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Why choose Swedish Connection?

 

We are a boutique agency based in London and have been successfully matching families with au pairs and nannies since 1998. With a wealth of experience in understanding families' individual needs, we believe that our personal touch and attention to detail help us make happy and mutually beneficial matches.

Finding the right person for you

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Before we can start looking for the right person for you, we need to understand your requirements.

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Au pair
(not available due to Brexit)

 

An au pair is a person aged between 18 and 30 who provides childcare assistance in exchange for weekly pocket money. Au pairs usually comes for a cultural exchange and to improve their language skills. An au pair should be treated as part of the family and be provided with full board and lodging.

An au pair may work up to 35 hours per week, 5 days a week, plus babysitting 1-2 nights a week. Pocket money starts from £100 per week.

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An au pair is not a trained nanny, nor a domestic servant or housekeeper. An au pair should not have sole charge of children under 2 years old.

Returning au pair

(not available due to Brexit)

A returning au pair is a person aged 18 or older, who holds no professional qualifications, but who has practical experience and a genuine interest in children. All of our returning au pairs have a minimum of 6 months' previous experience working as an au pair.

 

A returning au pair should not have sole charge of children under 2 years old. They may work up to 10 hours per day, as well as 2 evenings babysitting.

 

Salaries range from £150 - £300 per week (gross) for a live-in position, depending on the hours worked.

Nanny

 

A nanny is a person aged 18 or older, who has either formal childcare qualifications or is a former au pair with at least 2 years’ experience. Nannies can have sole charge of babies and children, and take responsibility for all duties relating to the children. 
 

A nanny may live in your home or not: 

  • A live-in nanny may work up to 12 hours per day, plus up to 2 evenings babysitting per week. 

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  • Live-out nannies usually work fixed hours, with normal working hours being 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday. Babysitting is paid separately, upon agreement.


Pay varies depending on the nanny’s level of experience. If you choose to employ a nanny, you will be liable to pay tax and National Insurance contributions and to start a workplace pension if applicable. 

The matching process

1
Contact us

 

Once you have a better understanding of what you’re looking for, it’s time to get in touch with us.

4
We'll suggest suitable candidates

 

We will then start the matching process and send you profiles of candidates whom we believe will meet your requirements, for you to consider.

2
Complete a family registration form

 

We'll ask you to complete this online form to help us better understand your individual situation, which will enable us to provide you with personalised advice. Registration is free. 

5
Interview your candidates

 

You choose whom you wish to interview. Interviews are conducted by telephone, Skype, FaceTime or can be face-to-face if the candidate is local.

3
Talk to us

 

We will arrange a time to discuss your requirements in more detail.

6
Agree on a match

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The search is free, and our fee is only payable once we have successfully matched you with a candidate that you are happy with.

Your responsibilities as a host family

To your au pair

 

As a host family it’s important that you welcome your au pair into your family, treat her or him as part of the family and help her or him learn about your culture.

 

You also have the following responsibilities to your au pair:

  • To provide the au pair with a private room and full board;

  • To provide a happy and safe environment for everyone in the family;

  • To register the au pair with your family's GP;

  • To inform the au pair of her or his duties, free time and pocket money in a welcome letter or email;

  • To give the au pair a little time to settle into her or his new way of life and for your family to get used to having a new person in your home;

  • To have patience and understanding. This is required by both the au pair and the host family;

  • To offer the au pair 4 weeks’ paid holiday for every 12 months with the family, as well as all public holidays.

To your nanny or returning au pair

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  • Register yourself as an employer;

  • Use the PAYE system (Pay As You Earn), to pay income tax and National Insurance contributions for your nanny. This only applies if you pay your employee more than £170 per week;

  • Keep tax records on behalf of the employee;

  • Provide regular payslips;

  • Provide an employment contract;

  • Pay National Insurance contributions as an employer;

  • File an employer’s annual tax return;

  • Provide a Workplace Pension and Automatic Enrolment for nannies with annual income of £10,000 and who are over 22 years old;

  • To offer 4 weeks’ paid holiday for every 12 months’ with the family, as well as all public holidays.

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To take care of these responsibilities, we recommend Nannytax, an all-inclusive payroll services provider. See below for more information.

Here's what they will do:

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  • Provide weekly or monthly payslips for your nanny;

  • Draw up an employment contract for your nanny;

  • Give you unlimited support from Nannytax's team of payroll experts;

  • Allow you unlimited access to Nannytax's Legal Helpline.

 

You will find the tax table on www.nannytax.co.uk net-to-gross / gross-to-net here: https://www.nannytax.co.uk/what-we-do/free-tools-services/salary-calculator

 

Nannytax have partnered with Fish Insurance to offer employers liability insurance for nanny employers and public liability for nannies.

Please ask for our referral code to receive a 10% discount.

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