14 Jun 2010
Source: E Brewer
People across North Lanarkshire who are involved in caring for friends or relatives but are keen to return to work are being encouraged to seek support as part of National Carers Week.
The call is being issued by North Lanarkshire's Working, the employability partnership led by North Lanarkshire Council, which offers help to local people in returning to work, education or training.
National Carers Week, backed by national and local carers' support organisations, aims to highlight the contribution made by carers across the country. More than 12,000 community events will be taking place throughout the UK this week.
It is estimated that North Lanarkshire is home to around 33,000 carers who provide unpaid support to help improve the quality of life of friends and relatives. These carers provide a wide range of assistance, from regular drop-in visits to full-time, round-the-clock aid.
North Lanarkshire's Working's partner organisation Routes to Work provides jobseekers with a dedicated Key Worker who will help them to prepare effective CVs and access appropriate training or work opportunities.
A series of courses at local colleges can help to make the transition back to work easier to manage and develop the skills they will need to succeed in their chosen area of work. The social care, hospitality, construction and contact centre sectors have been identified as growth areas within North Lanarkshire, and local colleges are offering courses aimed at providing an introduction to each in order to help jobseekers improve their chances of finding work.
Maureen McConachie, Head of Regeneration Services at North Lanarkshire Council, said, "Carers provide an invaluable service and National Carers Week is a great way to highlight the vital role they play in ensuring a better quality of life for the people in their care.
"However, it's important for carers to realise that North Lanarkshire's Working can provide them with dedicated support if they wish to return to work or take up opportunities for training or education. Routes to Work Key Workers can also advise on financial assistance available to help carers cover the cost of replacement care while they are training".
Alison McManus, a carer from Wishaw, has received support with childcare and training from Routes to Work. After Alison's son Christopher was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome several years ago, she gave up her part-time job to provide as much care for him as possible.
Alison, 32, said, "Christopher can find it difficult to deal with change or new situations, and I'm regularly called to the school to take him home early, which makes it difficult to keep in work.
"However, after the summer holidays he will be attending a local high school where staff have had the appropriate learning support training, which means I should be able to start working regularly again."
Alison recently visited her local Routes to Work office for advice on returning to employment.
She added: "I was really pleased with the support I received from my Key Worker. She's always very friendly and welcoming, and I feel like she's genuinely interested in what I've been up to and what I'd like to do in the future.
"I'd really like to be a nurse and my Key Worker has helped find me space on a couple of college courses which will help me develop new skills and work towards a career in the care sector.
"I've also been given some really good advice on the childcare support I'm eligible for, which will help ensure Christopher is properly looked after while I'm at college or in work once I've found employment."
For more information on the support available to carers and other people across North Lanarkshire, call 0800 0730 226 or visit www.northlanarkshiresworking.co.uk.
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