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FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS
Caring for Someone while Working
(Source: Directgov)
You may be working when you start your caring role. It may be helpful to tell your employer about your situation. There are several things that you and your employer can do to help you combine your caring role with employment.
Talking to your employer
Caring for a disabled relative is often unpredictable and care arrangements can be complex, so you will need to talk to your employer about your concerns and commitments.
Think about how your employer could best help you and talk to them about your needs.
If you want to work, it is in your employer’s best interest to consider making reasonable changes to your work pattern to help you work and continue caring.
Many employers offer help to carers. This could include:
- talking to a welfare officer or occupational health adviser who knows about carers
in-house information and advice or counselling;
- a subscription to a carers’ organisation, or employee services;
- Flexible working arrangements: There are many different ways of working flexibly. You could work from home or have flexible starting or finishing times.
Other working arrangements might be:
- compressed working hours (where you work your normal number of hours in a shorter time - typically fitting five days working time into four days);
- working during school terms;
- job-sharing;
- part-time working;
- flexible holidays to fit in with alternative care arrangements.
The Employment Act (2002) gives working parents of disabled children under 18 the right to request flexible working arrangements. You also have the legal right to ask your employer for flexible working if you are caring for an adult who is a relative or lives at the same address as you.
Employment Support
(Source: Directgov)
Jobcentre Plus is responsible for the national network of Jobcentres. These give skilled advice at every stage of your search for a job and make sure you know which benefits or allowances you’re entitled to claim. They can also support you if you’re concerned about the impact of your disability on your existing job. Your local Jobcentre can help and advise you regardless of your situation – even if you don’t have any work experience or if you haven’t worked for a long time.
Disability Employment Advisers
Provide specially tailored advice suited to your individual employment situation.
DEAs can provide services such as:
- an employment assessment to identify what type of work or training suits you best;
- a referral, where appropriate, to Work Preparation, an individually tailored program designed to help some disabled people;
- a referral, where appropriate, to a Pathways to Work personal adviser;
- a referral, where appropriate, to a work program for disabled people, like the Job Introduction Scheme, WORKSTEP or Access to Work;
- a referral, if needed, to an Work Psychologist for a more detailed employment assessment to identify the best work or training for you;
- a job-matching and referral service – the DEA can let you know about jobs that match your experience and skills;
- information on employers in your area who have adopted the ‘two ticks’ disability symbol.
An employment assessment can help you identify your abilities and strengths. At the end of it, you and your DEA will have created an action plan of steps you can take towards achieving your employment goals.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE ASSESSMENT:
Your employment assessment will usually take place at your local Jobcentre. You will have an interview with your DEA, which is an opportunity for the two of you to talk about your skills and abilities; discuss any previous work experience you may have; agree what might be the most suitable job for you
As part of the assessment, you may be asked to carry out some practical tasks and written work. These tasks will be similar to common tasks involved in various types of work.
The assessment may take half a day or longer, depending on your individual needs. The DEA will discuss the length of your assessment with you beforehand.
AFTER THE ASSESSMENT:
You and your DEA will talk about your assessment and agree on an action plan to help you achieve your job goals. Your action plan may include training or taking part in the ‘Work Preparation’ programme. An employment assessment does not affect your benefits. You can claim travel expenses for attending an assessment.
Equal Opportunity Employers
