Job Summary
Overview:
We are looking for a warm, organised, and proactive au pair to support a busy family with two energetic children, aged 4 and 7. The children love creative, hands-on activities such as painting, play dough, messy play, and exploring outdoors in the garden. The eldest is intelligent, perfectionistic, and shy, with ASD, ADHD, and anxiety; she thrives with patience, confidence building, and engaging approaches to homework, especially spelling. Her younger brother is sweet-natured, needing reassurance when his sister experiences meltdowns.
The role involves fetching the children from school, taking them to swimming lessons, preparing snacks and meals, helping with homework, and maintaining a calm, organised home environment. The ideal candidate will be perceptive to sensory triggers, model executive functioning and organisation skills, and create engaging routines that foster independence and confidence. As the family also has two lively Jack Russells, the candidate should be a pet lover who is comfortable sharing the home with dogs and including them naturally in the family’s daily rhythm.
This position offers afternoon hours during school terms, with extended hours in holidays, and requires someone who is consistent, creative, and deeply attuned to neurodivergent needs.
Purpose of the Role:
To provide steady, structured, and compassionate support at home, focusing on daily routines such as school pick-ups, transporting to swimming lessons, meal preparation, and homework assistance. The au pair will help create consistency in the midst of a busy family schedule, guiding the children with visual aids, engaging activities, and calm responses to sensory triggers or meltdowns. The au pair will ensure a balanced, supportive environment that meets both children’s needs and helps the household run smoothly
Job Objectives:
• Provide attentive care for two energetic siblings, aged 4 and 7, supporting the eldest child’s needs related to ASD, ADHD, and anxiety, while reassuring and including the youngest.
• Foster emotional safety and confidence through predictable routines, visual aids, and engaging approaches to homework, particularly spelling.
• Model executive functioning and organisation skills to help the children build independence in tidying, preparing snacks, and managing daily routines.
• Support daily transitions calmly and consistently, including school pick-ups, swimming lessons, and structured after-school activities.
• Prepare light, nutritious meals and snacks, being mindful of sensory food needs, hunger cues, and overstimulation.
• Encourage creativity and active play through painting, messy play, outdoor exploration, and safe use of the trampoline, bikes, and swimming pool.
• Respond with sensitivity to sensory triggers and meltdowns, balancing the needs of both children while maintaining a calm, supportive environment.
• Maintain a tidy, organised household to support the mother and ensure a consistent, welcoming space for the family.
Requirements
Requirements
Personal Qualities
• Patient, calm, and emotionally intuitive, able to respond sensitively to meltdowns and triggers.
• Structured and proactive, bringing consistency and organisation into daily routines.
• Creative and imaginative in engaging children through play, art, and outdoor activities.
• Respectful and affirming of neurodivergent experiences, with a warm, supportive approach.
• Flexible and reliable, able to adapt to the family’s energetic lifestyle and changing needs.
Knowledge
• Understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD – Essential
• Awareness of sensory processing needs and strategies to reduce overstimulation – Desirable
• Familiarity with executive functioning skills and how to model them – Desirable
Skills
• Ability to plan and implement engaging, child-centred routines and activities – Essential
• Strong organisational and time management skills, including homework support – Essential
• Skills to calmly manage transitions and reduce stress or anxiety – Essential
• Excellent communication with both children and parents – Essential
• Strong relationship-building abilities, especially with shy or perfectionistic children – Essential
• Holds a valid driver’s licence and has a reliable car – Essential
Working Hours:
• Weekday afternoons: 13:00 – 18:00
• School holidays: 09:00 – 17:00
Benefits
Benefits:
• Support and training from the Facilitation Academy over 4–6 weeks, including online modules, individual sessions, and access to resources.
• Salary: R15,000.00 – R18,000.00 depending on qualifications & experience