Known as the Carers in Employment (CiE) project, it took place in nine local authorities, who were encouraged to develop local solutions to support carers to remain in or return to work; work involving employers was found to be a vital to the project’s success.
The evaluation reports that, out of the nearly 3,000 carers who took part, CiE sites said that they had supported nearly 60% to stay in work. It’s hoped that the findings of the independent evaluation will make an important contribution to ensuring that carers’ needs are reflected in future employment-related carer policy and practice.
Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Care, says:
‘Carers tirelessly provide support for their family and friends but we know that balancing caring responsibilities with employment can be a real challenge. That’s why we fund work like the Carers in Employment project so that local solutions can be tested and learning shared – so the wishes of carers are prioritised when their support needs are considered.’