Au pairs - Does anyone pay theirs using Childcare vouchers??

[granarybeck]

We are thinking of getting an au pair. We currently use an after school club and pay using vouchers. I just wondered whether anyone has any experience of this? Would the au pair need a british bank account? Is it common for them to have one?

On another note, for those of you with au pairs, do they have quite a big bedroom, have you a lot of space in the house in general?

Not just being nosey, I am juat worrying that we've recently moved to a smaller house and wouldn't be able to offer the au pair a particularly big room or an ensuite and our house isn't very big just for living space. But at the moment it seems to be our only option childcare-wise.

Any advice really appreciated

gb,..no i don't think you can pay ap's with vouchers..it's cash in hand all they way! They can get an international student bank account, depends on the length of time they're here for really and how much pocket money they get. One of mine saved a small fortune but the last had a serious shopping habit!
We now have an annexe the au pair lives in but they used to have a small bedroom, just enough space for a bed, wardrobe and desk and share the bathroom! Actually it was the bathroom that was the biggest problem....get OUT of the bathroom I'm late for work!!!...sort of thing. You just have to find the right person when space is tight, it's not much fun squeezed on the sofa with someone you don't like...and help them make loads of friends so they go out a lot!!

Thanks ingles2, just had a look on the childcare voucher site and it says you can use for au pair, but its how that would work in practice. As you say, I can imagine cash being preferred option. But I guess, there isn't the threat of tax for them.

Wish we had an annex! We have got an ensuite in our room but the aupair would have to share the bathroom with the children and any other guests (and us for bath as just got shower in ours). Am terrified really, but at same time think could be just what we need.

Am amazed,...you learn something new every day! that's very tempting...here have a childcare voucher
No..seriously...I've written this on another thread somewhere but au pairs can really be a great childcare solution depending on what you need...I would definitely recommend an agency though especially the 1st time, you get all the references and checks and if there's a problem they find you another!

Well I presume it would be same as to a childminder, my employer would just pay it straight from my salary into the au pairs bank account.

Sorry, Jura, just seen your post - ah, that makes sense, I wondered what bein approved involved. Sounds like not really an option then.

Ingles, thanks for the reassurance. I think it migh tbe what we need, having just moved away from family, its the little gaps and things we need to cover. We were wondering about agencies, someone recommended millenium aupairs to us, I think they charge about 350 per placement and we didn't know whether it was worth it or not. But from what you say, it sounds like it might be.

Yes, funny, that's exactly what happens in our house! Both children use our ensuite rather than the bathroom for showers and even for the loo most of time!

Is good to hear its worked for you though. am just having a bit of a panic about what I could be letting myself in for!

Space is something we are a bit lacking but think we can prepare a bit to create more space, perhaps an extra TV downstairs as well as in her room.

Would you reccomend using an agency?

Another benefit of the agency route is that some of them have links to an aupair social site, where they can search for other Ap's local to them and meet up for coffee, evenings out etc. Because most of them are young they rely on the family heavily to entertain them at the beginning and much as you might like them and appreciate their work, this can be quite trying...! Remember my mentioning the sofa...well with out 1st au pair she used to squeeze herself in between my dh and myself every evening!!!!!!!!!! We loved her...but OMG!

we recently got an au pair (about 6 weeks ago) and her room is average size - she has own telly/dvd and we gave her a laptop which is wireless and we have broadband. So far its all going really well and she's fab with the kids. She chats to us a bit in the evening but once we veg on the sofa she usually retreats to her room for the night.

No worries Jura, me too.

Ingles, I keep giggling thinking of your au pair sqeezed betwen the two of you!! I like the idea of the social link thing, there seems to be quite a few nannies and au pairs round here but I can see it would be tricky to know how to introduce them!

Becks, how did you find yours? Is this your first au pair?

I know! Hysterical! In the end Dh went out and bought himself an armchair,...

Being approved under OFSTED (Surestart approval is still valid but no longer accepting new applications) involves:

Passing a 12 hour paediatric 1st Aid course - cost £70-80
Having appropriate childcarer insurace, available from Morton Michel or the NCMA or similar - cost approx £60 pa
Holding a suitable childcare qualification or attending an approved induction course such as the ICP or the MNT distance learning induction course - cost dependant on location
Proving you are who you say you are (passport/driving license) and that you live where you say you live (bank statement/utility bill)
Paying OFSTED £100 for approval and a CRB check

Once your childcarer is approved, you need to pay them through the proper channels - including paying their tax/NI if their earnings come over that. They would need a British bank account to be paid into.

A nanny, who the scheme is aimed at, should have a qualification, 1st Aid and insurance already so the most you would have to shell out for is the cost of approval (£100), some nannies will split it 50/50. In the long run it's probably cheaper NOT to get your au pair approved.

Thanks Frannikin, that's really helpful.

Yes, it does seem to not really be worth it for an au pair, especially as it seems uncertain how long au pairs will stay for. I just wanted to check all options and compare costs proprly first though, so that info is very useful, thanks. I don't really need a qualified nanny as my dcs are 9 and 10 and is just for a few days for a few hours after school really.