Hungarianaupairagency.com
 

 
 
 
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ALL NATIONALITIES ARE WELCOME!!!

Dear Au Pair

Thank you for your interest in my web site.

I look forward to helping you with your placement in the UK.

This service is FREE for the Au Pair!

The following information is required:

  • Completed Au Pair Application Form

  • Doctors Certificate 

  • Completed Child-care and Housework Reference

  • Two photographs (one passport style and one full frame)

  • One letter of reference (e.g. From employers, teacher, etc. written in English with name, address and telephone number)

  • Letter of introduction (in English)

  • CV with as much detail as possible

  • Criminal Background Check (valid)

It is very important to have a telephone number on which I can contact you, also a fax number or Email address. 

I look forward to receiving your application soon!

Useful Information

In Europe, the Baby-sitter, known in the UK as an Au Pair, is a very established, well-known network, where young people arrive from all parts of Europe. Traditionally an Au Pair placement was an arrangement whereby a young, unmarried person without dependants comes to the UK for the purpose of learning the English language and lives for a time with an English speaking family and this still applies to applicants from non-EU states (which include Romania and Bulgaria). Applicants from the EU have no restrictions imposed on them and are allowed to undertake any work, including Au Pair placements.  As Au Pairs, they do not need to register under the Workers Registration scheme, but, if they are undertaking other types of jobs other than au pair work (including cleaning for other families) they will need to register.

EU Applicants can be any age unless they are from Romania or Bulgarian where they must be between the ages of 17 to 27 years.  All applicants have a minimum of a secondary level of education and at least a good basic knowledge of English.  The duration of stay is between two months to two years, but naturally varies for each applicant.  EU applicants have no time limits imposed on them and are allowed to stay indefinitely.   Males are also allowed to take up Au Pair positions and have proved very successful! 

The Au Pair will join an English or permanent UK resident family, who needs help with childcare and housework whilst the parents are working.  A basic level of English is required, so that the Au Pair can communicate with the family.

The following information is a broad description of duties:

What does the family expect?

An Au Pair will usually begin work at 7.30.  The family may expect the Au Pair to assist with the children, e.g. dressing, providing breakfast, etc. then possibly accompanying the children to school or playgroup.  Then the family home will need to be tidied: e.g. washing-up, tidying the kitchen, bed-making, dusting, hoovering, laundry and ironing, maybe some light shopping.

If the children are very young, perhaps they will need to be entertained, taken for walks and generally looked after.  In most cases, if the children are very little, it is usual for one parent to be home also, and the Au Pair will assist the parent.  Sometimes the Au Pair may have sole charge of the children.

After work in the morning, there is usually free time, and the Au Pair will be required to work again in the afternoon.  Accompanying the children home from school, and entertaining them or helping with their homework, until the parents return home.  If required, help with preparing the evening meal (usually just for the children and the Au Pairs own meals).  This is generally easy, as most meals are prepared from frozen food.  Most families have a microwave oven, conventional oven and dishwasher to make the Au Pairs work easier.  Perhaps tidying up after the evening meal, washing up, bathing the children and putting them to bed.

The above-mentioned description is very general, and is to inform the Au Pair of what may be expected.  Naturally, each family is different; circumstances and family expectations are different.

Non- EU applicants can work for a maximum of 25 hours per week (5 hours per day, Monday to Friday but this could be in split shifts, or more hours one day and less hours the next) and baby-sit on two occasions per week.  Baby-sitting means looking after children after they have been put to bed in the evening.  According to the requirements of the family, the Au Pair may be expected to baby-sit on two evenings a week if required, but not usually on two consecutive evenings e.g. Friday and Saturday. No extra pay is given for this but this is calculated in the weekly pocket money (pay).  Some families regularly use the baby-sitting facility others only on rare occasions; this depends on the family.  But if asked, this is part of the Au Pairs duties.

EU applicants are allowed to work longer hours than 25 per week. 

All Au Pairs are entitled to two full free days per week, preferably weekends. The current recommended minimum pay (known as pocket money) is £70.00 per week for 25 hours, payable one week after arrival.   Extra hours are calculated at a rate of £2.50 per hour). 

Driving

It is possible that driving will be required, but the Au Pairs will always be informed in advance if this is the case.  The families will usually insist on a few lessons before they allow the Au Pair to drive, as they will also want to be sure that the Au Pair is confident and competent to drive the vehicle.  All vehicle expenses are the family's responsibility.  Some families will allow the Au Pair to have use of the vehicle in their free time. 

Non EU Au Pairs are allowed to drive for one year on their local or International License after which they must take a British driving test should they wish to continue driving. EU Nationals who hold a valid Community licence and are visiting Great Britain can drive any vehicle for as long as their licence remains valid. The appropriate full entitlement for the vehicle  must be shown on the licence.

What does a family offer?

Most families welcome the Au Pair within their home as a member of their family.  Full board and lodging will be provided, even at the weekends, when the Au Pair is free.  The Au Pair has their own bedroom; some are provided with a TV or radio.  (If a family ask the Au Pair to share a bedroom with a child, please inform the Agency immediately -  this is not allowed!).  It is the Au Pairs responsibility to keep their own room clean and tidy, to hoover and change their own bedding, and to clean the bathroom after use.

For the 25 hours work and two baby-sittings per week the family will give pocket money of £70.00 per week (payable in arrears).   After six months stay (with one family) one weeks' holiday should be allowed, with pay.  Planned holidays should be by mutual consent with the family.

Most families are very willing to assist with language tuition.  After the arrival of the Au Pair, the family will assist in finding local English language classes which usually take place twice a week, for one and a half hours on each occasion.  A 10-week course costs between £250 to £360.  If the Au Pair requires more hours, the cost is obviously more.  It is the Au Pairs' responsibility to pay for their own language classes.  There are usually no language classes during the summer holidays.

A few more important facts

EU members do not require a visa but the family will invite the Au Pair with a 'job offer' letter via the Agency in which the conditions of work are set out. If the applicant is from a non EU country, they will be required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to the UK from the British Embassy. They can only apply for a visa if they have a family who is willing to invte them as an Au Pair.  Once all documents have been exchanged, the au pair is ready to travwel to the UK.

The family will meet the Au Pair at a pre-arranged place, either the Airport or Coach Station.  The Au Pair pays for their own traveling expenses.  Occasionally, if the Au Pair has successfully completed their contract with the family and has stayed the originally agreed duration, then the family may contribute towards the Au Pairs' traveling expenses home. 

Whilst the Au Pair is in the UK, they will not need to pay for medical expenses, but will need to pay for any prescriptions (approx. £6.75).  If dental treatment is required, the Au Pair will need to pay for this and this could prove to be very expensive.  The Au Pair is not required to have medical insurance. The family will register the Au Pair with their local Doctor.

The British are a very animal loving nation and very often, Au Pairs will be required to feed pets or walk dogs.  In most cases, pets live indoors.  Few families allow smoking, and whilst completing the Questionnaire, the Au Pairs are requested to answer truthfully to the question regarding smoking. It has not been unknown in the past that Au Pairs have been asked to leave the family because they have not been truthful, and have been found out.

The telephone or Internet can only be used if the family have agreed to this.  All telephone numbers appear on the telephone bill, and it will become known if you use the telephone without permission.  If An Au Pair leaves a large telephone bill unpaid, them it becomes the Au Pairs' families' responsibility to pay the bill.  Phone cards are available if the Au Pair would like to call home.

In the UK it is forbidden to leave under-age children on their own.  This could be considered a criminal offense, as would hitting a child.  All families would be extremely upset if an Au Pair were to hurt a child and in most cases would ask the Au Pair to leave.  If any such incident were to occur, the Agency will not find a new family for the Au Pair, and the Au Pair would need to return home.

If, for any reason, the Au Pair is not happy with their family, or have problems, they should turn to the Agency for assistance.  The Agency also represents the Au Pairs interests too, and is very willing to solve any problems they may have.  If the problems cannot be resolved, the Agency will assist the Au Pair in finding a new family.  It is strongly advised, that Au Pairs should always have enough money, that if there are problems, they have some financial back up. 

The Agency recommend that Au Pairs should only bring as much luggage that they themselves can carry.  If any Au Pair would need to change families, then they should not be restrained by heavy luggage.  Usually Au Pairs will purchase things whilst in the UK and this has also to be taken home!

Male Au Pairs are allowed to the UK, but positions for males are few.  Male Au Pairs are expected to do the same as female Au Pairs, perhaps the family may ask males to do a little gardening also.  The Agency cannot place male Au Pairs who do not have an intermediate level of English because placing a male Au Pair is more difficult and the families require a better level of spoken English.  A driving licence is desirable.

The next step

If you would like to proceed with your application, please return the completed registration form etc.  This should be completed in your own handwriting, and without the assistance of your English tutor, because this will not give a true picture of your English abilities.  Most families invite the Au Pair for one year, and would expect the Au Pair to stay for the duration.  Therefore, when completing the form, please be sure that you do not have commitments for which you will need to leave the UK before you contract is up.  If you can only come for a shorter period, please indicate this information on the form.  If you are from a non-EU country, after the two year Au Pair visa has expired, you will no longer be allowed to be an Au Pair in the UK, the visa cannot be extended.  If you are from an EU state, there are no restrictions inposed upon you, you can travel freely to the UK.

The agency is NOT able to place summer au pairs.

The Agency will only contact the Au Pair when they have a family that they would like to offer.  If the Au Pair is planning to travel to the UK in a few months time, they may not hear from the Agency immediately.  Once a family is found, the Agency will discuss this with the Au Pair on the telephone, the family application form will be faxed to the Au Pair.  If the Au Pair is happy to proceed with the placement, the family will then send a letter via the Agency by email.   the Au Pair can buy a travel ticket only after the Agency has said.  The Agency should be informed regarding exact date and place of arrival, where the family will meet the Au Pair.  This process takes approximately two weeks once a family has been found.

I hope that I have answered all your questions, naturally each family is different, and each placement is different.  A word of advice, the Au Pairs should expect that whilst they are in the UK as Au Pairs, the work is sometimes difficult and they have to accommodate the families and not the other way around.  But you will learn English, you will get to know another culture, make many friends and you should return home with happy memories!

There is no charge made to the Au Pair by the Hungarian Au Pair Agency for placement with a family.

 

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