Social care system is failing four million working age carers

Over 40 per cent of those caring full time and not in work say that they cannot return to employment because of the lack of services available.

Carers UK’s Chief Executive, Imelda Redmond, wants to see a radical overhaul to avoid a demographic and economic disaster.

“We now have the most detailed evidence to date of the issues facing working carers which can inform a more planned approach for the future”, she says. “The Comprehensive Spending Review provides us with an opportunity to set this out and get it right.

“It is clear that current systems do not support carers at key stages of their lives and this latest in-depth analysis shows that care services are systematically failing working carers.  Carers have reasonable expectations to a life beyond their caring role and we should be fulfilling them.”

The research is led by Professor Sue Yeandle from the University of Leeds who has compiled six major reports on working age carers, four of which are published today (Wednesday 10 October 2007) by Carers UK. 

The four reports provide the responses of nearly 2,000 carers – one of the largest surveys every carried out. They cover:

• Stages and transitions in the experience of caring
• Managing caring and employment
• Diversity in caring: towards equality for carers
• Carers, employment and services in their local context

They also reveal a new dilemma. Over four in ten (42%) of those new to caring say that the person for whom they care is reluctant to use care services, for whatever reason, leaving many carers unable to access any support for themselves, and making their working lives even harder.

Key points show:

• The majority of working carers say they need at least one type of formal service which they are not currently receiving
• One third of carers in full or part-time work are struggling financially
• Very few working carers are getting breaks, and less than a quarter have access to respite care services
• Only a quarter of working carers feel they have adequate support from formal services to enable them to combine work and care
• Between 40 and 50 per cent of working carers say that a lack of flexibility and sensitivity in the delivery of services is hampering them
• Almost half of those working part-time say that they are only in work of this type because of their caring responsibilities

Carers UK wants to see:

• A complete overhaul of the way that social care is provided, with a much stronger focus on supporting carers to remain in or return to work
• Significant investment in social care, including stimulation of the care market through the creation of employers supported ‘care vouchers’
• New legislation to make it illegal to discriminate against carers - in the same way that it is for disabled people.
• A full scale review of carers’ benefits; and the exploration of tax breaks and tax credits to help carers avoid poverty and remain in employment. 
• A social contract for carers which makes it clear what the state, employers, and others will provide and what individuals have to contribute.

“Caring needs to be looked at in its own right rather than a ‘bolted-on’ issue”, concludes Imelda Redmond.  “All too often they slip through the net – whether it is finding the right information, getting financial support, accessing local authority services or looking after their own health needs.  It is time that a cohesive plan is put in place on how social care is provided and planned for in the future.”

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Kate Groucutt  T. 020 7566 7616 email: kate.groucutt@carersuk.org. 
or Patricia Orr. T. 020 7592 1980 M. 07889 140139
email: pat@thirdsectorpr.co.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The reports are available to download at www.carersuk.org/Policyandpractice/PolicyResources/Research. To order copies e-mail: publications@carersuk.org or telephone: 0845 241 0963.

2. Carers UK is the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation of and for carers. Carers UK continues to make a difference to carers' lives by: campaigning for a better deal for carers; informing carers of their rights and what help is available; training and advising professionals who work with carers; working across the UK through its membership and networks of branches and affiliates. For more information, visit www.carersuk.org or for advice on your caring situation call CarersLine on T. 0808 808 7777.

3. This work is part of a series of research reports published as part of the Action for Carers and Employment (ACE) National - a development partnership led by Carers UK and funded by the European Social Fund’s Equal programme.   This work aims to raise awareness of the barriers facing carers who wish to work, and tests and promotes ways of supporting them. Visit www.acecarers.org.uk