What is a nanny?
A nanny is someone, usually
a woman, who looks after your child in your own home, and might be expected to do other domestic work as well. It is not a legal requirement for a nanny to be trained,
registered or inspected. Some are trained but don't normally
register themselves in the same way as a childminder does. Agencies supplying nannies must be registered.
How much does a nanny cost?
In Edinburgh a
full-time live-out nanny based on average working hours of 8am to 6pm earns between £250 net (that’s after tax)
and £310 net per week. The very highest paid nannies are earning £325 net per week. Live-in nannies usually work slightly
longer hours and earn between £220 and £250 net per week. Part-time nannies usually earn more per hour than full-time nannies,
for example a three-day-a-week nanny earns between £7 and £7.50 net per hour.
If you employ a nanny in the UK and pay her
more than £97 per week (tax year 2006-07) you have the same legal responsibilities as a commercial employer and the law requires
you to:
· Register as an employer
· Set up and operate a PAYE (pay as you earn) scheme on your nanny’s
behalf
· Keep tax records on her behalf
· Provide your nanny with regular payslips
· Provide her with an employment contract
· Pay regular income tax and National Insurance Contributions
· Pay Employer’s National Insurance Contributions.
For advice on how to pay your nanny call Nannytax on 0845 226 2203 or visit www.nannytax.co.uk. To find a nanny call Panda Nanny Agency on 0131 663 3967 or Butterfly Personnel Tel: 0131 659 5065
What is a Maternity Nurse?
A Maternity Nurse
usually works 5 or 6 days a week on call for 24 hours a day at the parent’s home on arrival of the new baby. They are
equally responsible for both the newborn baby and the mother. They are not working in any medical capacity but are suitably
experienced/qualified to aid and advise new parents with their newborn. A Maternity Nurse is likely to be involved in feeding,
bathing, changing and settling baby to sleep and also in supporting mum in a general capacity. Equally important they spend
time with both parents reassuring, listening, encouraging and gently guiding parents where required, so that when a Maternity
Nurse leaves, the parents are coping confidently with their new baby. The Maternity Nurse may have suffered sleep deprivation
but the parents won’t have.
Pay for Maternity Nurses
All Maternity
Nurses in the UK are self-employed. Pay varies according to where the job is, whether there is one baby or more and so on
however the following generally applies (all figures are gross – before tax which the Maternity Nurses is responsible
for paying): Single Baby: £450-£700 per week , Twins: £600-£900 per week ,Triplets:
£900+ per week.
Specialised agencies are able to supply maternity nurses and
they too will have an agency fee.
For more information contact: Butterfly Personnel : 031 659
5065
What is an au pair?
An au pair is a single person aged between 17 and 27 who has come to the United Kingdom to study
English. An au pair can live in the UK for up to two years as a member of an English-speaking family. An au pair will expect
to help in the home for up to five hours a day, and get at least two full days off a week.
How much does an au pair cost?
As it is a cultural exchange it cannot be seen in purely
monetary terms. Families have to invest a bit of time rather than money when they elect to have an au pair. This is a young
person who is leaving their home country for the first time so they need to be supported a little, especially when they first
arrive. Our customs and the way we do things may be completely alien to them so apart from a different language they have
to cope with a lot of changes in the first few weeks.
A minimum of £55 per week is recommended, but it should reflect
the age/maturity and responsibility of the au pair. Anne Hunter of the Edinburgh
Au Pair Agency says “As most of my girls are over 20 the majority of my families are currently paying a minimum of £60
a week, provided with her own room, food plus a monthly travel pass.”
Does an au pair need a visa?
Nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Republic of Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey must
get a visa from their British Embassy or Consulate before they travel to the United Kingdom. EEC members are free to come
to the United Kingdom and work as au pairs without a visa.
Note: An au pair is ideal help around the home, but
he or she is not a trained childminder or nanny and therefore not recommended as a sole carer of a pre-school child. For safety,
use an established agency to find your au pair.
Au pair Ecosse Tel: 01786 474573
For more information call Anne
Hunter at Edinburgh Au pairs 0131 440 0800
Direct e-mail: Anne@edinburghaupairs.com
Web Site: www.edinburghaupairs.com
