can you advise me in the steps I take to get an au pair?

[imaflippinglostcause]

I'm on au pair world. There are a few people who I've contacted and who have contacted me. Their dates match my dates.

They are the other side of the world, so it's not like I could meet them for a try out. What happens now?

After I've checked the basic, so for me its that they have had a driving licence for over 4 years, its clean, want to stay long enough, have an EU passport or able to get a tier 5 visa.

I then ask for their email and send them an information sheet, just to double check that they are happy with everything and also that they are happy to get a police check. Obviously your criteria are likely to be a bit different to mine, but if you PM me your email address I can send you the info sheet I send out. I then ask them to email with any questions they have and if happy I then set up a Skype interview with them.

For the interview, I double check all my non-negoiatbles again, check that they like playing with children, ask about what they'd like to do after au pairing and what they would like to do in their spare time whilst they are here. She/he needs to be someone you like and you get along with, so just chatting to them is important. I ask them what they would do in an emergency situation e.g. a fire.
Then I bring the children in to have a brief chat with them, I like to interview 2 or 3 before I decide, but last time around I interviewed 6 before I found someone I liked.

We are also looking at Au Pair options, could I get a copy of your information sheet? I've only ever had a childminder up until now but with DS2 on the way we wouldn't be able to afford a childminder for both and I need to go back to work as we can't manage on one salary so hoping the right Au pair might be a good option.

AC14MUZ - yes of course, au pairs don't usually care for under 2's though in the UK and also don't do more than 35 hours a week.