Well, I've just finished mine. It is cobbled together from things I've found on the web, and something a friend sent me... plus bits of our own. I wish someone had put one on here to save me all the effort - although - obviously - a lot of it is very specific to each family. So here - in all its glory - is (hopefully) our 'handbook'. If anyone things of anything that we've missed... please let me know!:
Welcome pack for Exxx
We want to work together with you to ensure that you are happy with the duties you are carrying out, and that you are comfortable using and enjoying the facilities our home provides. If ever you are in doubt, please ask!
You will find that we are reasonably well organised and try to keep things tidy as we go. We both work hard and spend time away from home during the day.
The basic working hours are as follows:
[FANCY TABLE WHICH HASN'T COME OUT]
Day Morning Daytime Afternoon Evening
Monday 8:15-8:45 8:45-3:30 Free time 1:30 ? 6:45
Mostly free time - Possible baby-sit up to 2 evenings per week to be arranged and agreed in advance
Tuesday 8:15-8:45 8:45-3:30 Free time 3:00 ? 7:00
Wednesday 8:15-8:45 8:45-3:30 Free time 3:00 ? 7:00
Thursday 8:15-8:45 8:45-3:30 Free time 3:00 ? 7:00
Friday 8:15-8:45 8:45-3:30 Free time 1:30 ? 6:45
Saturday Free time Free time Free time
Sunday Free time Free time Free time
While this will be our usual term-time routine, we will ask you to be flexible with regards to working hours, in particular during school holidays. We will not, however, ask you to work for more than 25 hours per week.
Important contacts
Our phone numbers ? xxx
Other useful contacts:
Doctor ? xxx
Ambulance - dial 999, give our address: 2 xxxxxx
yyySchool: xxx
Xxx nursery -
Other people with spare keys to house: xxx
Safety in the house
? Mains electricity fuses and switches are in the cupboard by the front door.
? Smoke Alarms are located in the kitchen and hallways. We will show you how to switch them off if they go off by accident
Basic Duties
Your basic duties are to assist in the smooth running of the house and to help to care for Yyy and Zzz. Specifically, we will require help from you in these areas:
Childcare Duties
? Keep Yyy and Zzz safe at all times
? Always hold both children?s hands when you are crossing the road or near any traffic including car parks
? Encourage and help the children to keep their toys and books neat and tidy.
? Help prepare Yyy? and Zzz?s school bags and lunches each day.
? Collect Yyy from school each day at 3:15pm. Bring him home, give him a snack (fruit plus something), play with him and supervise his homework as appropriate.
? Twice a week (Monday and Friday) you will collect Zzz from the Nursery (at 2pm), and bring her home, before collecting Yyy as usual.
? Yyy and Zzz watch very limited TV, and we would therefore want you to engage them in alternative activities
? Yyy and Zzz only drink water or milk. They drink fruit juice as a ?treat?, for example when we have visitors or friends to play.
? Yyy and Zzz should be encouraged to eat fruit everyday as a snack, followed by something else (biscuit, bun etc).
? Possible outdoor activities with the children: trip to the playground, library, playing on their bikes / scooters in the car park, play dates with friends (usually these will be arranged in advance).
? A typical day after school would be something like: 3:30pm - snack straight after school; followed by playing and homework; start preparing supper at 5pm so it is ready by about 5:30pm; bath time at 6:30; ready for bed by 7pm
Cooking Duties
? Help with clearing away after meals, loading and emptying the dishwasher and wiping the surfaces.
? Preparing Yyy and Zzz?s supper on school days and accompanying them as they eat. We will give you suggestions, and will often have home-cooked food in the freezer to use for weekday suppers.
? Let us know when provisions are low by noting on the list in the kitchen so we can replace them the next time we shop.
Household Duties
? Help the children keep their bedroom and toys tidy.
? Assist in clearing the table, loading and emptying the dishwasher as required ? we will show you the best way to load it, and which items should be hand washed
? Unload the washing machine, hang clothes out to dry, and fold up dried clothes.
Discipline ? We feel it is important that our children do as they are told the first time, and you should feel able to discipline them in the same way as we do. We normally ask once, ask a second time, and then say that we will count to 3. If they still refuse to do as they are told then they are asked to sit on the ?naughty step? (or naughty corner, depending where you are!) for a few minutes. They should also sit on the naughty step if they do anything that they know they are not supposed to do (for example hitting).
Sharing our home
Food: We hope that you will enjoy the food that we prepare, but do tell us if there is anything that you particularly want or don?t want. Whenever you cook anything for yourself please wash up and tidy up. We would like to have a meal together with you at least once a week.
Smoking: There is to be no smoking in the house or grounds, and never in the presence of Yyy and Zzz, even when away from home. We will appreciate you using your best judgment in avoiding the company of people who smoke if you are out with Yyy and Zzz.
Telephone and internet: We have provided you with a SIM card for your mobile and an amount of credit. Please keep this phone with you when you are out in case we need to get in touch with you urgently. The local shop provides top-ups when needed. We will also lend you a laptop (with wireless connection) which you will be able to use during your stay here whenever you are off duty.
Your room: If you would like your room cleaned please leave it tidy, and with the door open, on Friday mornings when our cleaner, ccc, comes.
Bathroom: The family bathroom will be shared by you with Yyy and Zzz and any guests we have to stay. Please keep the room clean and hang all wet towels on the rail provided. Please pay special attention to ensure that nothing other than toilet paper goes down the toilet. Sanitary towels should be placed in a nappy sack and then in the bathroom bin, which should then be emptied in to the dustbin daily. Please wipe out and rinse the bath and basin after use
Laundry: You can do your washing as part of the family washing. If you want to iron your clothes, please do this in your own time.
Locking up: Please observe the instructions we have given you regarding closing and locking doors and windows, and switching off heating. Please let us know if you are going out, and especially if you plan to stay out overnight. We will let you know of our whereabouts at all times
Guests: If you would like guests to visit, please ask us first and introduce us to them. If you entertain friends in the house please make sure that things are tidied up afterwards, and that any guests have left by 11 pm unless arrangements have been made with us for them to stay overnight. Please act responsibly with our belongings and ensure that your guests do likewise. We are happy for you to entertain suitable friends when you are off duty, and we shall attempt to introduce you to people locally so that you are able to make the most of your time here.
General
We would like to eat a meal with you at last once a week, which will give us an opportunity to discuss how things are going, and find out how you are settling into Kkk etc. We would also use this as a chance to discuss and plan the coming week. This time will also allow for you to ask questions about anything with which you are unclear or unhappy, and we can also voice any concerns we may have and find a solution. Of course, if there is a problem you can talk to either of us at any time as it arises.
Free Time: When you are off-duty you are free to do whatever you like, and we hope that you will make friends in Kkk. At the weekends you are free to eat with us, but it is fine if you prefer to be independent. Occasionally we entertain at weekends, or go away to visit friends and family. On some occasions you will be welcome to join us, but at other times this may not be possible. In the evenings Hhhh and I would like to be able to spend time together from about 8:30pm onwards. However, at least one evening a week we?d like to all eat together.
Holidays and additional time-off: You will be paid one week?s holiday over Christmas and one week over Easter. Any other time that you would like to have off must be agreed in advance. We will need you to be flexible, but will also try to be flexible, so that you can socialize and get involved in activities outside our home.
Pocket Money: We shall pay you £70 per week pocket money in cash each Friday. If by mutual consent you do more hours, we will pay you more money.
We have provided you with some information about the local area, and are happy to help you find out more about anything you are interested in knowing. We hope that this will help you settle into life in Kkk and with our family, as it is very important to us that you are happy during your stay here.
We hope everything is clear, but if not, please do just ask.
With all best wishes for your stay,
meeee and Hhhh