IAPO - International Au Pair Organisation: Getting Help & Advice

Getting Help & Advice Please take a look at the frequently asked questions below. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please contact us for help & advice.
	What if I want to change my host family? If you have acceptable reasons, you have the right to find another family. No one will force you to stay somewhere that you do not like, but we cannot change your host family when there is not a real and legitimate reason. If there is a legitimate reason for changing your family, we will be glad to help you. (aupair family in london says) Acceptable reasons for changing your host family are as follows: - They are not paying your salary every week - They are not providing you adequate food/nutrition - You do not have your own private bedroom - They do not allow you to attend your studies - They do not treat you as a friend or welcome member of their household - The host family has asked you to leave The above are examples of reasons why you should definitely ask us to change your host family.
	I just got here a few days ago and the children do not listen to me, they play jokes on me and do not do their schoolwork and tasks as I tell them to. But their parents do not seem to notice and do not say anything. I am so frustrated, what can I do? (the aupair agency in London says) Ask your host family parents if you can all sit down together one night and discuss everyone’s responsibilities, yours and the children’s. Explain to them that the children are not responding to you or behaving the way that you feel their parents would like them to and that you need help setting out some guidelines for them. Ask the parents what kind of chores or tasks the children are responsible for every day. When are they allowed to play: before or after their schoolwork is finished? How many hours of television can they watch in an evening? The children are probably testing you, to see what kind of person you are. If they are continually playing jokes on you, don’t get too sad, start playing small jokes or tricks on them! They probably just want you to play with them and be involved with them. Especially if they are older, they probably need you to be more of a friend than a babysitter and you should try to be that special friend for them.
	I called my family several times last month and now my host family wants to take the telephone charges out of my weekly salary, can they do that? Yes they can. Your host family is not required to give you a telephone allowance, this is not a requirement of our host families. If you want to telephone your family or friends back home, you can buy telephone cards from any local newsagent or cornershop to cover the expenses. (aupair agency must be a member of IAPO) All telephone numbers called, when and where to, are listed each month on the household telephone bill. Do not think that you can get away with calling your family and friends without anyone finding out. They will know about it and will expect you to pay that money back by taking it out of your salary, or may even ask for all of it to be paid immediately. (aupair agency in London gives you the best chance) If you do have a telephone allowance from your host family, be very careful to treat it properly, or else you will lose it.
	When my host parents come home at night, I am not sure what to do. Am I supposed to stay in my room or leave the house? I don’t know if I am welcome to spend time together with their family. What you do in your free time is entirely up to you and your host family. If you would like to go to your room and be alone while listening to your music or reading your books, this is perfectly acceptable. But be polite and excuse yourself from the family first, don't shut yourself up in your room every night leaving them to think that you don’t want to see them! Explain to them that you are tired and are going to relax for a while, if anyone needs you they can find you in your room. Everything you know from an aupair agency in London. If you would like to go out in the evenings this is also fine. Let your host family know of your plans and make sure it does not conflict with their work schedules or plans that may involve you to babysit. You will need to make sure that you keep to any curfew that the family has implemented for their household.
	My host family never leaves me alone, the kids are always coming into my room wanting me to play with them. Sometimes I want to visit my friends at the weekend, but my host family makes plans for me to be with them without asking if I have made plans of my own... You should talk to your host family about these things. Explain to them that you love the children very much, but you need some time of your own. Perhaps they could ask the children to knock before entering your room. Tell them that while you are very happy to be part of an active and social family, you would also like to be able to go out on your own and meet your own friends. After all, that’s why you wanted to be an au pair: to experience the culture and all it has to offer!
	My host family asks me to babysit every Monday night while they have dinner with their friends, and every Thursday so they can attend their social club activities. Isn’t this too much? As an au pair, it is a standard request to babysit up to two nights a week. Your family may not always ask you to, but you are required to agree to 2 nights a week if they do ask you. We are an aupair agency in London.
	My host family is going out with their friends this weekend and they have asked me to babysit both their children and their friends' children. But I do not know their friends' children very well and am not comfortable looking after them, can I say no? (How can I find an aupair family in London?) You can say no to this request if you like. Politely explain that you are not comfortable looking after children that you do not know and that it would be best for their friends to make other arrangements. Our services cover aupair in england.
	If I work fewer hours than usual in one week, will my host family still pay me my agreed salary? If you worked fewer hours because you were ill, or because your host parents were on vacation from work and did not need you to look after the children, your host family must still pay you your agreed salary. This kind of situation is not in your control and it was not your request to work fewer hours, therefore you will still be paid. This is how you can find an aupair agency in London
	My family will be going on vacation and visiting different countries. They would like me to come with them, is this possible? You are more than welcome to join your family on their vacation if they ask you to, but you may need visas, depending on what your nationality is. You should check with the consulates of the countries to be visited at least one month before your trip to make sure, regardless of what your nationality is. Aupair in england is a program of iapo.
	If I get ill or have an accident, who will help me pay for my medical bills? In Great Britain, all au pairs are covered in emergency sitations by the NHS (National Health Service), as a member of your host family. You can also register with the NHS to receive free health and dental care, plus free prescriptions. We strongly recommend that you ask your host family to help you register with NHS. Aupair agency is a member of IAPO group. In the United States, you will be covered with a basic health and accident insurance plan. You will pay the first US$ 500 and the rest will be covered through your health insurance.
	Your program is the right kind of program for me, how can I apply? It's very easy! Please fill out a brochure request form for Au Pair UK or Au Pair USA Programs.
If you can not find an answer to your question, please contact us for help & advice.