FAQs

What is Summer Placement Consultants?
Summer Placement Consultants (SPC) is a summer job placement service for college and high school students. Jobs typically entail living with a family for all or part of the summer and assisting with childcare and daily upkeep. Started as The Placement Bureau in 1951, originally a service under the aegis of the Parents' League of Greater Boston, SPC has developed into an independent business of national scope. Operated for over 54 years by only three owners, SPC was taken over in 2004 by Mrs. Stacey Lai from her friend, Mrs. Lorine Hutchens.

Who are SPC Employers?
Families in need of “an extra pair of hands,” during part or all of the summer, hire students through SPC. Most positions offered are as Mother's Helpers, Granny Helpers and Household Managers. New employer families are accepted by the service by referral only.

Who are the "Helpers" Placed by SPC?
SPC recruits and qualifies exceptional college and high school students who would enjoy being part of another family for the summer. We are in touch with many public and private high schools in the New England area and a variety of colleges throughout the country. Students typically have significant babysitting experience and all are required to have a valid CPR, First Aid or Life Guard certification. In addition, every student placed in a home undergoes a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check.

What is a Mother's Helper?
The duties of a Mother's Helper pertain to the children - babysitting, their laundry, their simple meals, care of their rooms, getting them to their activities, keeping their toys in order, etc. Any job expected of the helper beyond these general areas should be clearly explained by the employer to the student applying for the position.

What is a Granny Helper?
A Granny Helper is someone hired, generally by an older family, to assist in the running of their household for the summer. She/He can be expected to prepare meals and provide clean up, keep the kitchen clean and tidy, assume light housekeeping duties, and do the grocery shopping and household errands.

What Does SPC Provide to the Families?
SPC provides families with pre-screened, qualified, experienced and available student candidates for their summer job. SPC requires all students to complete an extensive employment application which includes a personal essay and two letters of reference from former employers and/or teachers.  SPC interviews each student candidate and speaks with at least one of the student's references. Students are then matched to both the job and the family, and are presented as candidates to the families. SPC passes along all pertinent information from the application process, including the references' addresses and phone numbers so that the employer families may contact the references directly. Once a student is hired by an employer family, SPC runs a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check before the student enters the home.

What is the Hiring Process?
Once SPC receives your completed Family Application with the non-refundable application fee, we will begin matching your needs and requirements to our qualified pool of student candidates. You will be notified that the process has begun. Shortly thereafter, you will be presented with three student profiles of students who match your family's needs. At the same time, the matched students receive a profile of your family with your specific requirements. Each student will contact you to schedule a phone interview, where you will have the opportunity to discuss your job in more detail, ask questions and get an overall feel for each candidate. From these students, you may make your hiring decision. Or, if you would like to see more, simply contact SPC and we will send you three more student profiles of students who match your family's needs. SPC will continue to provide you with student candidates in sets of three until you hire your perfect student.

How Long Does it Take to Locate a Helper?
From the time SPC receives your completed application, the process typically takes 1-4 weeks, depending on your schedule to interview and the number of candidates you consider. SPC does the bulk of the placements in April and May. Please feel free to check in with us from time to time to see how we are progressing with a helper for you.

What Should the Relationship Be Between the Family and the Helper?
As the employer, you should treat the student that you hire as a "member of the family." An employer should make a helper feel "at home" in the household. Any duties expected of the helper beyond the basic description should be detailed on the enclosed job description form and clearly explained to the student applying for your job.

What are the Required Working Hours and Time Off for the Helper?
Working hours for a mother's helper may vary from day to day, but a helper should have several hours every day to call her own and to be away from the house if she wishes. A normal working day should be an eight hour day (not necessarily eight consecutive hours). All students should have, at a minimum, a regularly scheduled full day (24 hours) off each week.

Is it Helpful to be Flexible in My Ending Date?
If you are employing someone for the whole summer or for the month of August and can be flexible about the ending date of your job, you will have many more students interested in your position. Schools vary greatly in their back-to-school opening dates - many colleges reconvene in mid-to-late August. Also, many students attend pre-season sports camps.

What About Automobile Insurance?
If your helper will be driving your car(s), please remember it is your responsibility to arrange for and cover the expense of the appropriate insurance coverage.