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Increased support for carers who want to work

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced a package of measures designed to enable carers to combine paid work with caring. These will come into effect 7 December 2009.

Jobcentre Plus customers with caring responsibilities will be able to:

• have access to appropriate employment programmes - including one to one work focused support for carers
• receive funding for replacement care for participation in approved activities

There is now a Care Partnership Manager (CaPMs) in every Jobcentre Plus district. The role of these CaPMs is to build partnerships with relevant organisations, assess demand for support and encourage development of local services such as replacement care.

The CaPMs will also ensure advisers have comprehensive up-to-date knowledge, skills and local information to effectively support carers. These advisers will be given special training.

These changes are part of the short-term aims of the Carers Strategy which were due to be implemented by 2011.

More information

• dwp press release
• more about the carer's strategy

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