How much should I charge?

[xrachyrawrx]

Hey,

So a job has come up asking for childcare for a 10 month old as their au pair has had to travel home. They paid her £80 per week but she lived there so this included TV, Wifi, etc. I am not an au pair, I am a qualified ex primary school teacher, who has been caring for a teenager with special needs afterschool which I charged £10 ph for.

The parents are shift workers so hours vary but Mum has said it would be 3 days maximum per week and sometimes maybe only 1 day. Some days will be a 5am start so Mum has suggested I stay over the night before those shifts. However, I am local and drive so do not need to live there. I do not mind staying over to make it easier, but do not want my pay subsidised for doing so... as if so I would rather the early morning wake up from my own home and to get a proper wage.

Just looking for some advise and how to word it before I go for an initial meeting with them in a couple of days time. I have no idea of the rates/rights.

Many Thanks.

I would want them to offer a salary, for a set minimum number of hours per week.
So for example 30 hours per week at £12-16 gross per hour. The amount will vary by location and factors such as the early start will bump it up.

They need to realise that they are the employer, not you providing them with a service, so they determine the salary and have employer responsibilities.

I think they might really struggle to accept that childcare is now going to cost them significantly more than they are used to so it is good to be very clear about expectations and resist any temptation to accept a dodgy arrangement.

I would be very wary of parents who thought that an au pair was suitable childcare for a 10 month old three days a week (and would wonder if that is why she left).

Are they expecting you to make yourself available 3 days but they will sometimes only pay you 1? In that case you'd want a significant bump on your hourly rate and would probably have to be employed. If they will say each week what hours they need and you can accept or refuse if you're busy then likely self employed and you set your rate.

If they are employing you they need to guarantee a certain number of hours and pay an hourly rate. Depends where you are but £10 to £14 gross. They will need to pay holiday pay. Work this out in hours if different each week. There is a government calculator to help with this.
Do you really want to be on call but not working some days. You wont be able to get other work.
Nannies cant be self employed unless emergency care and you are able to decline days and could send someone else.
For self employment you would charge £15 to £20 per hour.
This job doesnt sound good an au pair is a very different role to a nanny role.
Do you have First aid, DBS , nanny insurance?
Look at BAPN for advice.