MPs want to hear your views on employment support for carers!

UKParliament

In 2014 the Government said that they wanted to help carers balance their caring with employment.

MPs want to know if the Government is doing enough. They’d like to hear the experiences of unpaid carers and see how they could be improved.

• Do you have enough support as a carer either in employment or seeking employment? What more would you like to see?
• What have been the main barriers you’ve experienced in trying to find employment? How could these be reduced?
• How can employers do more to help you balance caring and employment

Please share your comments by Friday 22 December 2017 – we’ll be sharing these with the Work and Pensions Select Committee. If you prefer, you can respond directly to the Committee by the same date.

Primrose

It would be helpful if a link could be displayed so that those wishing to reply directly know who to contact/email.

mellymoo74

Hi primrose they havery the highlighted blue text takes you straight there

kingfisherblue

There is little help available when your disabled child is not at school or college. Most employers don't give thirteen weeks holiday a year. Finding childcare for older disabled children is darned near impossible. Although our special schools offer some holiday care, it is only nineteen sessions a year - each session is three hours (9-12 or 1-4).

As my son gets older, it is getting harder to find suitable care for him. He is in college for three days a week, termtime only. If he needs any medication during the day (apart from his inhaler), he cannot go in, as the staff will not administer any medication. The First Aider is based in the SEN department, but my son is expected to self administer any meds - and for someone who cannot tell the time, how can I rely on him to take his antibiotic or paracetomol at the correct time? (I only sent in one tablet, once, and was informed that all students have to self administer or stay off).

Social care isn't necessarily the answer either, as it is limited in many ways. Most places in my area tend to do crafts an awful lot - and this doesn't suit my son. Also, disability social workers can be quite intrusive. I was amazed to find that their checklist included checking my fridge and cupboards to see if there was enough food, checking his bedroom to see if he has his own bed, and ensuring that the flooring is safe and my decorating is up to an acceptable standard - this was after being virtually ignored for several years, when we weren't even told that his previous social worker had left four years earlier.

Tabbytabitha

When my husband became ill I went down to a .9 position on an annualised hours basis which gave me an extra 20 days holiday, allowing me more time to be at home with him and gave us the the ability to spend a month each winter in a better climate abroad.

I was fortunate in having a caring employer who could see that this didn't cost them anything and allowed them to keep an experienced member of staff. It's a shame that more employers aren't this flexible and put up barriers.

Also, normal flexitime working (available to everybody) was a great help in enabling me to balance the demands of caring and employment.