What does an au pair do?
 Au pairs can expect to do a mixture of childcare and light housework, to assist with the children, perhaps helping them to dress, getting them breakfast, taking and collecting them from school, preparing meals and keeping their rooms tidy. There may also be some dusting, vacuuming, ironing, washing and bed making etc. An Au-Pair works 25 hours per week (generally five hours a day) and possibly two evenings a week babysitting. The hours maybe spilt differently however, depending on the requirements of your family.
The au pair has his/her own room and meals are generally taken with the family. "Pocket-money" is paid and is negotiated with the family (in the United Kingdom the recommended minimum amount for the weekly allowance is £60).

Language
Many young people choose to become au pairs in order to acquire fluency in a foreign language and living as part of a family is an ideal way to achieve this. The au pair may also want to go to a language school and the family should facilitate this. This is an excellent way of meeting other young people. While the au pair is responsible for the cost of the school, some families will make a contribution. Many language schools in Scotland now provide English classes for au pairs free of charge

Holidays
Au pairs are entitled to one weeks paid holiday for every six months. All au pairs have two full days off per week and are not expected to baby-sit on these evenings unless there is some arrangement between the au pair and family. The family may ask the au pair to do additional duties for which they should give extra pocket money in return. This should be agreed between family and au pair.

Medical/insurance cover
EU nationals are entitled to free medical treatment in the UK under the National Health Service and must register with a GP on arrival. Au Pairs from other countries should check that there is a reciprocal agreement between their own country and the UK and ensure that they have adequate medical and accident insurance cover. If there are any doubts this should be checked with the relevant embassy which will certainly know of the rights of its citizens in the UK. Dental treatment is usually not part of the NHS.

Travel
Au pairs are expected to cover the cost of travel to the country in which they are to be employed. Arrangements will be made for them to be collected from the airport/station by the host family or by agency staff.

Car Driving
You should only say that you are a car driver if you are confident about driving in the UK. An international driving permit is not required for driving in the UK if you are an EU citizen. It may be helpful if you have one or two driving lessons in the UK before driving the family’s car. Remember to bring your licence!

What happens next?
To apply for a European placement download the Au Pair Application Form, and Medical Record Form. The application process for the USA is different and applicants should first view our American partner’s website  www.goaupair.com  for information about their placement program.

Please complete your application form and return it to us as quickly as possible with at least two references – one childcare and one character, medical record form, "Dear Family" letter, personal photographs and a photocopy of the photo page from your passport. For outbound au pairs the complete application package will be forwarded to partner agents in Europe who will propose suitable families and forward files for you to view. For au pairs coming to Scotland the matching process is carried out by Au Pair Ecosse. The ‘Dear Family ‘ letter should be in the language of your target country, describing yourself, why you want to work in the host country, your hobbies, experience with children, ambitions etc. The application form and photographs will be seen by the family when they decide whether to offer you a place as their Au Pair. The more information you provide, the quicker we can place you with a family. Please send us your application form, the other documents and photographs by post. There is a £50 administration charge for outbound au pairs ie for native Scots going to Europe or the US.

Follow up
As soon as we have found a suitable family we will send them your details and a phone call will be arranged. If you and the family agree a placement we will send an au pair agreement form for you to sign. A copy of this will be sent to the family who will sign a family agreement form. We will retain copies of both.

The agency will maintain contact with the family and au pair and will be happy to discuss any problems the au pair you have which they are unhappy discussing with the family directly. Dates of social events will be emailed to the au pairs in the course of their stay along with details of new arrivals. Information about language schools will also be made available.

Certificate

On successful completion of your stay in Scotland you will be presented with a certificate of achievement on request

© 2005 - 2009 Au Pair Ecosse