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Southwark Carers

Cambridge House

131 Camberwell Rd

London

SE5 0HF

T: 020 7708 4497

Employment, Training and Education

Many carers give up work in order to care. As well as financial difficulties they may also face problems with isolation and social exclusion. If at some point they then want to work again, they may struggle to get back into the job market.

Giving up work in order to care is a big decision. Before doing so you should ask yourself:

• am I considering giving up work based on guilt, or because I think that only I can look after the person properly or that they will not accept outside help?

• can I afford to give up my salary?

• would I miss working life?

• do I want to spend my time caring instead of working?

You may feel that you have no choice about whether or not you work, when in fact you do have options. Start by thinking about what you want to do and then try to find ways of achieving this.

Almost 3 million carers combine employment with their caring role. The National Carers Strategy aims to help tackle the problems this can cause. Its stated objectives in this area are:

• to encourage and enable carers to remain in work

• to help those carers who are unable, or do not want, to combine paid work with caring to return to work when their caring responsibilities cease or diminish

Carers UK are part of a project called Action for Carers in Employment (ACE) which can provide advice and guidance on all matters relating to carers' employment. Action for Carers in Employment held a Carers and Employment conference on 1st February 2005, click here for documents and reports related to the day.

Flexible Working

Flexible working may include adjusting the hours that you work, reducing the amount of time you work or possibly working from home from time-to-time.

Parents of disabled children aged under 18 have the legal right to apply to their employer for flexible working. More enlightened employers will make provision for flexible working for all carers. Working Families can provide guidance on how to approach your employer to request flexible working.

The Department of Trade and Industry provides a range of information on employees’ rights regarding flexible working.

Volunteering

Many carers find that voluntary work has many benefits, such as:

• doing something worthwhile

• mixing with other people

• maintaining/developing skills which can be helpful when returning to work

Organisations seeking voluntary workers will usually be flexible so that you can work when it suits you, and as little or as much as you like.

Southwark Carers welcome volunteers to help with some of our projects, and if you are interested in finding out more please contact us.

Volunteers in Action Southwark can provide you with information on local volunteering opportunities.

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The advice sections are currently under development and being added to regularly.

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