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Information and Terms & Conditions AU PAIRS Au pairs are young people, both male and female, aged between 17 and 27 who go to a host country primarily to learn the language and about the culture through living with a family. An au pair should and must be treated as a member of the host family participating, when reasonably possible, in all the daily events. An au pair will help with childcare, babysitting and light housework in return for room, board and pocket money. Au pair means “on a par with” or “on an equal footing”. An au pair is not a nanny or housemaid and should not be considered or treated as one. APPLICANT'S REQUIREMENTS
AU PAIR: Normally works 5 hours per day, 5 days a week and baby-sits for up to 2 evenings per week. They must have two days free per week, which should include one weekend a month and must receive a minimum of £65 per week pocket money. They must also be allowed time off to attend an English Language course. AU PAIR PLUS: They are not dissimilar to a regular au pair but they might work between 30-35 hours max per week, babysit for 2/3 evenings per week, and must receive a minimum of £85 pocket money per week. People who live as part of a family (but who are not members of the family) and who share in the work and leisure activities of the household do not need to be paid the National Minimum Wage. INVITATION A personal letter of invitation from the host Family to the Au Pair is recommended. This should set out the host Family's expectations. This is a mandatory step for non-E.E.A. au pairs to enforce the immigration rules. An Entry Clearance Officer in the Visa Section of a U.K. Overseas Mission will check this invitation letter before they can issue a visa to the Au Pair. In a similar way the Immigration Officers will check this letter at the point of arrival to the U.K. for au pairs from countries that do not require a visa. The invitation letter should include a breakdown of the duties the Au Pair will be expected to undertake; the amount of pocket money they will receive; details of everyone living in the house; information about local language school; any medical conditions/special needs within the Family; when the placement will start and for what period you would like the Au Pair to stay with your family. A checklist and an example will be provided by simplyaupairs.com to help you compose the invitation letter. EXPECTATIONS It is essential to communicate with a prospective au pair prior to offering them a role within your family. This enables the family to ascertain the suitability of an au pair and gives the au pair the opportunity to voice any concerns. This communication normally takes place once a family has selected an au pair from the details submitted by simplyaupairs.com and before any final agreement to the placement. There is no contract between the host Family and an Au Pair, it is an informal working arrangement. The Au Pair will not be an employee of the host Family. The chances of this match being a success are greatly increased if the host Family and the Au Pair agree their respective expectations before final agreement to the placement. HOLIDAYS & DAYS OFF The Family/Client must allow two days off for the Au Pair in a week; these days off should include one weekend in a month. After a six months period of stay with the family the Au Pair is entitled to one/two weeks paid holiday. Should there be a need for holiday before the six months period, the payment is at the discretion of the Family/Client. Please note that candidates should be able to pursue their hobbies and interest at their own free time as long as it does not affect their responsibilities in the house. ACCOMMODATION & FOOD The Family must provide a reasonably sized and well-equipped room for the Au Pair in the Family's household. This room should be solely for the Au Pair's use and must be in a good state of repair. The Family should endeavour to satisfy the nutritional requirement of the Au Pair just like any member of the Family. In some cases there might be a difference in the type of food the Family and Au Pair are familiar with and this must be taken into consideration. TELEPHONE / INTERNET ACCESS It could be worth speaking to your telephone provider regarding international blocks; however, it is normal to allow your au pair to phone their family from time to time. If you have a home computer with internet access the au pair might also like to be able to keep in contact with friends/family by email. Make sure you that you agree ground rules concerning the amount of time spent online, as most au pairs use a webmail service which means they have to be online to read or compose emails. Be aware that an au pair could have access to confidential files stored on your computer. LANGUAGE COURSES Most au pairs, on arriving at their host country, are anxious about the level of their spoken and written (English) language. It is beneficial for the host family to look for language schools and colleges in their area, collecting as much information as possible to enable good variety of choices and ideas for the applicant. TRAVEL Candidates are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel and fares as far as central London, or to any transport station, ports or airport nearest to the host family. The Family then becomes responsible for the Au Pair's safe journey/travel to the host Family's home. Where the host Family cannot arrange for the au pair to be picked up, simplyaupairs.com will arrange for this and all charges will be passed to the host Family. NOTICE PERIOD The Au Pair is not an employee of the host Family. However we recommend that 10 - 14 days notice is given on either side. The Client should ensure that the Au Pair has somewhere suitable to stay before they leave the host Family. FEES ALL INCLUDING £50 REGISTRATION / ENROLMENT FEE
Additional fees will be due if the au pair is subsequently employed for a longer period than initially agreed. If you would like to complete an application form please click here. Alternatively, call us on 01524 782 435. REGISTRATION / ENROLMENT Please include a £50 non-refundable cheque made payable to simplyaupairs.com with the signed application form. simplyaupairs.com is unable to commence work on your behalf prior to receiving this cheque. (This £50 is treated as an advance against the fees due on successful placement.) REFUND If the Au Pair is deemed to be unsuitable within the first four weeks, simplyaupairs.com undertakes to provide one free replacement. If a replacement for the first au pair cannot be found or the Client decides they are no longer looking for an au pair, a 50% refund (less the £50 non-refundable deposit) of the Agency's fees will be made to the client. If the Au Pair leaves after four weeks, no refund is due and the full invoice is payable to simplyaupairs.com. No replacement or refund will be granted should the candidate leave due to gross misconduct of the Client or a member of the Family and friends of such. LIABILITY Whilst the Agency will make every effort to ensure the suitability of an au pair selected by you, simplyaupairs.com cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of references and personal details supplied by the au pair. The Agency shall not be liable for any loss, damage to property, expense, death or injury to persons howsoever occasioned, even if such act or omission is negligent, fraudulent or dishonest. REGISTRATION WITH THE POLICE Immigration rules stipulate that an au pair who is from Turkey must register with the local police within 7 days of arrival, if his/her stay is for longer than 6 months. You should check with the police regarding any other non E.E.A. au pairs. MEDICAL COVER Reciprocal health agreements between most European countries allow au pairs to receive emergency hospital treatment under the National Health Service for any illness contracted whilst in the U.K. Non E.E.A. au pairs should have taken out medical insurance in their own country, please check with them. TERMS & CONDITIONS The "Agency" refers to simplyaupairs.com The "Client" or "Family" refers to a person, family or companies who engages simplyaupairs.com to seek a suitable candidate for an agreed fee and duration. The "Au Pair" or "Candidate" refers to a person who is registered with simplyaupairs.com; its agents or associates and whom simplyaupairs.com has introduced to a Client/Family. These terms and conditions shall apply to and govern all contracts of agreements between the Client and the Agency. The Client must inform the Agency immediately of the engagement of the services of any candidate introduced by the Agency. The Client should also inform the Agency of any re-engagement of the services of any candidate that have been introduced to Client after the end of the initial contract when the appropriate fee will be advised. If the Client within a period of one year from the date of initial introduction of the Applicant to the Client passes to an unconnected third party details of an Applicant originally introduced by simplyaupairs.com and that Applicant is subsequently engaged for employment by that third party a full placement fee will be due from the initial client. All invoices are payable within ten (10) days. If the invoice is not paid within ten (10) days the refund scheme will not apply. It is the responsibility of the Client/Family to ensure the registration of the Au Pair with the police or any other appropriate authorities and a registration card issued to the au pair when necessary. To top of page |
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