What are the costs involved in hiring an au pair?

Registration fee

Registration is FREE! Just complete and the registration form below and you will be contacted within one working day. It is also advisable to call the agency on 07947572570 to follow up your enquiry.

International Helping Hands Registration form for Au Pairs/Mother's Helpers/Housekeepers

This form should be completed by the individual/s with parental responsibility for the child/children.

International Helping Hands Registration form for Au Pair/Mother's Helps/Housekeepers

How far away from your home is the nearest:

The Home Office guidelines state £90 - £100 per week minimum pocket money should be paid to an Au Pair for 25 hours + 2 nights babysitting. There should also be minimum allowance of £40.00 per month towards bus fares/English lessons as a fair contribution.

 

AU PAIRS FOR IRELAND:  Minimum wage to be paid.

Notes:

Note 1 (Placement Type):

Au pair Bronze: £595
This is the placement fee for an au pair who intends to stay up to a six month period. You are guaranteed one free replacement if the au pair leaves within one month.

Au pair Silver: £645
This is the placement fee for an au pair who intends to stay for 7 - 9 months. You are guaranteed one free replacement if the au pair leaves within two months.

Au pair Gold: £695
This is the placement fee for an au pair who intends to stay for 10 - 12 months. You are guaranteed one free replacement if the au pair leaves within two months.

Au Pair Plus (30-35 hours): £795

Mother's help (40+ hours): £895

Housekeepers (40+ hours): £1200

Summer Au pairs (June/July - September only): £275

Note 2 (Languages):

Please note that only English should be spoken at home when your au pair is present. Bi-lingual French, German, Spanish, Italian and Czech families should discuss speaking arrangements with the agency before a placement is confirmed.
Registering with Doctors/Dentists

There should not be a problem registering your au pair with a doctor. Your own GP practice should accept your au pair as a patient. It is advisable to register your au pair as soon as possible. You will need to take to the surgery a copy of the Letter of Invitation to prove that your au pair is living with you and will be staying with you throughout the whole of his/ her stay.

The same applies for registering your au pair with a Dental Practice. However, if your own dentist does not take NHS patients, then it is advisable to find one nearby that does.

As au pairs rarely stay here without one trip home within 6 months, they can make an appointment with their dentist in their own country. However, in case of an emergency, it is better to be registered with a dentist here in the UK.
Opening Bank Accounts for your au pair:

Many au pairs wish to open a Bank Account and take advantage of using a Debit Card. This is indeed possible.

To open a Bank Account for your au pair, you will need to make an appointment with your bank. You should take with you the Letter of Invitation and an additional signed letter from the Agency. Please contact me if your au pair wishes to open an account and I will provide you with the relevant letter.

Terms and Conditions for International Helping Hands

  1. Receipt of the registration fee by International Helping Hands will be considered as agreement to the following terms and conditions. 

  2. International Helping Hands will try its utmost to find a suitable applicant for the client but can make no guarantee, express or implied, as to the availability of any applicant.

  3. All applicants introduced to a prospective employer are carefully selected to ensure that they are suitable for the post and their references thoroughly checked. However, success is not guaranteed nor is liability accepted for loss or damage of any kind arising from the placement of an employee with an employer.

  4. Placement fees for au pairs become payable on confirmation of acceptance.

  5. If an applicant is rejected by the client or the applicant rejects an offer of employment, and the client subsequently engages the applicant within 12 months of the client receiving the applicant’s application form, the placement fee must be paid by the client.

  6. The client must also pay the placement fee if he/she introduces the applicant to another person resulting in the engagement of the applicant by that person with 12 months receipt by the client of the applicant’s application form.

  7. An applicant’s application form is provided to the client in the strictest confidence on the basis that the contents are not disclosed to anyone else without the written consent of International Helping Hands. No guarantee as to the accuracy of the information contained in the application form is given by International Helping Hands.

  8. If the client wishes to terminate the Au Pairs employment, he/she must give the Au Pair two weeks’ notice period or find suitable paid accommodation for a period of one week. Failure to do this will stop any subsequent replacement Au Pair and future placements.

  9. Whilst it is hoped that your au pair will stay for the required length of time it must be pointed out that the placement fee does not guarantee the length of stay. Should a placement prove unsatisfactory within the first 6, 8 or 10 weeks (depending on which category of au pair you have chosen) due to au pair’s homesickness or personal reasons, you will be offered a suitable free replacement within a period of 4 weeks, subject to availability and providing that all the terms and conditions have been adhered to, at no extra cost. No refunds will be given. If you have not yet finished paying your instalments for the placement fee for your au pair and a replacement au pair is to be found for you, due to the reasons above, the instalments must continue to be paid on the date they are due.

    What happens if your au pair does not work out AFTER the guarantee period has expired? 
    If an au pair placement does not work out AFTER the guarantee period has expired (i.e., after the first 6,8 or 10 weeks) depending on the category of au pair you have chosen) you will NOT be asked to pay another full fee. There will be a set fee of £200.00 for a new au pair as long as the current au pair has not been there longer than: -
    - 4 months for an Au Pair Bronze (6 month stay)~
    - 5 months for an Au Pair Silver (7 - 9 month stay)
    - 6 months for an Au Pair Gold (10 - 12 month stay)

  10. A If the family decide NOT to take the au pair replacement offered to them within the four-week period, International Au Pairs will offer the family a credit note which will be valid for 6 months from the date of departure of the au pair. This credit note cannot be transferred to any other family.}
    B There is only ONE free replacement au pair. This does not come with a guarantee period.      
    C IMPORTANT! Please note that in the event that the family has a problem with the au pair and does not subsequently inform the au pair about the problem as well as informing the agency in writing of the problem, the agency cannot provide a free replacement au pair.

  11. The client must comply fully with the ‘Responsibilities of an Employer’ set out below
Responsibilities of a Host Family
  1. Au Pairs should work no more than 25 hours per week plus maximum two nights babysitting. Wherever possible weekends and evenings should be free.

  2. Au Pairs should not be expected to babysit should on their days off.

  3. Au Pairs should be provided with their own bedroom, with adequate facilities – wardrobe, cupboard, desk, chair, lamp etc. and adequate heating.

  4. Au Pair duties should involve looking after children (taking to and from school) helping to prepare their meals, helping with homework, helping with bathing and bedtime routine. Au Pairs should NOT be left in sole charge of babies and young children under 3. They do not hold any formal childcare qualifications. Other duties involve light housework – dusting, vacuuming, making beds, washing and ironing, but NOT heavy cleaning. Housework should not exceed more than 1 hour maximum per day.

  5. Au Pairs should be provided with ALL meals.

  6. The Home Office guidelines state £90 per week minimum pocket money should be paid per week to an Au Pair for 25 hours + 2 nights babysitting or maximum 30 hours per week including babysitting. BAPAA (British Au Pair Agencies Association) advises £100.00 per week + minimum £20.00 per month towards bus fares/English lessons as a fair contribution.

  7. Au Pairs should be given the opportunity to attend English lessons at least once a week. A contribution of £20 minimum per month should be paid towards tuition costs and/or bus fares.

  8. Au pairs should be registered on their arrival with your own doctor and local dentist.

  9. Families should be responsible for collecting their au pair either from their nearest airport (wherever possible) or pay for a taxi to their home. Au Pairs must not be expected to make long onward journeys by coach/train carrying 6 months - 1 years’ worth of luggage.

  10. According to the Home Office guidelines for Au Pairs, the au pair must be placed as a member of an ‘English speaking family’

  11. Holiday entitlement: The au pair is entitled to four weeks holiday per year (20 days); one week for every three months stay. At least three out of four of those weeks should be paid i.e., one week at Christmas, Easter, and one other throughout the year. Many families pay for 4 weeks. Holidays should be discussed and decided upon as early as possible during the au pair's stay. If the au pair placement is for a shorter time, holiday is calculated pro-rata. The au pair should not be forced to take his/her holiday to coincide with the family holiday. If the family takes a holiday that does not coincide with the au pair's holiday, then not only pocket money, but provisions must be made (i.e., food, money for transport if applicable, etc.) during the family's absence. If the au pair does not feel comfortable staying alone in the host family's house during the family's absence, alternative accommodation with a relative or friend must be arranged.

    Bank Holidays/National Holidays. Au pairs should have all Bank Holidays/National Holidays as free time. If this is unavoidable, then days off in lieu must be granted or extra money paid. Please ask Agency's advice on holiday pay/entitlement

Got any questions? Check our FAQ page or give our friendly staff a call to discuss your enquiry.

Mothers helper

For enthusiastic and caring au pairs who can help with childcare and household duties, call 07947572570

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