Can anyone share an Au Pair Handbook ?

[ashbrook]

Hi,

We have our first au pair arriving this Friday and am trying to prepare a handbook for her. Would anyone be happy to share theirs with me or provide some advice ?

She is quite young (just 18) but is Australian so no language difficulties. I am just not sure how many rules to include- my DH thinks we should make it up as we go along and not scare her off !

Also any tips for that first week would be much appreciated .

Thanks,

A

Dont make it up as you go along, too much can go wrong.
Sorry I don't have a handbook but I've had a few aupairs over the years.
We had an aussie as well and unfortunately was our worst experience. Obviously no language problems but she was so lazy and treated it as a B&B - fingers crossed yours is not the same. Hence why I would make it all clear to start with.

We did one and I posted it here to save others the effort - search for madcows and handbook and it should appear.
madcows

It should appear here
madcows

Thanks Madcows- really helpful !

In the first week I sit down every evening and do a review of the day. Want went well, what didn't go so well, anything I need to pick the kids up on, anything we can do to make things easier for her, all that kind of stuff, just to keep the communication channels open and to encourage then to speak. It is too easy to assume that if they are saying nothing all is going well.

Our current AP is aussie and she is fantastic, she is also looking to link up with other aussie APs to do weekend trips around the UK and further, if yours is interested.

You handbook should build on and reinforce the things in your contract.

Things like pay, holiday, hours, duties etc should be specified in the contract and then the handbook says how and when to do her duties, how to work the dishwasher, how to lock up etc IYSWIM. House rules go in the handbook, rules about disciplinary procedures and notice go in the contract.