Employment

Information sourced from Carers uk tells us that 1 in 3 carers are not able to return to work because the right alternative care is not available. 1 in 5 carers are forced to give up work because of their caring responsibilities and can end up isolated and living in poverty. Carers are being discriminated against in the workplace due to their caring role. Carers are offered little help when they are in a position to go back to work. They face barriers when they try to improve their skills through training and education.

Below are some services that may be able to help with information on returning to work, childcare and benefits.

Carers UK - Make WORK work Campaign

Carers UK's make WORK work campaign is calling on the Government to introduce changes to health and social care services and the tax, benefit and pension system that help carers return to and stay in work. They also want employers to implement flexible working.

For more information visit the Carers UK website.

Help for working parents in Northumberland

DCATCH - Disabled Children's Access to Childcare

Mums, Dads and Carers, would you like to return to work or training but need support to find appropriate childcare for your disabled child?

Read on to find out more..

DCATCH (Disabled Children's Access to Childcare) aims to support families of disabled children aged 0 -19 years to access all types of childcare in order to enable parents / carers access into work or training.

DCATCH aims to offer:

• Contact with other parent / carers who understand.
• Opportunities to express your views and a place where your opinions will be heard.
• Support and advice about accessing childcare.
• Childcare staff who have positive attitudes and appropriate training to care for disabled children.
• More confidence in childcare provision.
• Regular updates of how the project is developing.

What is childcare?

• Out of school clubs
• Breakfast clubs
• Child minders
• Nannies / home carer
• Holiday schemes
• Crèches
• Day nurseries
• Playgroups
• Youth Worker
• Play Worker

What can you offer DCATCH?

• To share your valuable knowledge - you know what your child needs!
• Your views and experiences to help build better childcare for disabled children.
• Your support to other families.
• Suggestions about how services can be more joined up - what would work for you?
• Your ideas to help find solutions to real issues.
• Your experience of the true cost of childcare.

For more information contact:

Shelia Dillon - Early Years & Childcare Inclusion Manager
Tel: 01670 534 498
Mob: 07766 087 058
Email: Sheila.Dillon@northumberland.gov.uk

Jackie Beeley - Alnwick Children's Centre
Tel: 01665 600 896
Mob: 07766 423 148
Email: Jacqueline.Beeley@northumberland.gov.uk

Helen Coulthard - Morpeth Children's Centre
Tel: 01670 511 581
Mob: 07766 991 439
Email: Helen.Coulthard@northumberland.gov.uk

Donna Ridley - Hexham Children's Centre
Tel: 01434 601 698
Mob: 07760 118 803
Email: Donnalouise.Ridley@northumberland.gov.uk

DWP - Department of Works and Pensions

There are ways to get help if you feel you can't work because of your caring role but you would like to. The DWP website offers practical information on returning to work such financial support for carers and how your Carers Allowence benefit may be effect, follow the link below to vist the site:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/CarersAndEmployment/DG_4000036

Useful Publications

Getting into work - A guide for parents of disabled children. Download

Evidence from the 2001 Census for England and Wales

• 2.5 million people in England and Wales combine caring with paid work.

• 1.5 million carers work full-time, and of those, 140,000 care for 50+ hours per week.

• 90% of working carers are aged 30+ - in their prime employment years.

• Working carers pay a heavy penalty in terms of their own health. Those with heavy caring responsibilities are two to three times more likely than workers without caring responsibilities to be in poor health.

• Young Bangladeshi and Pakistani men and women are three times more likely than other younger people to combine paid work and caring.

• Men and women who care for 20+ hours a week are much less likely to be in higher level jobs