are there any au-pair agencies like this?

[dueinnovember]

Hello, I'm looking for an au-pair to start later in the year. Can anyone recommend any agencies that you can speak to that will then find someone for you. Rather than all the sites where you register your details then have to contact lots of au-pairs yourself or wait for them to contact you.

When do you want him/her to start? I think you might be looking too early (judging from your "dueinnovember" date).

I can offer no agency advice as I would never use one. I'm more of a do-it-yourself website kind of girl.

We're looking from someone from August as we already have 2DC and I just need an extra pair of hands as even though I'm at home with them, I'm coping exceptionally badly with being pregnant. I think in normal circumstances I'd want to do it all my self, but at this point I just need someone else to do the legwork.

Where do you live? Some of the London nanny agencies do au pairs too. Have you tried googling for au pair agencies?

Cinderella Au Pairs and Millenium do the legwork. Personally from lots of experience I'd do it yourself, save the £300ish agency fee because in the long run - read every post you can on here to psych yourself up - it is a complete lottery whether an au pair works out or not.

Thanks Looby, I spoke to Millenium but they keep emailing me details of 20 year old summer au-pairs rather than the older 6mth + ones I requested. I'll try Cinderella au pairs tomorrow.

we live in Bath

Can you give us more on the job description?

Live in
Bath
Hours?
Duties?
How long do you want her to stay?
ANy extra perks?
What kind if personality? (crafty, nurtruing, sporty, bubbly and outgoing, etc.)

There's a nanny and au pair agency in Bristol called Nannies and Childcare.

There's also Alphabet in Bristol and Imperial Nannies in Bath - they're nanny agencies but not sure if they do au pairs too.

A quick google suggests Avon Aupairs covers Bath - though I have never heard of/dealt with them.

Imperial don't do au pairs - they required all candidates to have 2+ years nanny experience.

abacus aupairs charge £240. have used them 3 years in a row. very helpful. google them. they deal with clients all over the UK.

Thanks NewTeacher will try Abacus. I'd spoken to Imperial as they advertise locally but as frAKKINPannikin said they only do nannies and housekeepers and all the things I'd love but certainly can't afford. AtheneNoctua do you know someone who might be interested? We're looking for live-in, 25 hours/wk plus a couple of nights babysitting. I'm just looking for an extra pair of hands with the DC's and some help with the housework. I'm happy to have the hours over 4 days rather than 5 so they can take a long weekend or get some extra work. Main criteria is that they like being with little children and the DC like spending time with them. I want someone who's happy to play with them, read to them run around the park with them and happy to let my littlest sit on their lap down the slide in soft play for the 10th time in a row rather than just sit by and watch. All the stuff I find really hard when pregnant. would probably split the 25hrs 17hrs childbases 8hrs housework.

Maybe give www.nanniesandchildcare.co.uk a go too then.

this site had a list of agencies which i cant find now but was never easy to find. you can definitely search for an aupair agency.
bestbear.co.uk

or you could try www.londonaupair.co.uk/

www.bestbear.co.uk/agencies/agencies.aspx

www.bapaa.org.uk/directory.asp

www.iapa.org/Docs/02_organisation/Member_Directory.php4

I got a brilliant AP through Childcare International last time and this time have found one through Abacus (but she hasn't started yet so can't be 100%).
1st Choice Au Pairs interview all the candidates (or their overseas agents do) and you can see a video of potential APs. Ideal if they have someone suitable.