Designing Services
Carers and young carers may have had to take time out of the job market because of intensive caring responsibilities.
Some carers and young carers may have never worked whilst others will have past experience and qualifications which provide the starting point for their journey back into paid work.
Caring roles may be such that there is no time at all to undertake any learning or skills development – but carers and young carers bring a wealth of experience, skills and ‘common sense’ which employers value today. For example:
Even where a carer or young carer feels they have nothing to offer, they will in fact have a breadth of experience that can be a real asset to employers across a range of sectors. The first step is helping carers and young carers to understand this
How carers can access advice/support?
For carers and young carers who have never worked or who have been out of work and learning for a long time, confidence may be an issue. They may feel that their skills are out of date or that the lack of a recent work record will hinder any applications.
Local Carers' Centre should be able to support carers to start making the transition back to work or training – some have special projects and carers’ Centres have secured funding to develop additional employability services which focus carers trying to get back into work.
Learning For Living – Taking the First Step towards Employment Ciity and Guilds offer an accredited course “Learning for Living” developed jointly with Carers Scotland. Learning for Living offers an on-line learning programme for carers which can lead to a qualification. There are two parts: the qualification known as the ‘Certificate in Personal Development & Learning for Unpaid Carers’ and the learning resource known as Learning for Living. Learning for Living aims to help carers build on their existing skills, gain new ones and to begin to plan their route towards employment or training.
When Caring Ends – Financial Consequences
Before carers or young carers can consider their options and their life after caring, there may be important financial consequences when, for example, a loved one dies. Many of the benefits that carers received will end (not always immediately). Financial forecasting can help an individual understand where they will be when caring ends, for whatever reason. Contact your local Carers Centre to find out more.
For information about benefits when caring has ended because of bereavement, visit the Carers Scotland website for information:
http://www.carersscotland.org/Information/Workandcaring/copy_of_Lookingforwork