Nanny / Au Pair

[Halo]

Anyone using a nanny / au pair out there? Needs some info.
Cost/hassles/legal/payment etc

[blackdowns-girl]

Originally Posted by Halo

Anyone using a nanny / au pair out there? Needs some info.
Cost/hassles/legal/payment etc

Hi Halo
We had a part time nanny who found through advertsing on Gumtree and then findababysitter.com.au. They usually ask for $20 an hour but that may be more it the city. Hassels - they are usually just casually working so you can get ditched in it at any time (like 2 weeks before our third baby due, thanks for that)! We used to pay them by direct deposit into their bank account which always worked well.

Legal stuff - we did not have contracts etc, but always check their working with children card and verify it online to make sure it is real, call their references (all of them) and ask to see their police checks. You could go through an agency and then all of this would be done for you and I guess there would be more contractual obligations for them to comply to.

To be honest I gave up with it all in the end, I had one who left after two days, one who did a runner after 2 months and ditched me right in the ****, and one that was so self righteous that it drove me and the kids mad, I just found a good preschool and they go there more than we can afford!!! It is a big undertaking to have someone in your home telling your kids what they can and can't do, think about who you choose carefully would be my advice.

Hope that helps! How long before you can go back to UK?