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Social ServiceISCO 5311

Au pair

An au pair is a person who lives and works with a host family in another country and answers for the care of its children. Au pairs are young people who want to get to know another culture while providing childcare and carrying out other light household tasks such as cleaning, gardening and shopping.

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Rate 5 of the 12 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

assist children with homework

entertain people

prepare sandwiches

promote human rights

assist children in developing personal skills

About au pair

Childcare is the main duty. The au pair supervises the children, entertains them, helps them develop their personal skills, prepares meals such as sandwiches, and works to the sanitary standards that apply in the workplace. Communicating with children and young people in a way that suits their age and needs matters as well.

The relationship with the parents is what makes the arrangement work. The au pair maintains the relationship with the children's parents.

The exchange runs in two directions, and that is the defining feature of the arrangement. The au pair contributes care and household help, and receives accommodation, keep and the chance to live inside another language and another culture. The au pair also promotes human rights, and living in the employer's home makes clear terms, and keeping to them, especially important.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (12)

workplace sanitationworkplace sanitationThe importance of a clean, sanitary workspace for example through use of hand disinfectant and sanitizer, in order to minimise infection risk between colleagues or when working with children.assist children with homeworkassist children with homeworkHelp children with school tasks. Assist the child with the interpretation of the assignment and the solutions. Make sure the child studies for tests and exams.entertain peopleentertain peopleProvide people with amusement by doing or offering a performance, like a show, a play or an artistic performance.prepare sandwichesprepare sandwichesMake filled and open sandwiches, paninis and kebabs.promote human rightspromote human rightsPromote and respect human rights and diversity in light of the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of autonomous individuals, taking into account their opinions, beliefs and values, an...assist children in developing personal skillsassist children in developing personal skillsEncourage and facilitate the development of children's natural curiosity and social and language abilities through creative and social activities such as storytelling, imaginative play, songs, drawing...play with childrenplay with childrenEngage in activities for enjoyment, tailored to children of a certain age. Be creative and improvise to amuse children with activities such as tinkering, sports or board games.communicate with youthcommunicate with youthUse verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, p...give constructive feedbackgive constructive feedbackProvide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evalu...attend to children's basic physical needsattend to children's basic physical needsTend to children by feeding them, dressing them, and, if necessary, regularly changing their diapers in a sanitary manner.maintain relations with children's parentsmaintain relations with children's parentsInform children`s parents of the activities planned, program`s expectations and children`s individual progress.supervise childrensupervise childrenKeep the children under supervision for a certain period of time, ensuring their safety at all times.
Optional (21) — show
baby carebaby careThe procedures required to take care of children up to the age of 1, such as feeding, bathing, soothing, and diapering the baby.disability caredisability careThe specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.common children's diseasescommon children's diseasesThe symptoms, characteristics, and treatment of diseases and disorders that often affect children, such as the measles, chickenpox, asthma, the mumps, and head lice.handle children's problemshandle children's problemsPromote the prevention, early detection, and management of children`s problems, focusing on developmental delays and disorders, behavioural problems, functional disabilities, social stresses, mental d...carry out wound carecarry out wound careCleanse, irrigate, probe, debride, pack and dress wounds.provide first aidprovide first aidAdminister cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.feed petsfeed petsMake sure that pets are given appropriate food and water on time.assess the development of youthassess the development of youthEvaluate the different aspects of development needs of children and young people.drive vehiclesdrive vehiclesBe able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.speak different languagesspeak different languagesMaster foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.support the positiveness of youthssupport the positiveness of youthsHelp children and young people to assess their social, emotional and identity needs and to develop a positive self image, enhance their self esteem and improve their self reliance.use food preparation techniquesuse food preparation techniquesApply food preparation techniques including the selecting, washing, cooling, peeling, marinating, preparing of dressings and cutting of ingredients.iron textilesiron textilesPressing and ironing in order to shape or flatten textiles giving them their final finishing appearance. Iron by hand or with steam pressers.clean surfacesclean surfacesDisinfect surfaces in accordance with sanitary standards.buy groceriesbuy groceriesPurchase ingredients, products and tools that are necessary for daily housekeeping activities.clean roomsclean roomsClean rooms by cleaning glasswork and windows, polishing furniture, vacuuming carpets, scrubing hard floors, and removing garbage.use gardening equipmentuse gardening equipmentUse gardening equipment such as clippers, sprayers, mowers, chainsaws, complying to health and safety regulations.support children's wellbeingsupport children's wellbeingProvide an environment that supports and values children and helps them to manage their own feelings and relationships with others.demonstrate when teachingdemonstrate when teachingPresent to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.prepare ready-made dishesprepare ready-made dishesPrepare snacks and sandwiches or heat up ready-made bar products if requested.use cooking techniquesuse cooking techniquesApply cooking techniques including grilling, frying, boiling, braising, poaching, baking or roasting.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

nanny9 shared essential skillsbabysitter8 shared essential skillschild care worker7 shared essential skillsactivity leader4 shared essential skillsearly years special educational needs teacher4 shared essential skillsearly years teaching assistant4 shared essential skillschild care coordinator3 shared essential skillschild day care worker3 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does an au pair do?

Au pairs live and work for a host family in another country and are usually in charge of taking care of the family's children. They are young individuals, seeking to explore another culture while providing child care services as well as other light housekeeping activities such as cleaning, gardening and shopping.

What skills does an au pair need?

An au pair needs 12 essential skills, including workplace sanitation, assist children with homework, entertain people, prepare sandwiches, promote human rights.

Will AI replace au pair jobs?

The AI disruption score for au pair is 12/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: prepare ready-made dishes, feed pets, drive vehicles. Most resilient: attend to children's basic physical needs, entertain people, play with children.

AI Replacement Risk

12/ 100
Very Low Risk
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Quick Facts

SectorSocial Service
ISCO GroupPersonal care workers
Essential Skills12

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