1. Helping Carers to balance Work and Caring Jill Akroyd Project Manager, Carers and Employment, Hertfordshire County Council

2. Contents Definition of a carer Key legislation Carer statistics What carers need “Working for Carers” DVD Contact details

3. Definition of a Carer *Carers look after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid. *Definition by Carers UK Useful to make distinction between carer and careworker in policies/documents

4. Key Legislation Work and Families Act 2006 Carers have legal right to request flexible working Childcare Act 2006 LAs required to provide appropriate childcare for disabled children to enable parents to access work or learning Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 – section 2 Carers Assessments to cover work and learning aspirations

5. Working carers statistics 3 million working carers 1 in 5 gives up work to care from a survey of 3000 carers: 72% all carers - financially worse off since starting to care 33% in debt 53% health affected by financial worries Demography – will need extra 3 million carers over next 30 yrs Statistics from Carers UK – 31/5/07

6. What carers need Learning from 273 carers assisted in a one-stop shop service: Carer Assessments and Care Services (24%) – Financial Advice (21%)- Training and learning 16%)- Starting work (16%) – HR issues (15%) – General information (8%)

7. “Working for Carers” DVD Hear directly from carers about balancing work and care…….. The full version of the DVD plus supporting training material will be available on the following websites from the end of July/early August: www.acecarers.org.uk www.public-i.info

8. Contact details jill.akroyd@hertscc.gov.uk O1707 280659 Jill Akroyd Project Manager Carers and Employment Hertfordshire County Council Adult Care Services Users and Carers Performance and Workforce Development Mount Pleasant, Mount Pleasant Lane Hatfield, Herts. AL5 9PU