Aunt Jessica Cares

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Editorial

One of the principle attractions of living in our busy metropolis is the pace and vibrancy that urban life offers us, however, in recent years these very attractions have begun to exact their own toll upon the average Londoner. More and more of us are discovering that the perfect antidote to this toll is to return home, after a hectic day, to an immaculately cleaned apartment, settling down to sleep in a freshly changed bed and getting up in the morning to choose from a selection of crisply ironed shirts.

Though a variety of cleaning services have catered to Londoners over the years, few have managed to adapt to the pace of our modern lives, often proving to be a drain on our time rather than easing the burden. Aunt Jessica Cares, a small, friendly, and professional recruitment consultancy specialising in the placement of private household staff, is the exception. With over three decades of experience in supplying staff, to some of the most prestigious addresses in London and farther a field, their consultants have watched the needs of Londoners change and have adapted their service accordingly.

“Understanding the needs and requirements of a household is the most important skill a consultant can have,” states Amanda Montagu, a senior consultant, “each household is, after all, unique.” This appreciation of the complexity of modern life in London and its effects on each individual household permeates their firm. In fact they can supply household staff for just about every conceivable need: whether you are simply searching for a part-time daily housekeeper, for as little as three hours, once a week, to keep the chaos of daily life at bay; or a full-time nanny-housekeeper, whether you need residential or daily, full- or part- time, to assist with the demands of family life; they can help.

“I always find that people are surprised by the service that our staff can provide,” Amanda explains, “predominantly, our staff view this as a profession and thus want to excel in their work. Also as Londoners they appreciate the demands the city places on our clients and as well as cleaning, washing and ironing are prepared to run errands from as little as picking up the dry cleaning to a weekly shop to dealing with deliveries or work men, enabling our clients to ensure that they gain the maximum benefit out of the time they are there.”

To take advantage of these benefits you must, however, be able to trust the person you decide to let into your home and of course, by extension, your life. This is an issue the consultants at Aunt Jessica Cares take very seriously. Prior to the introduction of any candidate they are put through a rigorous interview process, which involves a personal meeting with a consultant, often lasting over an hour, and subsequently their references are checked to ensure they meet their exacting standards. In addition to this, if you take someone through them, they also provide you with a simple, yet comprehensive, personal confidentiality agreement, providing you with an additional degree of protection.

The process of finding staff is made as simple as possible, largely due to the experience of Aunt Jessica Cares’ consultants. It is not unusual after a telephone call or e-mail describing your household and it’s needs in the morning, that you could be looking at the curriculum vitae of a couple of suitable candidates by that afternoon and often able to interview someone within 24 hours. “This is a fast moving business,” Amanda explains, “the right candidate may only be available for just a week before they are snapped up.”

This might lead you to the conclusion that your consultant would put you under a great deal of pressure to make a decision before you have had time to properly consider it, however, as you are under no commitment until you decide to take someone from them this is far from the case. As a twelve-week guarantee is offered on each of their placements, their consultants are conditioned to ensure that each match fits on both sides and will actively discourage you or the candidate from making a decision they feel you will not be entirely happy with.

It is clearly a formula that works, as most of their clients come through recommendation. So much so, that it is not unusual for Amanda to be dealing with more than one generation of the same family. In fact at the right dinner party you might just overhear, in whispered tones, one of your friends eulogising the candidate they got from Aunt Jessica Cares. And with candidates salaries starting at as little as £8 net per hour, plus fares, and agency fees starting at a competitive ten percent of the net annual salary it is becoming an increasingly affordable way for Londoners to manage their homes.

Reprinted with permission from News on the Block, May 2004

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The Best of Both Worlds

The dream of rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous is becoming a reality as more young people realise the benefits of going into private service, writes Stuart Penney.

Imagine a job where you attend the best dinner parties, meet all the top people, eat the finest food and live in fabulous surroundings. You work on a part or full time basis and get paid for it.

This scenario, once a distant dream enjoyed by a few is fast becoming the norm for many across London. Welcome to the world of sophisticated Private Household Service.

Amanda Montagu runs Aunt Jessica Cares, a recruitment agency, specialising in private household staff from nanny-housekeepers to housekeeper-cooks to domestic couples, whether daily or residential, part or full-time.

Established more than three decades ago and based in London’s fashionable Belgravia, this highly reputable agency is finding that domestic help is back in vogue, but with a difference.

Today dependable Parker is still expected to come running with his silver salver – saying “You rang M’Lady!” Now the new ‘upstairs, downstairs’ society has higher expectations.

To meet these expectations multi-skilling is coming the rescue, with Parker expected to undertake a combination of duties, which might include driving the children to school in the M-Class one minute, whilst steering the trolley around the local organic supermarket the next.

No longer is the cook-housekeeper, the preserve of the landed gentry, but is becoming a necessity in our time poor, cash rich society. People are working harder, longer hours and a safe pair of hands is not just desirable, but invaluable.

Amanda said, “Just as our clients are often drawn from international backgrounds, our candidates tend to come from all corners of the globe and walks of life.”

From the occasional nun to nurses, teachers and Mums returning to work – all are embracing major lifestyle changes. People are finding that their experience with children and domestic skills such as excellent ironing can be put to use in a new career.

It is taking off for those candidates brave enough to give up their traditional careers and strive for a lifestyle change. For those who make the move, their careers become their lives.

But Aunt Jessica Cares does not just recruit anyone. All of their 4,000 candidates undergo strict screening, which includes taking up references, scrutinising credentials and checking with the Criminal Records Bureau for any skeletons in the closet.

And Aunt Jessica Care’s clients appear to approve. A database of 3,000 happy clients is a reflection of the agency’s enormous success. Hundreds of candidates are placed with happy families every year, but one of the keys to success is making sure the personal chemistry fits.

Amanda explains, “We are looking for good references, a squeaky clean background, people who enjoy their work, have the stamina for it and most of all have a big smile on their faces.”

Staff can earn £350 per week and those with impeccable credentials can earn even more. This seems a small price to pay for the services of someone trustworthy, who can entertain the children, rustle up a Jamie Oliver creation at a moments notice, mix a Berry Collins cocktail and still be smiling at the end of the day.

Clearly, the image of private service is being transformed from the half-rimmed bespectacled nannies to a non-stuffy ‘can do’ approach.

But for those who like the crusts cut off their cucumber sandwiches, this can still be arranged, ma’am.

Reprinted with permission from Independent News, March 2004