UK Project UpdateFebruary 2011

Madeleine StarrCarers UK

Where are we now?

• Coalition Government:– Opportunities

• ‘Refreshed’ National Carers Strategy• Focus on technology• Health policy

– Threats:• Cuts• ‘Do-it-yourself’ approach

Strategy ‘refresh’

• Promoting awareness of carers in work and seeking to return to work, and exploring issues for former carers in the workplace– Coalition Government consultation in 2010 to

review National Carers Strategy

• Carers UK made its own submission• Carers UK facilitated input from Employers for

Carers forum members • Carers UK contributed to the submission from the

Standing Commission on Carers

Outcomes from the consultation

• Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy – significant positioning of employment issues:– Identify and promote the business benefits of

supporting carers in the workplace in order to see more carers staying in, or returning to, work

– Develop and promote good practice among employers in supporting carers in order to help employers retain skilled and experienced staff including through the use of flexible working and job design

Refreshed Strategy

• Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy:– Develop and promote good practice among

employers (and employment services) in recruiting carers in order to help employers recruit skilled and experienced staff including through the use of flexible working and job design

– Support carers to care and work healthily and productively

Significance for former carers

• Carers supported to remain in work are less likely to face financial problems – for example loss of benefits – when caring ends

• Where employers are aware of the issues facing working carers and former carers, they are more likely to offer emotional or practical support when caring ends– Forward looking employers like BT have

identified specific issues for former carers and are developing support which will be rolled out through EfC as exemplars

Significance for former carers

• Positive recruitment measures and targeted return to work support will benefit former as well as current carers, for example in recognising skills that have been gained through caring– The ‘refreshed’ Strategy retained the return to

work support delivered through Jobcentre Plus

– Forward looking employers like BT are developing positive recruitment policies which will be rolled out through EfC as exemplars

Significance for former carers

• Health and well being at work initiatives can identify issues when caring ends and offer emotional and practical support – London Fire Brigade is embedding carers –

and former carers - in its Health and Wellbeing at Work programme which will be rolled out through EfC as an exemplar

Technology

• Working with technology providers to develop 21st century solutions for employers and working carers– Assisted Living Innovation Platform funding to

develop technology applications to support employers, working carers and former carers

– Joint Department of Health (DH) and Department for Business (BIS) Growth Review to promote technology solutions and flexible working for carers

Technology

• Growing the UK’s online carer community– Carers UK is redesigning and relaunching its

website and online forum

• Developing online resources – Carers UK is exploring the development of an

‘app store’ of targeted information, including for former carers

Other policy opportunities to build support for former carers

• End of Life Survey:– Focus on carers

• NHS Framework outcomes for carers – health and quality of life

• Health White Paper:– GP duty to recognise and support carers

Carers UK

Websites: www.carersuk.org

www.employersforcarers.org

www.carersuk.org/Information/Whencaringends

madeleine.starr@carersuk.org