Fair wage for a mothers help

[4under4]

Hi,

I am meeting some girls tomorrow who have replied to my ad for a mothers help. I am hoping to have someone full time (10 hrs a day, 5 days a week) to help with my 3Yr old and 18mts girls. I am expecting twins in sep so primarily need a pair of hands to help with lifting / chasing/ entertaining them. We have a cleaner so it would really be purely helping with the girls. I had an idea of paying about £600 per month but I think this falls below the min wage. Both girls sleep for 2 hours every afternoon so I could count that as " time off" for her. Both girls are 17 and one is fresh from school, the other is a nursery worker with level 2 qualifications. WOuld really appreciate any thoughts on pay - can't afford much more each month so would have to reduce hours? help please!!

Where abouts are you?

Templecombe, Somerset - rural village.

Given their age, National Minimum Wage for an Under 18, is £3.40 per hour. Which based on 50 hours per week, is £8,840 per year - which is above your £600 per month.
You've advertised and not given an indication of how much you will be paying, and yet you have applicants. That's great going, as I would have thought that applicants would want to know roughly what pay level there was, prior to applying.
Perhaps try to compare the job to other jobs they may be able to get in your local area... then offer a similar rate possibly a little better, so as to attract them to your job.
Keep in mind that the rate you negotiate will be Gross (before tax/ni deductions). If the applicants are new to the job market, then you may need to explain to them about Deductions made from their salary.

You would be looking at about £6 per hour

£600 a month is £3 per hour. It is illegal to pay below the min wage

Youare going to have to half the amount of hours, or get an au pair. an au pair cant be in sole charge and you really shouldnt let an au pair look after babies either

When they turn 18, NMW rises to £4.60 - thus £11,960 per year based on 50 hours per week.
To get that down to £600 per month, you would need to offer no more than 30 hours per week.

I was a full time mothers help - 60 hours a week full time - and was earnong £300 a week NET.

You say your daughters sleep for two hours an could this be counted as time off - well will the girls be able to go home for those 2 hours or will they have to be at the house.

£150 /50 hours a week is £3 an hour.

You're not seriously proposing to offer someone £3 an hour?

ok - thanks for all that. PLease remember i have double preg head. I think what I will do is offer 6 hours a day = 30 hours a week and give them £700 gross per month. I would ask for help 8am - 11am and then 3:30pm - 6:30pm. One of the girls can drive and only lives 10mins away so she could easily go home. These are the times of day I will find hardest (I'm already looking 9 months preg at 21 weeks and def won't be up to much by Aug)

Let's see how that goes down!!