Au Pairs - how much do you check them out beforehand?

[FeatheredHeart]

I would really feel much happier if I could get references, a police check and a letter from their doctor saying they've
no serious communicable diseases...

Does anyone do this?

Why are you interested in those specific drugs - are they a different class of drugs or something? I mean, I think cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy are the most common drugs but you don't ask about them?

I would hazard a guess that likelihood of addiction/permanent harm is the cause. Also heroin and crack addicts are likely to steal to keep up their habit. Heroin and ketamine are injectable so there may be issues with shared needles and disease.

Also those mentioned aren't exactly 'starter' drugs. A lot of people have probably tried cannabis/cocaine/ecstasy once just for fun but to get heroin, crack or ketamine you probably need to be into your drugs pretty seriously. And have contacts in the drugs world. When I did drug awareness talks in schools we'd talk about the soft drugs they were likely to get offered (cannabis) or that are freely available on clubs (cocaine/E) and how trying those could lead onto serious addictions to crack/heroin etc.

But that's a complete hypothesis and there's probably a different explanation!

I wonder if anyone ever ticks "Yes I used to use crack"

I don't quite see how an au pair can be a member of the family and yet an employee?

I took my au pair to task again tonight for yet again leaving me to get both kids into the car while she just looks on. Eventually she said that she could injure herself if she tried to lift the older one in. I said that if I - who had a c-section not long ago, and also a really bad back (!) - could do it, then so could she. And I was very sorry but it wasn't on to just keep watching as I do things she is supposed to do or have done and she couldn't just pick and choose which jobs she would and wouldn't do!

But if she's an employee could she sue me over health and safety rules(!?). Do I need insurance? Do I have to pay NI on her?(!) God, what other rules don't I know about "employing" an au pair?

Helterskelter - you probably already have liability insurance included in your house insurance (it's quite common. NI is based on amount earnt, not on job description so if you are paying your AP under about £100 (can't remember the exact amount but it's higher than most AP pocket money amounts) a week then you are ok, otherwise you may need to pay NI.
I treat my AP as an employee in that we have a contract with agreed notice period, she gets the legal minimum paid leave, but she is paid under the NI rate.

Well, she's not a member of your family (unless she's related to you) - you pay her to do a job. I don't think you have to pay NI unless her wages are over £90 a week. I'm not sure about insurance but you do need a contract and to give her paid holidays etc.

For National Insurance you have the Lower Earnings Limit (currently £95/week) and the Earnings Threshold (£110/week).

If you are above the Earnings Threshold you have to pay NI (and probably tax).

If you are below the Earnings Threshold but above the Lower Earnings Limit then the employer should register as an employer with HMRC as you are deemed to have paid NI for the purposes of accruing earnings related benefits even though you will pay no NI over.

For liability insurance your household policy probably covers you.

For health and safety unless you were asking her to lift an unreasonably heavy child you are probably OK.

The are legally required to have a contract and are entitled to 28 days holiday a year (pro-rated if their contract is for less than a year) and the working time directive the employer is required to keep an accurate record of holiday taken and pay hoiliday pay for any holiday not taken at the end of the contract.

FrakkinP; your hypothesis is entirely correct: it is addiction and needles that scare me; I always take on Uni graduates and would not be surprised if they had tried a spliff or tab at some time during their formative years. If I were hiring 18 year olds I would certainly have a full list....