Mother's Help
What is a Mother's Help?
A mother's help is not qualified in child care but in most cases would have had experience working within the child care industry, being either within a centre or family. They also normally have a lot of babysitting experience. Mothers' Helps usually want to work with children after leaving school/college/university or wish to take time off from a job and will normally commit to working for a family for a year.
Duties
The mother’s help duties are to assist the mother/father with the children and generally help around the house, e.g. vacuuming, dusting, preparing meals, light washing, ironing, etc. Also a more experienced mother’s help may be asked to take sole charge of the children.
A live-in mother’s help will expect to have his/her own room with usually a TV provided. He/she should have 2 days off per week, normally taken at week-ends and have most evenings free apart from 1-2 weekly baby-sitting evenings and such baby-sitting evenings will not be charged for by the mother’s help but will be inclusive in his/her weekly salary.
If a mother’s help lives out, he/she will normally work a 5 day week from Monday to Friday. A daily mother’s help will not expect to do any evening baby-sitting unless this is agreed beforehand and is paid as an extra.
Salaries are based on age and experience and you should contact our agency direct for advice on daily and live-in weekly/monthly salary rates.
Terms of employment (Nannies/Mothers Help)
It is essential where the placement is permanent (i.e. more than a few months) to have a written statement of the employee’s terms of employment which should be signed by you both and dated to avoid any misunderstanding. Suggested terms are as follows:-
Duties - including hours of work and time off.
Holidays - 4 weeks paid annual holiday, Employees usually have public holidays free but if they do have to work over a public holiday, they should be given time off in lieu or paid for the day/s that they have worked.
Sickness provision - how much benefit will you pay and for how long?
Salary - whether this is paid net of tax and National Insurance contributions and on an agreed date each week/month.
Notice of termination - employees are entitled to a minimum of 1 week’s notice and usually this is normal on either side within the first 4 weeks of employment although it is fair to give 2 weeks’ notice if the employee is from abroad. 3-4 weeks’ notice should be given after 4 weeks continuous service. Summary/immediate dismissal is usual in the event of serious misconduct, e.g. theft or drunkenness.
Probationary period - and if so for how long?
Confidentiality - you may wish to state that business and private affairs of the family should be kept confidential. The above terms should be discussed before the employee starts work and the statement or contract should be signed by you both and dated either on her arrival or beforehand. We can assist you with this future if you feel you need a little more advice.