Definition (from the citizen information bureau) An au pair is a young foreign person who is treated as a family member in exchange for certain services, such as a limited amount of light housework or help minding children. The au pair is usually given room and board and paid weekly pocket-money. There are specialist private agencies that can assist you to source an au pair. The main objective of the au pair is to improve his/her language skills.
Au pairs' profile:
The au pair candidate must be over 18 and provide a copy of her passport or national identity card
The au pair must be an EU-citizen (no Au pair visa available in Ireland for non EU citizen)
She/he must have childcare experience and provide at least two childcare references + a character reference in her home country & translated in English
She/he must have at least a basic level of English. The candidate will be interviewed in English by the family (Skype or phone interview)
The au pair candidate must provide a clean police record & a medical certificate (stating she/he is mentally & physically fit to mind children)
Au pair candidate must be available for at least 6 months (shorter placement possible during the summer)
The candidate must have sufficient funds to provide for travel expenses & English classes if attended
Au pairs' tasks: The main duty of the au pair is to look after the children, and insure their welfare & safety at all time:
Play and interact with the children
Dress or help to dress them
Shower or help to shower them
Feed them when very young
Prepare breakfast, snacks & lunch
Prepare lunch boxes
Drop to & collect from school or crèche
Go for walks & take them to activities
Organise indoors & outdoors activities
Board games
Supervise naps
The au pair can also be asked to do some light house work:
Keep the children’s bedroom & playroom clean and tidy
Wash, dry & iron the children’s clothes
Change, wash & dry children’s bed clothes
Make children’s bed
Organise children’s school uniform
Empty & load the dishwasher
Tidy and sweep the kitchen & eating area after meals
Hoover living area once or twice a week
Cook for the children (lunch boxes, after school snack)
Help to prepare the dinner (peal vegetables, cook rice, reheat dinners...)
Keep her/his own area clean and tidy
Do her/his own laundry
The au pair will be given:
board & lodging (private bedroom with wardrobe & desk) for €54.13 wage deduction per week
Time off to go to morning or evening English classes (once or twice a week)
