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Working and caring
Combining work with caring for an adult son or daughter with learning disabilities is undeniably challenging. The good news is that the employment landscape is changing, with flexible working becoming more "mainstream" and opportunities for training aimed at carers. Here, you can find information about:- Employers and carers
- Help with the challenges of working and caring
- Keeping your skills up to date
- Learning for Living programme
- Carer's assessment
- Working and benefits
- Flexible working
Employers and carers
Employers for Carers advises employers so that they can support workers who are carers too - and that's an estimated three million people. The emergence of a group with this focus is encouraging. It is to be hoped that, alongside recent changes to the law, a more understanding approach will ensure that fewer carers feel forced to give up work.
www.employersforcarers.org
Help with the challenges of working and caring
Working can be a real challenge given the sometimes unpredictable nature of caring. The Work and Learning section of the NHS website Carers Direct offers helpful information and lots of useful links. It also focuses on for carer-workers' wellbeing.
www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/workandlearning
Carer's assessment
If you feel that you cannot pursue work due to your caring responsibilities, you are not alone: one carer in five gives up work completely. Sometimes, the right support package can make all the difference - and this can start with a carer's assessment. This is not something that scrutinises your ability as a carer: it is about you and your needs, and seeing how those needs can be met. Your wish to work should be taken into account. Carers UK can offer advice and support in relation to requesting a carer's assessment, plus guidance on your rights. Their CarersLine number is 0808 808 7777.
You can find out more about getting a carer's assessment from Brighton & Hove City Council (call Access Point on 01273 295 555), Carer's UK or The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, and also from www.direct.gov.uk
Working and benefits
Certain benefits may be affected if you start work; for instance, you cannot claim carers allowance, currently, if you earn more than £100 a week after certain deductions. It is important to be clear about the implications if you are starting a job. The website www.direct.gov.uk is very helpful - visit the "Caring for Someone" section. Community Care's website offers a useful "A-Z of benefits" section which features a very clear account of Carers Allowance - see www.communitycare.co.uk
Working families' booklet From child to adult: a guide to disability, transition and family finance is now on the Working Families' website. Another booklet called Getting into Work is also available.
Flexible working
The Employment Act (2002) gave the right to request flexible working to working parents of children under the age of six (18 if the child has special needs, changing to 17 years after April 2011). From April 2007 the government extended this right, and it now applies to employees who care for an adult. The charity Working Families produces a number of useful factsheets which explain your rights clearly. Flexible Working includes information for people caring for adults. See the Family Zone section of the website.
http://workingfamilies.org.uk
Help to get you back to work
There is now a voluntary programme called Work Focussed Support for Carers (WFSC). This involves advisor support, training and work preparation courses, as well as "better off" calculations for people before they accept a job, looking at tax credit calculations. Carers taking part in an approved Jobcentre Plus activity may also be able to claim the cost of alternative care. Contact the jobcentre plus on 0845 6060 234 or go to their website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Local support for carers | National support for carers | Money matters