21 November 2017
Select Committee launch new inquiry – Employment support for Carers
The Work and Pensions Committee has launched an inquiry into employment support for carers.
Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chair of the Committee, said: "There are millions of unpaid carers in this country doing vital work, ever more so with the pressures on the social care budget. We want to hear from carers and their employers about the realities of juggling caring duties with paid employment, and the kinds of practical ways we can help to get, and keep, people in the paid work they want while crucially ensuring their friends, relatives, and loved ones can continue to receive the best possible care."
The Committee is calling for evidence, in particular on some or all of the following questions, and they are particularly keen to hear from anyone involved in the pilots announced by the Government in 2015 aimed at exploring ways to help carers balance employment with their caring responsibilities. The pilots have now concluded.
- Does DWP provide adequate support for carers in employment and those seeking employment? What more could the Department do?
- How can the Department work more proactively with employers to support carers?
- What are the main barriers to employment for carers and how can these be reduced?
- What role can assistive technology play in supporting carers in employment/seeking employment?
- What examples of employer best practice towards carers could the Department promote? Would mandatory ‘carers policy’ statements be a good idea?
- Is there a ‘cultural shift’ needed in our attitude towards carers in employment? If so, how far can the Department go in influencing such a shift?
- Is there a coherent cross-government strategy for supporting carers in employment/seeking employment?
And of the pilots -
- What were the objectives for the pilots and how have they performed against those objectives?
- Is there scope to roll-out successful schemes more widely?
- What other lessons have been learnt from the pilot schemes
Information about the inquiry and submission details are available on the GOV.UK website
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