We are looking for a live-in housekeeper / children's supervisor to start as soon as possible. This is a role for someone who will enjoy being a third adult in a lively household of growing young people: it is not a Nanny role, although our youngest will particularly appreciate good child-care experience / qualifications since she has Down's Syndrome which makes her less advanced, but actually more interesting.

We have four children (14, 11, 9 & 7) but the elder three are very independent and so term-time childcare is limited to taking the youngest to / from school and supervising homework, music practice etc., especially on twice-weekly "babysitting" nights (normally Monday and Thursday). The role is really about keeping the house running smoothly so that we (both chartered accountants: she working in the city; he working as a freelancer) can get on with earning the money! We run much of our lives on Outlook / the internet and helping us with business / domestic filing, message taking is part of the role, so experience of Microsoft Office would be useful.

We have just moved to a large house in SE19 (Gipsy Hill) meaning that there will be work needed to organise / adapt it to meet our needs, but at least there's plenty of space to do it in. We are looking for a cleaner, who you will supervise.

You will need a Driving Licence to allow you to use the car for shopping etc. and if you aren't confident driving in London we will arrange / pay for some refresher driving lessons for you.

Since all the children seem to be musical (two trumpeters, two pianists, two singers, a bassoonist, a violinist, a recorder player and a cymbals player!), an interest in (Classical) music would be good while the ability to play an instrument would be a positive advantage.

Hours are currently 07:45 - 19:00 with an hour's lunch break and twice-weekly baby-sitting when we expect to be back before 23:00. It is very, very rare for us to ask for overtime at weekends or to ask you to have overnight charge.

Salary, holidays etc. will depend on qualifications / experience. You will definitely have your own room and sole use of a bathroom and (once we've cleared it of other stuff) a housekeeper's office as well.

From our point of view, the deciding factor will be the degree to which we think you will get on with us and we with you, especially in showing a united front on matters such as the children's manners, their doing their chores, finishing homework, doing their practices etc..

We need a copy of your CV and your salary expectations now and eventually proof of qualifications / CRB checks etc., plus two recent referees who should be willing to discuss you over the 'phone.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen & James

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