Achievements of ACE National

Just five years ago carers and employment issues were not high on the public policy agenda. To address this Carers UK brought together a partnership of public, private and not for profit organisations to carry out research, change public policy and improve how carers are supported in work.

Its first task was to reduce the barriers facing carers who want to work. Much work was carried out to influence the policy agenda, helped by working with a forum of employers, Employers for Carers. Tangible outcomes were :

• the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 addressing carers’ work, learning and leisure opportunities
• the Work and Families Act 2006 which gives carers the right to flexible working.

ACE National produced a range of practical resources including :  

• information packs to ensure effective implementation of the Acts by local authorities and employers.
  

Work was undertaken with

• employers to develop carer friendly employment policy and practice. To find out more click here
• with Jobcentre Plus to improve how carers are supported by mainstream employment services.

From 2005 ACE National changed its focus to explore how carers access alternative care services which enable them to work. ACE National partners included service providers who :

• tested existing services
• developed new services to help carers to work.

This has fed into the personalised care agenda. ACE National produced a range of practical resources including :  

• Toolkits and checklists, including the recently launched Care to Take a Look, were produced to help local authorities develop their policy on carers. For further information about this resource, please click here