Finally picked an au pair - excited now but what do I need to do now?

[TennisFan]

Thanks for excellent advice here earlier in the month and looking through all the old threads on the subject I have finally found and picked an au pair.
We advertised on aupair world and got and sent out lots of applications. The one we have picked sounds almost perfect, she is from Italy and is aged 24. She is taking a year off between finishing her degree and starting an MA(puts my qualifications to shame a bit).
I have spoken to her tonight on the phone and she is really lovely and excited to be coming.
I am confirming our offer by email, but is there anything else to do now, other than wait for her arrival?

This is our first time, and our DC are used to nursery and after school care which is more regimented I think. We are excited but also a bit nervous I think.

Congratulations - Ask her to confirm her flight number - to check that she is serious and definitely on the way.
Have you got a contract and job description/list of duties all sorted out? And what about organising a little welcome pack (I do some nice toiletries, chocs, and sometimes a bathrobe).

Thanks millarkie - i think you were one of the ones giving me such good advice earlier.
Do I need to send the contract before she comes, or just when she arrives.
Does eveyone normally pay cash, say weekly?

Great idea about the welcome pack, I can get the DC to help. She comes in just a couple of weeks. So much to do - like fixing the shower in our room so that we aren't going through her room and using hers!

I used to pay cash each week but now pay by bank transfer - au pair got an account with Barclays very easily and she prefers not to have large amounts of cash hanging around.
In the time before au pairs we used to use the 'au pair room' as a dressing room and use the ensuite shower because it's nicer than ours - I was worried that dh would forget when au pair arrived and that she would wake up to him wandering in to use the shower
I do contracts when they turn up - mainly because I'm never organised enough to have them ready beforehand.

Thanks for your advice, I am new to this and want to get it as right a possible.
We're all really looking forward to her arriving and it is going to make such a difference to our life - positively I hope.

I send contract over beforehand, it tends to set there minds at rest (and more likely there parents), but sign when they arrive.

Pay is cash just because it is easier.

Get the DCs to make a welcome sign, either for at the airport (if picking up) or for the hall when she walks in.

On the welcome pack I usually try and be in contact with AP parents (for emergency contact if nothing else) and ask if they have any suggestions around favourite toiletries and the like.

Have you taken up refernces, I always do and insist on a work email address for the referee(i.e. not hotmail/gmail) to get a bit more confidence that it is genuine.

Good luck.

So far I have one reference from a professor from her university last year. I also have contact email and address for her at the university - but I didn't ask any extra questions.

I spoke to au pair last night on the phone and she is going to email her confirmation when she gets her flight booked.

We will concentrate on getting her room ready and comfortable - need to clear out my ironing first; and getting her a welcome pack organised.

We are picking her up from airport, but it will probably be my husband as I am working and the DC are at school.

In your experience is a contract listing duties and job description, pay, any overtime, days off and maybe some rules on guests sufficient?

thanks, I am sure it is easier the second time round!

Here for what a contract should contain or CAT me for a copy of the one I use.

Definitely verbally or at least e-mail check her references. Someone on here (try the little Italy thread) will be able to help you do it in Italian if you think the professor won't speak English.

Also try to get a childcare or employer reference.

Contract also needs holiday and notice period.

I always got the kids to give her a bunch of flowers when we met her at the airport. Maybe you could get the kids to do this when they first see her?

And I preferred paying by standing order because then there was a proper record of what had been paid, in case of disagreement. Plus it's a total faff remembering to get £80 or whatever out of the cashpoint every week.

Be really clear about what you expect your au pair to do, and when. I've found even though your advert may have said X hrs of childcare, x amount of housework etc etc - be absolutely specific in what you want done - as when the reality sets some AP's can get a shock! For some au pairs this will be their first job and first time away from home.

What I find helped me was that I spent 2 days with my AP doing a 'handover'. I demonstrated what I needed doing and also took the opportunity to take her around the local town, enroll her in the local language college, register her at the drs. If it is an AP's first time in the UK it can be fairly daunting for them learning a new language, culture and getting to know your family.

BoffinMum - Do you get your AP to open a bank account here?? None of the AP's I've had have never wanted to. I would much prefer to pay by s/o

Yes, I got them to open up a basic bank a/c at the same branch as where mine is, and then if there was an emergency money requirement (eg need to buy something for the DCs) I could then do an instant transfer. It all worked very well.