Childcare positions

▪ Au Pair / Au Pair Plus

A young person aged between 17 and 27 who provides childcare in exchange for living with a family abroad. Au pairs usually come to England to gain a greater understanding of English, and to experience a new culture. An au pair plus must come from within the EU. Au pairs are treated as part of the family; they eat with the family and have their own bedroom.

Duties of au pairs include helping with the children: taking them to and from school and babysitting; as well as light housework (ironing, dusting, vacuuming, washing up). Au pairs will also be expected to prepare children’s breakfasts, snacks and light meals.

Au pairs are considered to be working if they are required to be available and are not free to leave the house even if the are not actively working, for example if the children are in bed asleep.

▪ Mother’s Help

A carer who holds no professional qualifications, but who has practical experience and a genuine interest in children. A Mother’s Help can have sole charge of toddlers and older children.

▪ Nanny

A person aged 18+ who has either formal childcare qualifications, for example NNEB, BTEC or ADCE; or a former Mother’s Help / au pair with several years’ experience. A nanny is someone who looks after children in the family’s home. Nannies can have sole charge of children, and take responsibility for all duties relating to the children, including cooking, washing and ironing for them, as well as cleaning the children’s bedrooms and playroom.

Working hours and time off

Au Pair                          25 hours plus up to 3 evenings babysitting

Au Pair Plus                26-38 hours per week and up to 3 evenings babysitting 

For all au pairs, 2 full days off per week and other time by arrangement with the family including free time to study English at a college. A minimum of 1 week paid holiday per 6 months upon agreement with the family. All bank holidays off.

Mother’s Help             8 - 10 hours per day, and up to 2 evenings babysitting

Live-in Nanny             Up to 12 hours per day, plus up to 2 evenings babysitting per week

Live-out Nanny           Up 10 hours per day, for example from 8am - 6pm. Babysitting paid at an                                         hourly rate

For nannies and mother’s helps, a minimum of 4 weeks paid holiday for every 12 months, upon agreement with the family. All bank holidays off.

Benefits

Minimum pocket money / salary

Au Pair                           £70 for 25 hours

Au Pair Plus                  £80 for 30 hours; £90 for 35 hours; £100 for 38 hours

Mother’s Help               £130 - £200 net per week for a live-in position

Live-in Nanny               £250 - £400 net per week

Live-out Nanny             £8 - £10 net per hour

Own bedroom and food for live-in employees

Registration documents

▪ 1 filled Au Pair Application Form / Nanny Application Form

▪ 1 CV (curriculum vitae)

▪ 2 photographs with your name on the reverse

▪ 1 Medical Certificate stating you are fit to work with children

▪ 2 (minimum) references from teachers / employers etc.

▪ 1 copy of your school leaving certificates

Please send or fax your application form with all the other accompanying items to:

Swedish Connection Au Pair Agency

84 Fitzjohn Avenue

Barnet, Herts.

EN5 2HW

England

Or send via email to:

marie@swedishconnection.co.uk

Letter to the family

Also, please include a letter introducing yourself to the Family in English: a “Dear Family” letter.

The letter is to give the family a good idea of who you are - it often replaces a personal interview with the employer so it is very important that there's plenty of information in it.

The letter should include:

▪ Your name, age and country of origin

▪ Something about where you live

▪ Do you have any brothers and sisters

▪ Family background (what your parents do)

▪ Your education

▪ Your experience of caring for children, cooking and housekeeping

▪ Details of your interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes, whether you smoke or not

▪ Something about your personality (you are writing to your future employer so be positive!)

The letter should be written in English by yourself. Please don't ask anybody to write it for you: it should show your personality and language skills.