Living and working in the UK

If you are embarking on a working adventure as a nanny to the UK it is important to know the basics.

Be mindful that while there are many similarities there are also differences  which is expected when living and working in another country.

Working as a nanny in a new country can present a world filled with lots of wonder and possibilities as well as potential challenges and barriers.

It can pose challenges whilst adjusting to the new environment.

We have debunked some of the most common questions, quandaries and worries.

It’s not all “roses” for Australian and NZ nannies in the UK.

Yes, you are quite loved and sought after as families consider Australian and NZ nannies to often be more flexible and relaxed at their idealism of what a nanny constitutes without compromising quality.

It can also be a hindrance as some parents are anxious about employing Australian and New Zealand nannies mainly because they feel that it’s too uncertain.

They question their level of commitment and whether they will stick around but it is reasonable to expect a six month or a year long commitment.

One of the noticeable differences from working as a nanny in Australia/NZ and working as one in the UK is that being a nanny in the UK generally work longer hours.

It is not uncommon to work 12 hours a day for at least 5 days.

Additionally a family may or may not include evening babysitting as well as part of the role which is often up to 2 nights a week.

The cost of living can be really expensive.

Although it does depending on your location. Where you live not only affects the cost of living it will also be reflected in your wage.

It can also be somewhat difficult to obtain a lease as a foreigner and rents too can be quite expensive.

Often the best way to combat this is share accommodation. It is often a more common option. Rental costs vary greatly depending on location.

Costs vary even depending on the location within London! In London for example, rents are considered to be astronomical compared to the rest of the UK (you can’t get much for less than around our £400($900 AUD) per week for something small).

If you rent a property, as with other countries, you will be accountable for rent, gas, electricity and council tax.

Every home must pay council tax and it is based on the number of people in the house as well as the size of the property.

Also in the UK every household who owns a TV must have a TV licence. If you rent it is certainly something worth knowing about. It needs to be renewed yearly and also applies to live TV watched on a laptop!

It is important to note that we recommend being over 18 years to be taken seriously.

If you wish to work as a nanny in the UK and most nanny agencies will predominately require a potential nanny to have a qualification and experience in order to register with their agency.

There is an abundance of nanny agencies in the UK so do your research as to the best one that suits you. We also recommend registering with more than one agency.

You will find that most reputable nanny agencies (unless it is more of a nanny/au pair agency that specialize in this) will not do a placement prior to you arriving in the UK and having a face to face interview with the agency.

It is illegal to attempt to work in the UK without the correct visa.

Most Australians and New Zealanders travel to the UK and work on Youth Mobility Visa (tier 5). it is available for 18-30 year old. For more details about the Youth Mobility Scheme: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

An employer must comply with the legal obligations of being an employer such as it is the family’s responsibility to pay for the Tax and National Insurance on your behalf collected by Inland Revenue.

Tax will be between 10% to 40% depending on the income. The regulations on whether or not you pay taxes if you are not permanently staying in the UK are very complicated

They must also allow you the other entitlements of any employee- sick pay and paid holidays.

Under UK law domestic employers have the same legal obligations as other employers. That means that they are legally required to register with HMRC as an employer and operate a PAYE scheme on your behalf.

Your employer will set up a national Insurance account and number for you. Although you can set one up yourself and it is relatively simple.

We suggest you have travel insurance as well.

Opening a bank account in the UK can prove tricky.

You will need proof of address which isn’t always easy as its not just mail sent to the address it is something like a bill to prove you live there as well. In some instances a letter from your employer (especially if you are a live in nanny and have no bills or other mail) can sometimes be accepted.

One great suggestion we heard was to change your address with your home bank if you are registered with online banking (and lets face it who isn’t). Then you can print off a statement and it will reflect the UK address. This may or may not work or be sufficient. Another option is to check with your bank if they have a UK bank branch affiliate.

The Major banks are Natwest, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Barclays. Other banks include Abbey, Nationwide, Halifax, Royal Bank of Scotland.

Getting around is via the underground rail (Tube), buses and trains.

The Tube is one of the main modes of transport in London. The Tube can become quite crowded itself. You can download a tube map (in app store), get them at the station or buy a book.

For information on London transport visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/

Parking can be expensive. Travelling via car to the centre of London will attract a congestion charge.

For information on the rail network for outside of London https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Health:

The UK has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia.

The UK health system is The National Health Service (NHS) which is funded by the government.

It provides free medical care to UK residents, they may only pay for prescriptions, eye test, and dental treatment.

If you take medication a letter from your Doctor is recommended.

For more information https://www.nhs.uk/

Driving in the UK:

You can drive in the UK for up to 12 months if you hold a valid Australian driving licence or you can obtain an International Driving Permit.

This includes Australian probationary licences.

Australian licences can be exchanged for British licences for up to 5 years from the date of entry into Great Britain.

The DVLA is the government agency that handles drivers’ licences. For more information https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/driving-licences