Carers
Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie called in parliament for more support
for carers to help them undertake and stay in employment. Cathy, who is
Convener of the Cross Party Group on Carers, used parliamentary question
time to ask what the Executive would do to engage with the voluntary sector
and to support carers in employment and seeking employment.
Her call followed a meeting last week, which she hosted in the Scottish
Parliament to launch a new guide to Carers' Rights.
"The
meeting was part of Carers Week. We had a very well attended lunchtime
meeting, then in the afternoon I had the opportunity to ask a question
on the issue. And since the person answering me was John Swinney, who
was Vice-Convener of the Carers CPG in the last session, I was not going
to happy with anything less that wholehearted support."
Mr Swinney acknowledged that unpaid carers often face significant barriers
in accessing employment, and the role of the voluntary sector can play
in supporting carers, both as an employer and as a provider of support,
and the importance of flexible employment policies and social care services
in helping carers to balance work and caring.
Cathy followed up on the Minister's first response by asking him to join
her in "congratulating Carers Scotland on its excellent booklet "Carers
and their Rights", which was launched today and which will be a vital
tool for every carer in Scotland? Does he agree that, for carers to stay
in or to seek work, flexible working, respite care, time to take up training
and all the issues around getting into employment are vital? How will
he work to support the discussion that needs to happen in the workplace
to enable carers to take up or to stay in employment?
John Swinney replied that he was "happy to congratulate Carers Scotland
on the publication of the booklet "Carers and their Rights".
I take this opportunity to say how pleased I was to hear that Cathy Peattie
has been elected convener of the cross-party group on carers. The issue
was dear to my heart in the previous session and I assure her that it
will remain dear to my heart in this session."
Mr Swinney assured Cathy that the Executive was "determined to tackle
issues relating to flexible working, which will not only help carers but
have a positive impact on a wide variety of policy areas. We are developing
proposals on respite care and further training opportunities."
It was also announced that there will be a national festival to provide
young carers with the opportunity to meet decision makers, including MSPs,
with training one of the priorities of the programme.
Carers Motion
"Six hundred thousand people - nearly one in eight Scots - are carers,"
says Cathy Peattie, "and many don't get the support to which they
are entitled."
"Carers have rights. They need to know what those rights are, and
how to go about securing them. So the publication of a new guide to carers'
rights by Carers Scotland is really welcome. This guide will help to ensure
that, in this year of equal opportunities for all, carers have effective
information about their rights and opportunities to take part in work,
education and leisure."
Cathy has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating Carers
Scotland, who are launching "Carers and their Rights: A Guide to
the Law Relating to Carers" in the Scottish Parliament as part of
Carers Week, from 11 to 17 June.
"Carers Week is a much needed week of awareness raising and activities
to reach hidden carers," said Cathy, who is Convener of the parliament's
Cross Party Group on Carers.
"Scotland’s 600,000 unpaid carers play a vital role, providing
support and care to disabled and older people in the community, and we
need to recognise this by investing more in resources to support them."
Cathy's motion also pays tribute to the work of local organisations: "Falkirk
and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre do an excellent job," said Cathy,
"providing immense support to over 22,000 carers in Falkirk East,
Falkirk West and Ochil."
18/06/07 Supported by: Bashir Ahmad, Jackie Baillie, Bill Butler, Patricia Ferguson, Marlyn Glen, Charlie Gordon, John Lamont, Johann Lamont, Liam McArthur, Pauline McNeill, Mary Mulligan, Dr Elaine Murray, Hugh O'Donnell, Elaine Smith, Mr Jamie Stone, Stefan Tymkewycz, Dr Alasdair Allan, Karen Gillon, Ken Macintosh, Michael McMahon, Nanette Milne, Margaret Mitchell, John Scott, Elizabeth Smith, Trish Godman, Iain Gray, Robin Harper, Cathy Jamieson, Michael Matheson, Mary Scanlon, Cathie Craigie, Kenneth Gibson, Hugh Henry
Useful websites:
http://www.carersweek.org/
http://www.scotlandscarersmanifesto.com/
- produced by the national carer organisations are Carers Scotland, Crossroads
Caring Scotland, the Coalition of Carers in Scotland, the Princess Royal
Trust for Carers, Shared Care Scotland and the Scottish Young Carers Services
Alliance.
(June 2007)