How to find an au pair in Glasgow

[AgentCooper]

Hi all, I have a friend from Saudi Arabia who is studying for her masters in Glasgow and is expecting twins. She already has a three year old daughter at nursery. She was asking me the other day how she could go about finding an au pair, someone to live in her home and mainly help out with the three year old and keeping the house tidy after her twins arrive. I don't know anyone who has an au pair/mother's help in this city but I do hear talk of them on MN.

Could anyone advise me on where she might start looking, eg reputable agencies? Her wee daughter's English is getting very good, so communication shouldn't really be a problem. Thanks in advance

I think au pairs are usually foreign students who are looking to come and learn English and help out with childcare/housework in return for accommodation and food and some pocket money. Mothers helps are usually young people (often still at school) who would help out in return for payment. In both cases the person would need time of for study that may clash with the mother's studies? Will she still be studying? I am sure there are specific agencies for au pairs as there will be regulations for people coming into the country. Alternatively, she could advertise within the college for what she is looking for specifically but would need to do her own checks/trust her own judgement.

She needs a nanny not an au pair slave.

Thanks Jackie As I said, i don't know anyone with an au pair or nanny, so I really don't know what their roles are. My friend is one of the nicest, most humble people I know. She wouldn't ever treat anyone like a slave.

OneMagnum, thanks - that's good to know. I'll point her in the direction of a nanny instead as it's very likely that someone who was studying's hours would be much the same as hers and therefore not ideal. She will still be studying, as getting funding from the Saudi govt to study in the UK is very competitive and she only plans to take two weeks off.

I think your friend is being very optimistic planning only 2 weeks off! Having had twins the first few months are exhausting. In the first few weeks mine fed every 3 hours and each feed took 30 - 40 minutes!
She would need a fully qualified nanny IMO. Even then most people who have twins have quite a lot of help in the first few months.
Personally I think she needs to think about slightly longer maternity leave as the first few weeks sleep is a luxury!
I wish her all the best and twins are very special.

She needs a nanny. Best place to look is gumtree. There are agencies but in my experience they add very little and cost a lot.

Thanks Double Unfortunately she feels like she doesn't have much choice - her funding was very hard to get and will only stretch so far. Her mum is coming over for a few weeks from SA to help after the birth but she feels she really needs another body too. At the uni where I work, we see this all the time with Middle Eastern ladies - they are just desperate to get back to work, as they often feel this period in the UK is their only chance. It's getting harder and harder for immigrants to study over here and they will have to pay an annual charge to use the NHS from the start of the next academic year as well (and for all dependants too, which will be two extra for her when the twins arrive), so lots of them feel they can't 'overstay.'

Thanks for the tip, MrsCurly, I had thought of Gumtree but have no experience in this area, so I'll point her in that direction