uk project update madeleine starr carers uk. new coalition government new challenges
TRANSCRIPT
UK Project Update
Madeleine StarrCarers UK
New Coalition Government
New Challenges
New external factors
• Changing economic climate– New UK Coalition Government pledged to cut
public spending
• Changing political climate– Big Society presupposes ‘greater self
sufficiency of families’
Changing economic climate 1
• Cuts in public spending: return to work– New Care Partnership Managers in Jobcentre
Plus under review– Replacement care for carers training to return
to work under review– Caring with Confidence programme cancelled
as ‘not cost effective’– Learning for Living not included in new
National Qualifications Framework
Changing economic climate 2
• Cuts in public spending: social care– Expectation that social care services will be
subject to tighter eligibility criteria, so only those in ‘substantial or critical need’ will receive them
– New Commission set up to explore how the UK will fund social care in the future, with an expectation that individuals will contribute to the cost of care over a lifetime, through increased taxation or social insurance
Changing economic climate 3
• Cuts in public spending: welfare benefits– Proposed welfare reform will review Carers
Allowance, with a proposal to make it subject to means testing and conditionality (meaning that carers receiving the benefit will have to demonstrate why they are unable to work or lose the allowance)
Changing political climate 1
• The Big Society– David Cameron’s vision calls for a ‘smaller
state’ and more ‘localism’ with input from citizens and communities
– Families ‘expected to be more self sufficient’ – (quote from a Government Minister at recent party conferences)
– Tension between expectation that carers will work, and expectation that carers will care
Changing political climate 2
• Equalities and Human Rights Commission– New EHRC report identifies:
• inequalities suffered by people in middle age ‘sandwiched’ between childcare and eldercare (25% of women aged 55 are carers)
• greater risks to carers of falling out of work
Threats
• Cuts in all areas– Fewer care and carer services– Fewer return to work services– Reduced benefits
• ‘Do it yourself’ approach– Big Society a cover for lack of support to
families
Opportunities
• Focus on supporting carers to stay in work– Coalition Government’s ‘Refresh’ of National
Carers Strategy to prioritise workplace support for carers
– Equalities Act now protects carers against discrimination at work and in the provision of goods and services
Shift in focus
• New areas of work– Promoting awareness of carers rights at work
• To employers• To carers
– Embedding carers in equality and diversity • Training
– Exploring issues for former carers in the workplace• Developing support through Employers for
Carers
Shift in focus
• New areas of work– Working with technology providers to develop
21st century solutions for employers and working carers
– Growing the UK’s online carer community– Developing online resources, e.g.,
• redesigning Learning for Living as open source online training accessible at home, at work or in the community
Business as usual
• Campaigns– National Care Service– Fair funding settlement– Support for families– Right to work and care where that is an option– Right to support through the benefits system
where that is not an option
Carers UK
Websites:
www.carersuk.org
www.employersforcarers.org