The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has won the 2004 carers in employment award for a scheme that provides training and information for department employees who are also carers.


Sponsored by Carers UK, the award was one of several handed out by charity Working Families, which aims to give a voice to working parents and carers. They are intended to reward innovation and creative thinking in promoting a work-life balance.


The Network for Caring is an independent association of DCA staff, with its own dedicated team of three co-coordinators with counselling skills, two assistant co-ordinators and a full-time administrator. Its regional representatives give 5% of their hours towards its work.


The DCA has given the network a budget to spend on raising awareness of carer issues; providing a safe environment for carers to exchange views and gain support and advice; and identifying and raising issues with senior management.


The network also contributes to the development of new departmental policies in consultation with carers, as well as policies that affect customers dealing with the department and who have caring responsibilities. It holds regular events – such as a carers week, a parents week, and phone-ins with charity Age Concern – and last year held what is hoped will be its first annual conference. It also produces handbooks and guides for staff.


Most jobs within the DCA are advertised as job-share or part-time to provide wider opportunities for carers.


The DCA’s approach is that the network helps it keep hold of staff, cut the costs of recruitment and training, and retain experience.


Alex Allan, permanent secretary at the DCA, said: ‘The award reflects the hard work by staff, their managers and the network, who helped to put into practice our excellent polices for supporting carers at work. Because of the differing and varied task that carers have to perform across their working and caring lives, they bring many valuable skills to the workplace.’


The Scottish arm of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary was short-listed for the Scottish employer of the year award, which was won by Lauder College.


Link: www.workingfamilies.org.uk