Parents' Help

Also known as:

Au Pair
Family Help

Introduction

A parents' help works in a private home, assisting parents (or a lone parent, guardian or carer) in the daily care of the children and the house. They usually work under the parents' supervision. They are often known as au pairs.

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Work Activities

The duties of a parents' help vary depending on the age and number of children they care for. They may be responsible for dressing and feeding babies and very young children, and for comforting them when they are upset.

A parents' help may plan and supervise play activities with older children. If the children are old enough to go to school, the parents' help may take them there and bring them back each day.

Domestic tasks such as cleaning, washing up, cooking, and washing and ironing clothes take up a large part of the day.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a parents' help, you must enjoy looking after babies and children. A sense of fun, stamina and lots of energy are useful qualities. You must be flexible, and able to work under the close supervision of the parent.

Although you are unlikely to be in sole charge for long periods, you must be able to use initiative, and stay calm under pressure and in emergencies. You must be constantly aware of safety and hygiene in the home, and let a parent know if you notice any change in a child's habits, for example, if they seem to be off their food.

You may need language skills if you work in another country.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates for parents' helps vary.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Parents' helps earn around £65 - £80 a day. Food and accommodation may be provided.

Working hours for parents' help can be long and irregular, and include some evenings and weekends. Some parents' helps work part-time.

Employers throughout the UK are parents or guardians of young children.

A parents' help may work in more than one household. They may be employed long-term or for a limited period in special circumstances, for example, if a parent is ill.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills and abilities gained in childcare are an advantage and may enable you to complete a recognised training course in less than the usual time.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

• 39% of people in occupations such as parents' help work part-time.
• 2% have flexible hours.
• 4% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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