Expertise
Caroline Joyce Qualifications
Qualifications
Caroline Joyce is the Managing Director of Cara International, an Irish licenced Nanny and Au Pair Agency, placed in the West of Ireland but placed candidates throughout Ireland. She holds a BA (Hon) in Applied Social Care, a Masters (Hon) in Family Support and Post Grad Level 9 (Hons) in Leadership and Manage ent. She holds a QQI Level 6 (Merit) in Training, Delivery and Evaluation and a QQI Level 6 (Distinction) in Coaching Models of Practice.
Experience
Caroline Joyce is 22 years placing in-home minders (Au Pairs & Nannies) in Ireland and abroad. She has also hosted minders in her own home. Cara International currently have a 96% rate of success with placements, with some Au pairs extending their programme.
Membership/Lobbying
Membership & Advocacy
Caroline is the former chairperson of IAPA (Irish National Au Pair Association which is now disbanded), a former Irish National lead of ECAPS (European Committee for Au Pair Standards), and a former member of IAPA (International Au Pair Association). Caroline has completed academic research and papers on the in-home care sector in Ireland and has lobbied the Government for better regulation and support for families and their minders. She has made representations to the Low Paid Commission and several Government departments.
Awards & Achievements
Business Woman Of the Year Award
Caroline won Mayo Business Woman of the Year in 2015 and was an all-Ireland fina ist. In addition, Cara International has featured in RTE’s documentary ‘When the Au Pair comes to stay’ and RTE’s Nationwide and in many local and national newspapers.
In 2020, while undergoing cancer treatment, Caroline was shortlisted for a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland & a New Frontiers Awards for her innovation in the in-home care sector. She also raised approx €12,000 for Mayo Pink Ribbon Cancer Charity when doing a head shave at that time.
Case Studies
Margaret, Co. Tipperary August 2021.
Life Before the Au Pair
Life at home is always busy and even during COVID times this was the case. Myself and my husband playing tag at home with homework, activities, working from home, work on the farm. We have always been missing the link of an extra pair of hands to help us.
Life After the Au Pair
When Hilde arrived we were delighted to have her with us. She quickly became part of the family giving us the opportunity to get things done in our busy life all the time knowing that our little girl was happy and content with Hilde. They became friends very quickly and it really was lovely to see. We will miss Hilde when she leaves us.
Mary, Co. Laois, August 2021
Life Before the Au Pair
Life in our home before we got an AuPair meant our daily lives were extremely busy. Both parents in our home work full time and our children were going to an outside the home minder. This meant pulling our children out of bed early in the morning and clock watching all day to ensure we were home in time for pick-up. Making dinner every evening so we could send it the next day… we were on a merry-go-round… then COVID happened….
Being forced to work from home 5 days a week made us see that the children were much happier in their own home. We decided to change our structure and sought the help of Caroline in sourcing an Aupair to suit our needs.
Life After the Au Pair
Life after getting an Au Pair became much calmer…. no clock watching…. no rushing around… the children are happy in their own home with their own things around them. It has changed our lives for the better. We are very happy we chose to go this route.
Family Testimonies
Meagan – Co. Kildare- 4th Feb 2022
Cara International provides us with the reassurance that au pairs are vetted. They give us the reassurance that there is someone there to call in an emergency. They provide a great service with the ability to replace our existing au pair when they finish their placement.
Deirdre- Galway- 4th Feb 2022
Cara International provides a personal service/excellent response times/immediate answers
Margaret- Tipperary Feb 2022
It has been a pleasure to work with Cara International. We can rely on Caroline to understand our needs and find suitable au pairs to choose from. I have thought of getting an au pair in the past and now that we have finally experienced this and how easy Cara International made it for us we are getting another au pair. Cara takes the hassle out of trying to find someone and this saves you time. Caroline is very professional, quick to reply, aware of our needs and connects us with excellent candidates. Training for the au pair is also provided. I would highly recommend Caroline and her agency.
Kealy Family-Tipperary, 2021
We have always found Cara International to be professional and efficient to deal with, but also gives a personal touch to their service. We have used Cara for many years now, and we would highly recommend them.
Eimear- Dublin, 2020
We had nice communication with Caroline and she found us an au pair quickly and with little hassle.
Gillian-Belfast, 2020
We felt the service and contact throughout was really good and overall would recommend the service and the au pair we got as a result.
Au Pair Testimonies
Sandra from Spain 26 June 2022
Cara International is a very good agency. They helped me with everything. Thanks to them I felt safe.
Anna from Italy 26 June 2022
Cara International was always ready to help me. They were always present, asking if I was fine and if I was having a good time.
Lea from France 19 May 2022
Cara International Service is truly amazing! Cara’s staff follow you from the beginning, during your stay and even after. The agency always makes sure that any Au Pair is okay. They have great communication and will listen to you. You can talk to Cara anytime by text or email or by scheduling a call. When I arrived, I didn’t know anyone, but thanks to Caroline, I got in touch with other Au Pairs because she put me on their WhatsApp group.
Carolina from Portugal 19 April 2022
Thanks to Caroline for her availability and attention and for always being worried about the family and me during my stay!
Sara From France 14 April 2022
The service provided by Cara International was excellent. If I have any problem or doubt, I can always come to them, and they will give me help and assistance.
Tamara From Spain 21 August 2021
Cara Internationa treat me very good, as well as the Host Family! Cara helped me a lot, asking me if I was alright, good etc.
Silvi from The Netherlands 21 August 2021
I thought Cara international was good because they always kept you up to date and ensured everything was going okay. It was all very clear what was expected of me.
Hilde from The Netherlands 14 August 2021
Cara international is super at communicating fast with all the information you need, but isn’t only there for arranging the host family. For example, after Cara International sent me a message about a potential host family, we had a nice small talk about it, and they checked in on me throughout my stay.
Joana from Portugal 2021
I enjoy spending time with my host family, which makes me feel at home. The kids are on holiday, so we spend more time together, which improved our relationship. We played together, and on sunny days we went to the beach for some walks. I have already met some other au pairs from different countries. I had a really good experience. Thanks to Cara International
Suzanne from Italy- 2020
I have always loved working with children. You get so much love from them. I also like to get to know a new culture, and the Irish culture is amazing! I took Irish language classes. They were so much fun! Becoming an Au-Pair in Ireland with Cara International was the perfect combination, and it is such a great experience.
Lea from Germany 2019
Cara International offers free courses which I liked, particularly the part about food handling and safety. I also wanted the first aid part, especially the first aid for children. While I was familiar with most of it, a few small facts were new to me and refreshing one’s knowledge is always good.
Eleanor from France- 2018
I completed the pediatric first aid course with Cara International. I was happy to do them because I felt more confident with the children.