discovered Au pair applying for Jobs - what to do next...

[hattiel]

I need some advice on handling a situation with our Au pair. She joined our family 5 months ago and has ingegtated very well, the children think she's great and we can't fault her. In return we pay for all her college fees,provide her with phone cards, we are flexiable, treat her as one of the family, and welcomed her sisters into her home for hoildays. She also tells us she is very happy and we could'nt treat her any better.

However, some of her friends have moved on, and her visitors gone, I have discovered by chance her applications for other au pair jobs in different areas of the county.
I made it clear from the start not to see this as a stop gap between travelling, as it is inappropriate esp with children involved. we would expect some loyality ect, and the same goes for us. Not sure how to handle this i am very annoyed/disppointed but need to know her intentions. but I don't want to push her into a corner, she gets defensive and feels like she has to leave. I would rather she stayed for 12 months rather than start again with agencies.

hattie i would talk to her ask her if shes happy there if shes finding the work ok and if she is still seeing this as a long term job offer

I would second that, you don't even need to say anything about the job applications, just a general "do you still enjoy the job", and possibly ask her if she has made any plans for the future.

yes, thanks may be best not to mention applications could lead to thinking she is confronted, and just have a general relaxed chat about future plans ect.
My mother said i should treat it as an appraisal although we have recently had a simlilar conversation and all seemed well. Told her how highly we thought of her, she said she was happy and we both finished on good note. Although this is a bolt out of the blue.