19 year old Au Pair for 1 month

But would they legally be able to work?

A Swiss national can visit the UK for less than 6 months without needing a visa to work.

The applicable law is that of the UK. Even if Switzerland were in the EU (which it isn’t), there is no longer freedom of movement between the UK and EU.

The DBS certificate and work visa are two separate issues.

Just to say not sure if laws are different but I don't think Switzerland is part of EU.

escaped

Barleyfields

I also agree that she would need a DBS check in order to work with children or anyone vulnerable, and people simply employing a cleaner sometimes request this. They take some time to arrange and I have no idea if it would even be possible to arrange from another country.

If she were to work privately, the family might not insist on a DBS, whereas an agency would. I don't think you can actually apply for a DBS until you arrive in the UK. You can start work straightaway once the application has been submitted.
She should, however, get a police record check in Switzerland before she comes here.

She simply cannot come here and be employed.
www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law/au-pairs

Barleyfields

I also agree that she would need a DBS check in order to work with children or anyone vulnerable, and people simply employing a cleaner sometimes request this. They take some time to arrange and I have no idea if it would even be possible to arrange from another country.

If she were to work privately, the family might not insist on a DBS, whereas an agency would. I don't think you can actually apply for a DBS until you arrive in the UK. You can start work straightaway once the application has been submitted.
She should, however, get a police record check in Switzerland before she comes here.

Just send your friends this - it explains why the girl can't work here.
www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law/au-pairs

only if

David49

At that age a student visa would be the usual way to work in another country, that gives you many options

A student visa is not for if you have been accepted on a recognised course

I was a tame au-pair in Paris when I was 15!
I say tame because the lady I worked for was a family friend who had broken her leg and needed someone to shop, cook and wash for her.
It was a fabulous time which I've never forgotten.

At that age a student visa would be the usual way to work in another country, that gives you many options

Helpx is more like a holiday for the volunteers. I give them free board and lodging in return for a few hours a day helping. In my case it's housework and gardening usually. They stay for 2 weeks max.
I actually think it's better to have a work visa which costs a bit of money.

I also agree that she would need a DBS check in order to work with children or anyone vulnerable, and people simply employing a cleaner sometimes request this. They take some time to arrange and I have no idea if it would even be possible to arrange from another country.

I agree with the responses confirming that she would need a work visa and you could find yourself in trouble if you assist her in making arrangements to come here on a visitor visa for what is obviously a working holiday. I would suggest that you make your friend aware of the difficulties and of the trouble she could find herself in.

Is not just a work visa she will need but checks made by the police that she hasn't a criminal record and is safe to work with children. Like anyone in this country who works with children or vulnerable adults. And it can take months for the checks to go through.

I am assuming that modern employment legislation, child protection, safeguarding and laws designed to clamp down on modern slavery have rendered au pairing, which we took for granted, out of the question..
I was an au pair in my university hols twice back in the 60’s and looking back, there were remarkably few checks on either my employers or me.
Lots of my friends had au pairs in the 70’s /80’s when they had their babies but I never felt happy about entrusting my chikd(ren) to a teenager with only fractured English and no Early Years experience.
If it is just a month she would be better saying somewhere as a guest.

She can’t take any “pocket money” or anything that could be considered payment in kind.

I’m really worried that she hasn’t thought this through and that you could find yourself implicated in something illegal or responsible if anything goes wrong if you help to fix something up for her.

Surely there are au pair agencies the girl could approach? If she wants to avoid registering with an agency, you have to wonder why.

If she would accept no payment, it would be easier. DD1 has French girls as mother's helps on a friendly basis while she works from home in the summer holidays. They are never left on their own with the children. They don't do much and are just available as an extra pair of hands - playing, doing laundry etc. In return they have free board, lodging and outings paid for, and I give them English lessons for free if they're keen.

sorry posted too soon - but working for Koru Kids you would need a work visa

Very hard to be a legal au pair since Brexit - but huge tax consequences if illegal person hired

Au Pairs need to be paid National Minimum Wage these days.

A month is not really an attractive time period for a nanny or mother's help

Might be able to get temp help from somewhere like Koru Kids who employ students etc to provide childcare and wraparound care
www.korukids.co.uk/

Lathyrus3

She can’t undertake any paid work of any kind without the right visa.

Is she just looking for experience with young children? A local school might welcome her in the nursery. But even that would need safety checks and an interview.

Is this actually more of a holiday and she was hoping to pick up a bit of pocket money?

thank you for your response - we have all learned something. Yes, she is wanting to practice her English and live temporarily in an English environment - so different from Kt. Zürich....
She would like a little pocket money but it seems impossible to find anything for such a short period and without a work visa.

helpx is unpaid

I think you’ve been put in a very difficult situation, I had an au pair years ago through an agency, she lived in and was on a specific work permit, attending language classes once a week for a few hours.
There were strict rules on hours worked etc, goodness knows what rules are in force now post Brexit.