Employment and Immigration regulations are applicable to Au Pairs entering and working in this country. All Au Pairs, EU and non-EU, are not employees of the host family or the agency; they are guests who provide help in the home in return for board, lodgings and a weekly allowance.

An Au Pair placement is an arrangement by which a single person, aged from 17 to 27 inclusive, comes to the United Kingdom to study English and lives for up to two years as a member of an English-speaking host family. During their stay, the Au Pair helps in the home for a maximum of five (5) hours per day, with at least two full days off per week. The family also pays the Au Pair pocket money (current recommended amount is £55) and provides them with their own bedroom.

The maximum stay allowed is two years from the date the Au Pair was first given entry. The Au Pair must stay with a host family without recourse to claiming state benefits. The Au Pair can change host families whilst in the country but the new placement arrangement must be under the same arrangements.

For non EU, Au Pairs must be a national of Andorra, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Croatia, Greenland, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marino, Turkey, Romania or Bulgaria

Prior to travelling to this country, Au Pairs from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey must obtain a visa from their local British Embassy or Consulate. The respective Embassy or Consulate checks the Immigration Rules before issuing a Visa.

Nationals of the European Union (EU) countries can enter the United Kingdom to work or study without any formalities. Government legislation implementing the National Minimum Wage, in 1999, made an exception for Au Pairs from the minimum wage legislation.

EU countries include France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Eire, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Finland. From May 2004, this also includes Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia.

The number of hours that an Au Pair from EU countries can help in the home is more flexible, as long as the weekly allowance is adjusted accordingly and the Au Pair agrees to the hours before their arrival.

An Au Pair must be allowed 2 days a week free of any duties. For non-EC Au Pairs, they must not work more than 5 hours a day and up to a maximum of 25 hours a week. There should be no more than 2 evenings a week of babysitting.

Assistance with light household duties e.g. bed-making, vacuuming, ironing, washing, dusting, washing-up, simple cooking, preparing vegetables. Families should note that Au Pairs are not trained in childcare and therefore should only provide assistance with child-care e.g. playing, taking and collecting from school, babysitting. It is at the family's own discretion and risk if they leave children in the sole care of the Au Pair. We strongly recommend that children under three years of age are not left in the sole care of an Au Pair.

The current recommended minimum weekly amount is £55 a week. This allowance is paid, in return for undertaking the agreed duties. More money should be given to EC Au Pairs, who have agreed to work longer than the standard 25 hours per week. Non EC Au Pairs are restricted to the standard hours.

During their free time your Au Pair will want to attend English classes at the local college, this is a good way of them meeting new friends and this should be encouraged. The family should find out where the nearest college is and check the details of the type and time of courses available.

We recommend that the family should speak on the telephone to the Au Pair; this starts the rapport and also enables the family to assess the Au Pair's conversational English. This telephone conversation normally takes place after a family has initially selected an Au Pair from the agency details and before their final agreement to the placement.

The Au Pair is not an employee of the family and there is no contract between the host family and the Au Pair. The Au Pair stays with the family as part of a cultural exchange and the family and Au Pair have an informal arrangement with regards duties, behaviour and other expectations. This informal arrangement is more likely to be successful if the host family and the Au Pair define and agree their respective expectations before either aggress to the placement. This can avoid a disappointment later after the Au Pair has arrived.

The expectations of the Au Pair are set out in a letter to the family, which is included in the details sent to the host family by the Agency as part of the initial selection process.

The agency recommends that for all placements, the family should send a personal invitation letter to the Au Pair setting out the host family's expectations. For non-EU Au Pairs this letter is also used as part of obtaining a visa. The information in the letter to the Au Pair should include at least:

• The duties the Au Pair is expected to undertake e.g. light household, assistance with childcare
• The amount of pocket money they will receive
• The details of any special requirements of the family e.g. dietary, medical conditions
• The details of all members of the household, including children's' ages, names, hobbies, pets and any other residents in the home e.g. lodger, grandparents
• The details of the accommodation and facilities provided e.g. their own bedroom, bathroom arrangements, TV, use of e-mail
• The details of the local language school, including how far it is and the options for transport to college

The family should keep in contact with the Au Pair and arrange a mutually convenient time to travel. The host family should not encourage the Au Pair to book travel without first agreeing how the family will pick the Au Pair up from a convenient airport, train or bus station. In addition, travel details can not be confirmed with non-EC Au Pairs until appropriate visas have been granted.

The Au Pair will meet the cost of travelling to this country. The host family must meet the Au Pair at the point of arrival in this country or make alternative arrangements for onward travel to a more convenient location for the family. The host family must meet the cost of the onward travel.

East European Au Pairs e.g. Czech, Slovak typically arrive by coach into London Victoria coach station. The host family should make arrangements for onward travel from London, if they are unable to meet them in London. This can be simply done by phoning National Express (08705 808080) and paying by credit card. The booking reference should then be communicated to the Au Pair. The Agency can provide information and guidance for this process.

Register your Au Pair with the family doctor. Give the Au Pair important telephone numbers e.g. work, doctors, emergency services and close relatives

Shortly after arrival, the family should sit down and discuss in detail the weekly and daily routines, precise duties, time off and advice on how to handle the children. The family must allow the Au Pair a familiarisation period to become familiar with their new surroundings and duties.

Au Pairs from EU countries are covered by reciprocal health arrangements. Non EU Au Pairs should have taken out medical insurance in their own country, please check with them. Check your household and personal insurance's for coverage against loss, damage or injury caused by or to the Au Pair whilst they are with you and your family.

Consider whether to contact BT to arrange for a block on International telephone calls, this should avoid any potential for unexpected large telephone bills. BT provides a call blocking service for approximately £5 a quarter. It is normal to allow the Au Pair to phone their family on arrival at your house.

If you require the Au Pair to drive during their stay, you will need to check your Driving Insurance cover. Remember that most Au Pairs are under 25.

The relationship between the Au Pair and the host and/or hostess should be one of daughter/son. Try to include them on any family outings, they may not however wish to come. If you go out for a meal or are away for the weekend and the Au Pair is not coming, they should be provided with some food and not have to purchase any.

Allow the Au Pair to attend church if they are accustomed to going in their own country and accept their beliefs as they should accept yours. Talk to your Au Pair; don't leave them out of conversation, personal conversation can be left until the Au Pair is not present.

The Au Pair must have their own room where they are free to study and relax in private. The Au Pair should be allowed time to have their own social life outside of the family and they need to know that their time off duty is not going to be suddenly postponed (as long as sufficient notice is given the Au Pair should not object).

If the Au Pair is not allowed to go out for any reason, this should be regarded as working time. Clearing up after meals is regarded as a shared chore, not working hours, part of being a family member. Remember the Au Pair is probably young and so may get homesick, so try to understand.

There are no excuses for putting an Au Pair out of your house without the opportunity to find them a new family. The Agency will be very reluctant to supply further Au Pairs to any family that do this without an extremely good reason. An Au Pair is free to leave and terminate the engagement at any time.