to be their socialising night. Weekends it should be by prior agreement.

It is best to work out now what you want her hours to be and have a timetable in your head about what you want her to do for each segment of the day.

Be clear whether or not you need her to do housework. Some aupairs feel that they are nannies and will only do childcare and not do housework or only very light housework and not for the family. If you need cleaning, again be very clear what and how many hours.

I only ever hire aupairs from the EU so that there are no visa issues.

Agreed with everything stated above, but seeing as Bromley is zone 4 and travel is quite expensive, you probably either wanna give her higer pocket money (£120) or £100 and include £20 a week for oyster card