Supporting working carersFindings of the HM Government and Employers for Carers Task and Finish Group

Madeleine Starr, Carers UK

The context

Carers and Employment Task and Finish Group• The outcome of a Carers and Employment

Summit in 2012• Set up by the UK Minister for Care Services to

explore how Government can work with employers, care providers, assistive technology developers and the third sector to support carers to remain in employment

 

Its purpose

To gather, examine, and present evidence on the social and economic case for interventions supporting carers to reconcile work and family life• Examining national and international evidence

on the availability of care services and personal and household services (PHS) that maximise carers’ employment potential, and making the economic case

• Developing the business/economic growth case for employers, as well as the potential of employer incentives to enable carers to combine work and care.

• Developing evidence and arguments to inform the next UK Government Spending Review

The authors

Employers for Carers• An exciting, innovative membership forum for

employers who want to support their employees with caring responsibilities

• Administered by Carers UK and supported by its specialist knowledge

• Committed to influencing wider employment policy and practice

HM Government• Six UK Government departments, including

Treasury

The evidence

The problem• Impact of demographic change

• Rising demand for care versus a shrinking workforce

• Significant negative impact of carers leaving work on

• Individuals and families• Business• The wider economy

• Poor structural support for carers to work• Poor workplace support• A lack of supply of appropriate, affordable

care and support services• A lack of awareness of and access to

technology enabled care services

The evidence

The opportunity• Regaining output and revenue currently lost to

caring• Reduction in public expenditure costs of

caring • Increased tax revenues and pension

contributions, reduced welfare benefits, and health gains

• Benefits to business, including reduced loss of talent and increased business productivity

• Benefits to the economy from growth in the care sector

• Care sector job creation • Increased tax and National Insurance

revenue from former ‘grey economy’ jobs

The recommendations

Employment practicesBetter information, co-operation and action to support employees, employers and the care sector• Confederation of British Industry and British

Chambers of Commerce• Government departments including

• Department of Health• Department of Business, Innovation and

Skills• Department for Work and Pensions

• Skills for Care and other relevant Sector Skills Councils

Championship of Employers for Carers to• Support employers• Influence wider employment policy

The recommendations

Care and support servicesMore effective joint working to grow local care markets between• Local authorities• Care providers• Local Enterprise Partnerships• Health and Wellbeing Boards• Chambers of CommerceThe Treasury to consider • how care market growth can be embedded in

ongoing and future strategiesTreasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to review• potential initiatives to incentivise and accelerate

growth in the care and support sector

One outcome

Local authority carers and employment pilots to develop new and innovative measures • To promote more effective employer support• To provide more effective information, advice

and guidance to working carers on workplace support and local care and support

• To incentivise and promote growth in local care markets, including in technology enabled care services

56 applications, 14 shortlisted, successful pilot sites to be announced towards the end of the year for implementation in 2015

madeleine.starr@carersuk.orgwww.carersuk.org

www.employersforcarers.org