Looking For An Au Pair Already In UK......Please Help!!!

[Pammy007]

Hi Everyone.

I'm looking for an Au Pair already based in UK, London. Reason being, I had one come over from Sweden, paid her travel etc, gave her a full month to settle before she had to start working - then at the end of the month she told me she didn't like living in Ilford and left! So this time I'd like an Au pair already here so she can come and see the area she will work in.

Problem is I've no idea where to find such a person. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Pam x

How about

Childcare.co.uk: Au-Pair IG1
Gumtree: Essex

Not a great idea IMHO - APs move on from other AP jobs either because they don't like the current family, or the current family don't like them - not the best of starts. It is however very easy to find them - there are lots on greataupair.com - you can then filter your search, either by their current country = UK, or using advanced search you can filter by their preferred location and their nationality.

BTW, I would never pay an APs air fare to come here, nor would I ever give an AP a month of living with me to get used to the place before working. They are here to do a job, and make your life easier, so I think you should start them off with a reasonable work ethic, rather than give them the impression that you are there to look after them.

Pammy
I'm not so terribly far from you. In addition to Gumtree see if you can put an ad up at Waltham Forest College in Walthamstow, where loads of APs go to language school.

Squiffy's point is definitely something to bear in mind. But there are people out there with ridiculous expectations as well, which I didn't fully appreciate until I had an AP and she started meeting people. So, it's worth seeing if anyone suitable shakes out who is already here. Maybe do this in conjunctions with an AP World search? The agency I used was Abacus Au Pair, you could also try them.

I've found two now through gum tree. I put up an ad and got lots of replies.
had no luck with au-pair world
I wanted someone already UK based so I could meet them first. StillSquiffy got a point, though.