Information for families applying for an Au Pair

You can apply for an Au Pair from Cinderella Au Pairs from this web site, but please read the following information first, then click below to request an application form

Request an application form

Charges for Au Pair Placement
Choosing and Accepting an Au Pair
General Conditions
Steps to follow when you select your Au Pair
Terms and Conditions

Charges for Au Pair Placement
Permanent - 3 months or more £295
Summer or Temporary placements £100

 Trisha and friends scuba diving
Cinderella Au Pair Agency will go to any lengths (or depths) to find you good au pairs!
Choosing and Accepting an Au Pair
  1. Your Application Form should be completed and returned to Cinderella Au Pair Agency as soon as possible.

  2. When we receive your application form, potential Au Pair details will be sent to you. These details may be sent to more than one family, so it is advisable to let Cinderella Au Pair Agency know the moment you receive details of a suitable Au Pair. If more than one seems suitable, it will be helpful to indicate a second choice.

  3. Once you have informed Cinderella Au Pair Agency that a particular applicant is acceptable, we will confirm his/her availability. We will arrange for the Au Pair to telephone you for an introductory chat, during which the details of the job you are offering should be outlined.

  4. You will need to send a Letter of Invitation for your Au Pair to Cinderella Au Pair Agency with the agency fee, (a brief phone call to us will help confirm the booking.). We will confirm your chosen Au Pair only on receipt of your fee. Your letter of invitation will be forwarded to the Au Pair. Often their anxious parents will appreciate a personal letter from you, in addition to the formal letter of invitation.

  5. When your chosen Au Pair is confirmed, more definite arrangements, including those for travel can proceed directly between you and your Au Pair.

  6. It is essential that you confirm your Au Pair's travel arrangements with him/her 24 hours before their arrival date.

When you need to replace your Au Pair, we will offer you a 5% discount.

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General Conditions

  1. Qualifications
     All applicants for Au Pair places are aged 17-27 (EC applicants can occasionally be accepted over this age).
    Some experience of baby-sitting is essential and a few Au Pairs have driving licences.
    Before arrival applicants must provide for Cinderella Au Pair Agency an open letter of introduction to prospective host families. It is written in English and outlines their interests and potential contribution to a family. They also provide a photograph, a medical certificate and two references. Copies of all these may be shown to any family considering employing an Au Pair.

  2. Categories of Au Pair
    Standard Au Pair - This category can work for a maximum of 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, with 2 days completely free. In addition, they may do 2 evenings baby-sitting. They should be paid £55 a week.
    All non-EC Au Pairs must be in this category; they are not allowed to work here in any other. EC Au Pairs can be in this category if they wish.
    Au Pair Plus - This category may work for between 26 and 35 hours a week, generally at the rate of the first 25 hours for £55, then any hours above that at £2.75 per hour. They too should have 2 days free each week. They may do additional baby-sitting, for which they should be paid extra. EC nationals ONLY may work in this category.

  3. Relationship between Family and Au Pair
    An Au Pair should be treated as one of the family. Normally they are students whose main aim is to improve their English. Their great advantage to a family lies in their being educated, on the spot and flexible, yet prepared to work for far less money than would be expected by professional domestic help. For these reasons, they, in turn, need to be treated with consideration and flexibility, and helped to pursue their aims.
    They must, in any case, be provided with their own room and full board. It will undoubtedly be appreciated if their room is regarded as private (e.g. from intrusions by children), and is equipped with a desk or table where they can work. If you do not already have one spare, a small second-hand television set is an inexpensive luxury to provide in the room. It gives the Au Pair the freedom to choose more understandable programmes than the family might perhaps watch. This is a great aid to learning English. Finding time to talk, making efforts to introduce them to English people of their own age, and taking them with you on family outings where possible (provided that no cost to them is involved) are all attentions likely to bring reciprocal goodwill.

  4. Au Pairs with Driving Licences
    If it is essential that the Au Pair should drive your car, please remember that they are unlikely to be experienced drivers. You are advised to pay for some lessons with your local driving school, preferably in your car, to ensure that she is fully acquainted with driving on the left and with the British Highway Code. You must insure your car fully for her use, and you cannot expect an Au Pair to pay for any damage done. Petrol must be provided for use on duty, but the Au Pair might pay for petrol for personal use whilst off duty. The admission on an application form that the Au Pair has a driving licence does not guarantee her suitability to drive in England.

  5. English Classes for Au Pairs
    One of the major reasons that Au Pairs come to England is to learn English, and they usually wish to take English Classes, often with the aim of taking the Cambridge First Certificate, Advanced or Proficiency exams. It is helpful if you can make enquiries at your local Tech/FE College/University before your Au Pair arrives - this is particularly important if you live in or near London, where language classes tend to be oversubscribed. Many families like to make a small contribution towards the cost of classes (fees are normally payable at the beginning of each term).

    If you need an English Language School and live in the Crystal Palace area we can recommend     ELT English Language Tuition but there are, of course, language schools available in other areas.

  6. National Insurance & Health
    National Insurance contributions are not required for Au Pairs. Au pairs from EC countries should be eligible for NHS health care. Non-EC citizens may also be eligible for NHS treatment, but some GP surgeries now make a small charge so check first with your local GP/Health Centre. If still in doubt, check with the relevant embassy which will certainly know of the rights of its citizens in the UK.
    ALL Au Pairs will be eligible for emergency hospital treatment should the need arise. Please check, when your Au Pair arrives, what insurance, if any, (s)he has. If the Au Pair becomes ill, the family will obviously have to continue to provide accommodation and food until arrangements concerning her/him have been made.

  7. Holidays
    An Au Pair often appreciates the chance to return home for one week at Christmas or New Year. If (s)he has been with you less than 6 months this will be unpaid holiday. When an Au Pair has been with you for 6 months or more, this week (or another) should be a paid holiday.

  8. Travel
    Au pairs are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel as far as Central London or any port or airport nearer to the host family. From that point on, both payments and arrangements are the responsibility of the host family. This means that if you cannot meet them or have them met in London or other point of arrival, you must send them clear and full directions (including times of trains, and allowing for late arrival of planes, etc.) before they set out, and reimburse them appropriately.

  9. 24 HOURS BEFORE THEIR ARRIVAL PLEASE CONFIRM BY TELEPHONE WITH YOUR AU PAIR THEIR ARRIVAL DETAILS.
     

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Steps to follow when you select your Au Pair - Please keep a record of the date when you have completed each of these.
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Terms and Conditions
"The Agency" refers to the CINDERELLA AU PAIR AGENCY. "The Client" refers to a person or company who engages The Agency to seek a suitable au pair for an agreed fee. "The Au Pair" refers to a person who is registered with The Agency and who fulfils the qualifications for the purpose of seeking placement with a client family. "Temporary Au Pair" refers to an au pair engaged by The Client on the prior condition of a fixed and stated period during which the employment is to continue.

  1. These Terms and Conditions shall in all respects apply to and govern all contracts of agreements (these usually being a signed 'Family Application Form') between The Client and The Agency. No servant or employee of The Agency has power to vary these Terms and Conditions save by a notice in writing issued by The Agency and signed by the proprietors.
  2. The Client must inform The Agency immediately an engagement is arranged with the Au Pair.The exact date of commencement of employment must be given at this time and also
  3. All information and conditions detailed below under AGENCY FEES shall be taken as forming part of these Terms and Conditions and all due fees set out there shall be deemed payable to The Agency by the Client.
  4. Should The Client extend the engagement period of a Temporary Au Pair or re-engage or use in any capacity the services of any former Au Pair or Temporary Au Pair introduced by The Agency within a period of twelve calendar months from the end of the period of employment, the Client will be liable for the full Engagement Fee, as detailed below.
  5. All invoices are payable with the letter of introduction and before the au pair arrives in England.
  6. The Agency shall be entitled to charge interest on any fees unpaid, at the rate of 25% of the fee.
  7. All details concerning The Au Pair which are passed to The Client by The Agency or directly by The Au Pair following introduction by The Agency, are confidential. In the event of The Client passing any such details to any other person, resulting in an engagement of The Au Pair by that person or any other, The Client shall be liable for The Agency's normal fees as though they themselves had engaged The Au Pair.
  8. The Agency endeavours to provide The Client with Au Pairs as well suited to The Client as possible, and to this end will seek to furnish The Client with all relevant information concerning The Au Pair. However, the final responsibility for any decision to employ The Au Pair rests with The Client, who is therefore strongly advised to check details, documentation and references personally. The Agency shall not offer any warranty as to the suitability, honesty, character, medical fitness or capability of any Au Pair. Nor shall it be liable for any loss, damage cost, injury or inconvenience caused by any Au Pair or arising from the introduction of any Au Pair by the Agency or any of its employees.
  9. The Client shall be wholly responsible for obtaining any work permits and/or for satisfying any medical, safety, or qualification requirements, as required by law. Hours and pay of all categories must be clearly defined in both the family application form and the letter of invitation.
  10. Both the Au Pair and Cinderella Au Pair Agency should have copies of these, a) for immigration requirements, and b) for reference.
  11. Cinderella Au Pair Agency reserves the right to use its own discretion in any situation involving a problem not covered in this document

Cancellation Charges and Refunds before arrival.
If the Au Pair cancels before her arrival, either a suitable replacement will be found or a refund of fees less an administration fee of £50 will be given. If the Client family should cancel during this time, 25% of the fee will be refunded.

Unsatisfactory placements A replacement will be offered to the client if the au pair proves unsuitable during the first 2 weeks of a temporary placement and during the first 4 weeks of a permanent placement. An unsatisfactory placement must be notified in writing within the first four weeks. It is the Client's responsibility to confirm the actual date of arrival with Cinderella Au Pair Agency so that the trial period is established. If there are reasonable grounds for finding the au pair's work or behaviour unsatisfactory during this period, then a replacement will be offered. Whilst the Agency undertakes to replace an unsuitable au pair, refunds of placement fees cannot be given at any stage. If there are reasonable grounds for considering the family's treatment of the au pair unsatisfactory, no replacement will be offered.

No replacement will be offered if the fee is not paid at the required time.
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