£200k scheme supporting carers given backing by Government

The 'carers and employment programme' will see Staffordshire County Council and neighbouring Stoke-on-Trent working with employers and carers to they get the support they need while in work.

This could include flexible working hours, looking after the health and wellbeing of carers and ensuring they have a life of their own alongside their caring responsibilities.

An existing pilot is currently being run in partnership with The Dove Service, and is targeted at supporting employers to recognise the business benefits of actively identifying and supporting carers.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent applied to expand on the success of this initiative and be part the government's new pilot scheme aimed at improving the lives of carers.

The successful bid was announced at Finnings UK Ltd in Cannock by Secretary of State Nicky Morgan and has secured an investment of £130,000 with additional funding of £69,000 from Staffordshire County Council over the next two years.

Social and health care chief, councillor Mark Sutton, said: "We are extremely happy to be chosen as a pilot area for this project.

"In Staffordshire, we recognise the enormous contribution that carers make and how businesses can benefit from that contribution by identifying and supporting carers in their employment.

"Being a part of this project means we can build on our existing work with businesses and carers to create flexible working policies that help carers remain in work whilst also continuing with their caring responsibility."

Finnings UK Ltd have been working with Dove to identify carers in their employment and offer them the support they need.

Joanne Speed, chief executive officer of The Dove Service said: "We are delighted to be a partner on this project to support carers in the workplace."